Receptionist

Salary: Support Staff Pay Scale C: £22,401 to £22,752 pro-rata per annum (Actual) (£25,614 - £26,016 full time/full year equivalent)

Permanent

Full Time - 37 hours per week over 5 days from Monday to Friday (Between 8am and 4pm)

Working Weeks: 39 weeks

Start Date: November 2026

King Edward VII Academy is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, organised and reliable Receptionist with excellent communication and interpersonal skills to support front-desk operations. The successful candidate will provide a professional and welcoming service to all pupils, parents, visitors and staff, as well as to undertake basic administration duties to a high standard.

What You’ll Be Doing

• To undertake switchboard, receptionist and messenger duties within the school, in conjunction with other clerical staff.
• To receive and reply promptly to any telephone and other messages, dealing as appropriate with routine enquiries.
• To ensure that visitors and callers to the school are courteously and correctly received and hospitality provided as required.
• To undertake administration duties as directed by the line manager.
• To support academy events as required.

About You:

The successful candidate will have strong communication and problem-solving skills, attention to details, and a friendly attitude. You will also be able to work on your own initiative as well as the wider admin team.

Essential:

• Good numeracy and literacy skills/GCSE (or equivalent) Maths and English
• Experience in general clerical or administrative work
• Full competence in using ICT
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to build good working relationships with stakeholders, working well with children and adults
• Calm and courteous approach
• Good communication skills, both written and spoken

Desirable:

• Experience of working in a busy reception
• Basic knowledge of first aid

Why Join Inspiration Trust

At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You’ll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration, and innovation. We provide opportunities for growth and empower you to make a real impact in schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. As part of our thriving network of talented teachers, leaders, and support staff, you’ll receive a varied professional development programme designed to help you be the best you can be.

We offer:

• Generous annual leave, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with excellent employer contributions
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
• Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
• Free parking at most sites
• Personalised CPD and development programmes
• A structured and specific induction programme.

*Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.

About Us

King Edward VII Academy is a large, diverse, and comprehensive 11-18 school with a rich and prestigious history. Thousands of students have walked the halls of this magnificent building, all in pursuit of the excellence that the academy continues to strive for today.

In October 2024, Ofsted rated King Edward VII Academy and Sixth Form as Good overall, recognising the rapid positive changes across the school. Inspectors highlighted the academy’s ambition and high standards: "The school expects high standards of pupils’ work and behaviour. It reminds pupils that every minute counts in meeting these standards. Pupils are rising to this challenge. They know that they attend an inclusive school that has improved rapidly. In the past, academic outcomes have been low. Now, however, the sense of ambition is abundantly clear. Lessons are engaging and focused. Pupils learn well."

The report also praised the school’s curriculum and teaching: "The school’s curriculum is ambitious and ensures that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access learning alongside their peers. The curriculum sets out what pupils will learn and the order in which it is taught. High-quality training and support from the Trust have led to precise teaching. Teachers use their strong subject knowledge to present new concepts clearly. Staff are invested in the school and the community. They feel well supported by leaders who manage their workload with sensitivity. They want the very best for pupils and are proud to work at the school."

King Edward VII Academy is calm, orderly, and purposeful. Its culture is built around high expectations and consistent structures and routines, enabling teachers to focus on their subjects with expertise and passion.

We are part of the Inspiration Trust, twice ranked as the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress, and strongly believe in the importance of giving the widest educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background. We have strong networks across the Trust, with opportunities to work with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to offering excellent professional and learning opportunities for our staff, with a busy programme of continuing professional development courses delivered by some of the country’s best educational thinkers and practitioners.

The Inspiration Trust is a Multi Academy Trust, committed to delivering the very best educational experience for the young people of Norfolk and Suffolk, across 17 schools. We are ambitious for our schools and communities and want to create Britain’s highest performing federation of 3-19 schools and transform education in the East. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.

For information on what it is like to live and work in Kings Lynn click here.

Next Steps

Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.

If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact Joanne Wiseman, PA to Principal ([email removed]).

To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.

When you start your application, you will receive several emails from our application provider, Vacancy Filler. Please be aware that some email providers may mistakenly mark these messages as spam. To avoid missing important updates, we recommend checking your spam or junk folders regularly throughout the application process and marking these emails as safe.