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Thank you for your interest in the role of SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

at the Hastings Academies Trust

www.hastingsacademiestrust.org

Candidate Pack

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Thank you for considering the post advertised at The

Hastings Academy. As you will have read from our

website, our main sponsor is the University of Brighton

which brings lots of advantages including links with

the University’s initial teacher training programme.

The programme is one of the largest in the South of

England and has an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating. In

addition, all staff will have access to high quality

professional development including to Masters level

study.

Our motto is PRIDE Through Success. This stands

for Potential, Respect, Innovation, Determination and

Excellence and applies equally to staff as well as to our

fantastic students.

My personal belief is that great or outstanding

schools, that demonstrate continuous and sustained

improvement, are built upon a solid foundation of

highly qualified and committed team of staff. This can

only be achieved through valuing staff and investing in

their professional development. Here at The Hastings

Academy we take great PRIDE in developing our

staff; we ensure all staff receive an entitlement to a

programme of professional development which supports

their skill development and career. To facilitate this,

we have developed an extensive range of training and

CPD opportunities open to leadership, teaching and

support staff in order to promote a culture of continued

professional improvement and a climate where lifelong

learning can flourish. We work in a collaborate way,

drawing upon expertise from within our Academy, as

well as from local, regional and national providers and a

significant budget is allocated to support this vital work.

A number of these programmes include, NPQML,

NPQSL, NPQH as well as Future Leaders with the view

to ensuring that staff are in a strong position to be

promoted internally as part of the Academy’s succession

planning, as well as preparing for external posts.

Here at The Hastings Academy, we are very ambitious

for our students; they have lots of potential and with

support from our parents, we are able to work in

close partnership to ensure we are in a position to

provide levels of support. We expect our students

to take PRIDE in everything they do so they have an

outstanding set of qualifications along with the life

skills needed to make informed decisions about their

current educational and future career choices. The

Academy also believes that the school isn’t just about

getting a good set of qualifications, as important as this

is; developing discerning and enquiring minds and a

sound general knowledge about living in a multi-cultural

society is of equal importance.

If you are successful with your application, you will

be joining a vibrant and enthusiastic staff who are

totally committed to improving the life chances of all

of our students, through the provision of a balanced

enterprising education built around academic rigour and

the development of life skills.

I sincerely hope that you decide to apply for the

position advertised and I look forward to reading your

application in the near future.

‘Teachers are keen to develop and refine their skills and the quality of the teaching is improving rapidly.’THA, Ofsted - May 2013

‘Teaching has a significant impact on students’ rapidly improving progress because of well-planned lessons that provide students with interesting and challenging work.’ TSLA, Ofsted - May 2013

Michael Brett, Principal Twitter: @MrBrett_THA

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JOB DESCRIPTION

Employer: Hastings Academies Trust

Location: The Hastings Academy

Job title: Senior Administrative Assistant September 2016 start

Grade: Single Status Grade 6 points 14 to 16£18,394 to £19,532 per annum, pro rota Dependent on qualifications and experienceWorking 37 hours a week, 40 weeks a year 7.30am to 3.30pm

Benefits: Childcare Voucher SchemeEmployee Assistance Programme (EAP)My Academy Rewards / Employee Benefits Portal

Responsible to: PA to Principal, Vice Principals and Office Manager

Main purpose of the job: Administration of all aspects of cover for the AcademyAdministration of year 7 AdmissionsProvision of comprehensive secretarial, administrative and organisation support to Director of CPD & LLL and the Leadership Team

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KEY TASKS:

1.To operate the Academy system to cover for absent teaching staff

• Produce the daily cover schedule, publish on the intranet and circulate relevant information by 8.30am• Deal with requests for emergency cover as they arise during the Academy day• Communicate with Supply Agencies for the provision of Supply Teachers, dealing with timesheets and invoices• Liaise with Cover Supervisors on a daily basis regarding cover requirements• Record all staff absences / annual leave in SIMS• Liaise with the Admin Assistant responsible for trips re cover implications

2. To provide a high level, discrete and confidential typing, word processing and office administration service to the Director of CPD & LLL and Academy Leadership Team as required. To ensure that correspondence, papers and other materials are produced to high standards of accuracy and presentation within required timescales

3. To facilitate and administer the new year 7 intake from Open Evening through to admission to The Hastings Academy in September

4. To assist the Events Manager with the organisation of Open Evening, Open Morning, tours etc

5. To handle all confidential correspondence with discretion inline with the Academy’s policies/ procedures

6. To carry out all activities in line with the Academy’s policies for Health and Safety, and Equal Opportunities

7. To participate in professional development activities and performance management activities as required

8. To undertake other reasonable duties as directed by your line manager

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. The post-holder may be required from time to time to undertake other duties within the

