Personal Assistant to the Principal

Overview

Job OverviewYou are an excellent leader; we are a top performing Trust. Together, we can create truly exceptional schools.About The Role

City of London Academies Trust (COLAT) is seeking to appoint a Personal Assistant to the Principal starting in October 2025. You will have experience as a Personal Assistant or Executive Assistant in a school environment or similar. You will be the first point of contact for internal and external stakeholders visiting the Principal by welcoming them to the academy and providing refreshments. You must have a professional demeanor and great interpersonal skills to deal with staff and parents. You will possess excellent communication skills, be highly organised and manage your time effectively. Your duties include organising the Principal’s diary and communication management, coordination of meetings and minutes, drafting and correcting important documents and letters, managing confidential correspondence and general administration duties.You will also support the local governing body by producing and distributing the agenda and other documents to a high standard. These meetings take place after school. You will be responsible for checking the content for the school website. You will also deal with sensitive and confidential letters, documents and information, therefore maintaining the highest level of confidentiality at all times. You will work pro-actively with the Principal, the senior leadership team, teachers, heads of department and the wider support team across a range of activities.About Us

COLAT is driven by the ambition to be the best. We believe exceptional leaders create exceptional schools; they transform lives and shape the future of every student. COLAT currently oversees six secondary academies, three primary academies and one sixth form centre all located in north, south and east London. We combine the heritage and tradition of the Corporation of London with a genuinely innovative, enterprising, and entrepreneurial ethos. We are also committed to providing training and development to all our staff, plus excellent career advancement opportunities within this evolving Trust.Our Academy

City of London Academy Highgate Hill, opened as a mixed, all-ability, non-denominational academy in September 2017, and is housed in a lovely building with excellent facilities for students, staff and the community. With the support of our enthusiastic students, diligent staff, supportive parents and cohesive governing body, we strive to provide a calm and purposeful learning environment underpinned by high expectations. City of London Academy Highgate Hill is based in the heart of an evolving community in Islington, and we value the diversity of our workforce. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join our team.Our academy was previously Mount Carmel Catholic College for Girls and we are now a mixed, non-denominational academy. We have created an excellent academy with high levels of achievement and self-discipline, and a curriculum designed to help students achieve the best personal and academic standards. Our academy offers high-quality facilities, including modern science and technology labs, creative arts spaces, and well-equipped sports facilities. We pride ourselves on our personalised approach, with small class sizes and strong pastoral care to ensure that each student receives the attention they deserve. Our outstanding academic sixth form which opened in September 2022 is modelled on the Newham Collegiate Sixth Form, City of London Academy, and attracts exceptionally bright and motivated young people, providing an inspiring environment where students are challenged to achieve their best, preparing them for top universities and successful careers.In our academy, we expect students to work hard and to show dedication and commitment to their education. There are clear boundaries and rules which students must adhere to at all times. They must exhibit exemplary character and conduct and demonstrate respect, kindness and politeness towards each other and the adults. In return, we provide them with an excellent education both in terms of examination success and personal development, helping them develop the skills and values they will need to be successful in later life.About You

You will have experience proofreading and editing important documents and letters sometimes at short notice. You will have experience drafting letters or responses, note taking for meetings and have experience with diary management. You will have secretarial or administrative skills which include responding to emails/letters, filing, printing, scanning and answering the telephone and you can prioritise your day effectively. You will have experience of supporting students, establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with students, staff and parents. Excellent communication skills both oral and written are an essential part of the role to be able to deal with staff, students, parents and external agencies.Hours and conditions

Normal hours will be between 8.00am - 4.00pm. You will also need to be available for 5 days in the half term which will be agreed in advance. It is expected that you would be available to support certain meetings outside of these hours by agreement in advance for which time off in lieu will be accrued. There are also INSET training days and training after school every other week throughout the academic year which you are expected to attend.Application process

If you match our ambition and want to join our dedicated team of professionals, we would love to hear from you. Candidates must address the person specification in no more than 1,000 words. Applications must be submitted via the TES Schrole portal on the following link: https://app.schrole.com/#/connect/vacancy/f784d888-e4b1-46c0-a3b8-3b5ccf926347If you require any other details, or would like an informal discussion, please contact inquiries@highgatehill.cola.org.uk or hr@highgatehill.cola.org.ukClosing date

Closing date for applications 10.00am Wednesday 17 September 2025. We plan for interviews to take place week commencing Monday 22 September 2025 or Monday 29 September 2025.City of London Academies Trust supports Equal Opportunities Employment. City of London Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, including enhanced DBS checks and a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the standards which flows from City of London Academies Trust vision and values.The role is covered by part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and therefore the ability to speak fluent spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.City of London Academies Trust Company Registration No. ..... full job details .....