Administrative Assistant

Job description / Role

Job overview

Portsmouth High School is seeking an administrative assistant to work in our school office. Are you looking for a position with the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of students and contribute to the smooth operation of our vibrant school community? If you are a team player with a can-do attitude, attention to detail and aptitude for using office software, this role could be for you.

Required from: November 2025
Contract term: Permanent
Hours: Part time (28.5 hours per week during term time and 20 hours per week during holiday periods)
Weeks: Full year (including school holiday periods)
Holidays: 1 week at Christmas, 3 weeks during August, plus 2 further weeks
Salary: GDST Regional Support Grade 2 (from u00a326,088 pa pro rata ie: u00a319,459.91)

The role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced administrator looking to work within our friendly school office environment. The successful applicant will join supportive colleagues at both the prep and senior schools.

You will put your skills to use in a dynamic educational setting with opportunities for customer service, frontline support, maintaining records, assisting with event coordination and facilitating effective communication.

A shift system is in place during term times to man the reception desk during opening hours. The hours for this role would be:

• Monday to Thursdays: 11:45 am to 5:00 pm
• Fridays: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (with a one-hour lunch break)
• Holiday periods: 8:00 am to 12:00 midday

The school

Portsmouth High School has been educating girls since 1882 and is part of the Girlsu2019 Day School Trust (GDST) which is the UKu2019s leading network of independent girlsu2019 schools. Pupils are happy, confident and ambitious giving them an unparalleled preparation for life. The school is located in Southsea, an attractive region on the south coast with excellent transport links. The area has retained much of its original Georgian character; notably, two of the school buildings were designed by architect Thomas Ellis Owen who was instrumental in shaping development of the local area.

We are a welcoming and caring community and pride ourselves on being a lovely place to work. The school offers a range of career opportunities both internally and more widely throughout the GDST network and is committed to staff well-being.

Benefits

We offer a variety of benefits, such as:

• A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
• Competitive salaries
• Access to extensive professional development opportunities
• Training grants for qualifications
• Flexible pension schemes
• Free life assurance benefit
• Employee discount benefits, financial advice and an employee assistance programme
• A cycle to work scheme
• Competitive terms and conditions of employment

Additional information

The closing date for applications is midday on Thursday 9 October 2025. Applications will be assessed upon receipt and the school reserves the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.

Interview date: Thursday 16 October 2025 (to be confirmed).

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified individuals. To be eligible for employment, candidates must provide proof of their right to work in the UK.

This role will involve daily contact with children. The administrative assistant will therefore be engaging in regulated activity and an enhanced DBS with barred list checks will be required. All school staff have a responsibility to work in accordance with statutory requirements and GDST safeguarding and child protection policy.