Academy as may be reasonably expected, without changing the general character ofthe duties or the level of responsibility entailed. This is a common occurrence and would

not justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

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Education and Qualifications Essential DesirableMethod of

Assessment

Good general education to A Level standard or equivalentwith high degree of literacy P A

University degree or equivalent P A

Key Skills and Abilities

Ability to prioritise, plan and organise with meticulousattention to detail P A/I

Understanding of the school environment P A/I

Ability to manage time effectively, to meet deadlines andwork under pressure P I

Ability to take responsibility and work on own initiative P A/I

Excellent ICT skills and the capacity to learn to use newsystems and software P A/I

Excellent communication skills, both oral and written,including presentational skills P A/I

Ability to be discreet, discerning and maintain confidentiality;awareness of data protection issues P I

Knowledge and Experience

Good knowledge and understanding of policy and practice inan academy or school or similar environment P A/I

Good understanding of people and organisations and howthey interact P I

Good working knowledge of MS Windows and Office Suiteincluding MS Excel P A/I

Experience of dealing with demanding issues in challengingcircumstances P I

Job title: Senior Administrative Assistant (Method of Assessment: A = Application Form I = Interview)

PERSON SPECIFICATION

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Personal Attributes Essential DesirableMethod of

Assessment

Self motivated with drive, initiative and high degree ofpro-activity P A/I

Sense of humour and equitable temperament with ability toremain calm and confident in challenging situations P A/I

Commitment to working as a positive and constructive teammember P A/I

Commitment to Equal Opportunities P A/I

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job title: Senior Administrative Assistant (Method of Assessment: A = Application Form I = Interview)

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The Trust began life as a federation of twoSecondary Academies, The Hastings Academyand The St Leonards Academy, which opened their doors to students in September 2011. As an organisation, the Trust has recently expanded toinclude seven local primary Academies: Dudley Infant Academy, West St Leonards Academy, The Baird Primary Academy, Robsack Wood Primary Academy, Churchwood Primary Academy, Hollington Primary Academy and Silverdale Primary Academy.

The University of Brighton is our lead sponsor,providing expertise in education and a wealth of experience alongside a passion for working with the communities of Hastings and St Leonards.

The University has a long-standing investmentin Hastings and St Leonards, where it has an

expanding campus and student body.In partnership with Sussex Coast College Hastings,the University is committed to developing programmes that ensure access to further and higher education for our students and their families.

The Trust’s co-sponsors are BT, one of the world’s leading communication providers, and East Sussex County Council. They provide expertise and resources which bring enormous benefit to our students and staff. BT, in particular, affords a link between the academies and the business community by creating opportunities for students to learn social and business skills essential in the world of work.

An Introduction to The Hastings Academies Trust

The Hastings Academy

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While each Academy has its own unique identity, the overarching aim across the Trust is to raise standards and improve educational outcomes for young people living in Hastings and St Leonards.

This ambition is not without challenges as the academies serve areas of significant socio-economic deprivation. However we strongly believe that all students, whatever their background, deserve the opportunity to achieve through the provision of an exceptional education.

We are committed to that purpose and our mission is therefore to create an outstanding learning experience that is innovative and exciting, which inspires a desire for knowledge and life-experiences, and unlocks the latent potential in each individual.

To this end, colleagues within the Trust collaborate very closely in sharing good practice, developing school improvement strategies and in supporting one another. We also work in partnership with Sussex Coast College and The University of Brighton, and are part of the Hastings Academies and College Alliance (HACA).

HACA aims to recruit, develop and retain the highest quality educational professionals to serve Hastings and St Leonards by delivering nationally accredited courses, mentoring, coaching and bespoke package of professional development for every teacher and each stage of their career.

We are particularly commitedto talent management and succession planning.

The Mission, Vision and Ethosof the Hastings Academies Trust

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Living and Workingin Hastings

The Academies are located in Hastings, one of the best known coastal towns of East Sussex. The Hastings Academy is located in the eastern part of the town and The St Leonards Academy is located in the west. Inland is the Weald, an area of outstanding natural beauty, which has a wide range of attractions as well as a superb choice of housing.

Hastings itself is a lively, diverse coastal community, with plenty to enjoy: a historic and picturesque Old Town, and a new town centre with all the necessities of modern life. Dramatic coastline and nearby countryside are excellent destinations for outdoor activities such as walking and cycling.

The area is easy to explore by foot, bike, bus and rail, or a combination of these.

There are good rail links to Brighton and London, and direct trains to Ashford International station for Eurostar.

We have listed some of the major attractions of the area, which make this an excellent place in which to live and work.

Arts and cultureHastings and the surrounding area have a wealth of culture and history to explore, and a number of festivals throughout the year.

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery and the Old Town Museum contain displays from local to international themes. Visit the Hastings Museum and Art Gallery website to find out about permanent collections and temporary exhibitions. The Jerwood Gallery is a stunning new addition to the Old Town and nurtures excellence in the Arts.

The Electric Palace Cinema brings independent cinema to Hastings with a wide choice of film and film events, while the Odeon shows more mainstream cinema. There is a choice of three theatres, including the White Rock Theatre which presents a wide range of productions. For music lovers there is an exciting variety of venues and events including live music venues and many pubs which host live bands.

A free beach concert features local bands every year and the annual Hastings Beer and Music Festival in May attracts well-known groups.

HistoryThe Hastings area has a rich history, having been inhabited for well over 2000 years. The first port predates the arrivals of the Romans in Britain in 55BC and Hastings’ link with the sea continues as home to the largest beach-launched fishing fleet in Europe.

The town’s architecture reflects the last thousand years of its history, from the lofty Norman castle, medieval churches and timbered buildings in the Old Town’s twisting narrow streets and twittens, to the attractive Victorian buildings and 21st century styles.

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Sites of specifichistorical interest

The site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066 is just outside Hastings at nearby Battle.

Hastings Castle was the first to be built in England by William the Conqueror. You can visit the ruins on top of the West Hill.

East Sussex boasts a number of other interesting historical attractions, including more castles - Pevensey Castle, first built 1600 years ago in Roman times, Bodiam Castle, dating from the fourteenth century and Herstmonceaux Castle, from the fifteenth century.

The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists, a novel describing the plight of the working classes in the early twentieth century and now recognised as a classic piece of observation in social criticism, was written in Hastings. The University has celebrated its author, Robert Tressell (pen name of Robert Noonan), by naming one of its halls of residence after him.

There are several thriving local history societies.

Social scene & festivalsSocial scene Hastings has a range of pubs and wine bars from the quaint taverns of the Old Town to the lively and funky town centre bars. There is also an exciting club scene including Brass Monkey, the Jenny Lind and Fluid.

There are plenty of places to eat round the town, ranging from specialist restaurants offering exotic cuisine, welcoming cafés and bustling Italian bistros, to some of the best fish and chip eateries around. Hastings is also of course an excellent place to buy fresh fish to eat at home with friends, including succulent locally-smoked salmon steaks. There is a mixture of shops in Hastings with all the familiar high steet names at the new Priory Meadow Centre and more specialist shops and antique shops in the Old Town.

FestivalsHastings hosts many festivals providing all year round entertainment for families. These include The Jack in The Green Festival where the spirit of the Summer is released, The St Leonards Festival, The Hastings Beer and Music Festival, Coastal Currents, Hastings Old Town Carnival Week, The Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival, and The Hastings Bonfire and Fireworks Display.

SportsHastings has opportunities for sports participants and spectators alike.

Personal fitness and participation sportsMany people choose to keep fit by running along the promenade, where you’ll usually be refreshed by the wind in at least one direction! If you have more time, the walks or bike rides along the dramatic coast or further inland into picturesque Sussex can be exhilarating. You can also keep fit in a range of other ways including:

• Freedom Leisure sports centre

• Kinetika gym

• Water sport clubs offering a range of leisure opportunities including sailboarding, rowing, dinghy racing, surfing and windsurfing.

Spectator sports in HastingsYou can also support a range of spectator sports right on you doorstep in Hastings.

The Hastings half marathon is one of the most highly rated half marathons in the country, often attracting stars of the running world who use it as an early season test due to its timing in the running calendar and its hilly, challenging course. Many local people take part in this event for charity.

Hastings has its own local football club, Hastings United FC, whichplays in the Ryman League Premier Division.

Horntye Park is home to Hastings and St Leonards Priory Cricket Club, The South Saxons Hockey Club and Hastings Town 2000 FC.

More informationInformation on local organisations, clubs and services across East Sussex and Brighton & Hove canbe found at East Sussex CommunityInformation Service (ESCIS).www.escis.org.uk.

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Rye RoadHastingsEast SussexTN35 5DN

www.thehastingsacademy.org

Twitter: @hastingsacademy

Edinburgh RoadSt Leonards-on-SeaEast SussexTN38 8HH

www.thestleonardsacademy.org

Twitter: @sl_academy

WHERE TO FIND US

Rye Road HastingsEast Sussex, TN35 5DN

Tel: 01424 711950

Edinburgh RoadSt Leonards On SeaEast Sussex, TN38 8HH

Tel: 01424 448740

Candidate Pack

For an informal discussion or to arrange a visit please contact HR at:

recruitment@hastingsacademiestrust.org.uk or telephone 01424 711925

The closing date for this post is midday on Friday 13th June 2016Interview date: w/c 11th July 2016

The Hastings Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all

staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All staff will be expected to hold or be willing to obtain Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced check for Regulated Activity with the Disclosure & Barring Services

(previously the Criminal Records Bureau).

www.hastingsacademiestrust.org