Secretary jobs in Hertfordshire

Executive PA to Head Teacher - Tonwell, Hertfordshire

Location: Tonwell, near Ware & Hertford
Job Title: Executive PA to Head Teacher
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday
Contract: Long-term opportunity

Are you an experienced Executive PA who thrives in a busy, people-focused environment and wants your work to have genuine purpose?

SENDhelp is recruiting an exceptional Executive PA to Head Teacher to join the leadership support team of an Outstanding specialist SEND school, with this opportunity based at its satellite provision in Tonwell, Hertfordshire.

This is far more than a traditional PA position. As Executive PA to Head Teacher, you'll be at the heart of a growing specialist education setting, providing high-level, confidential support while helping senior leaders, staff and governors deliver the best possible outcomes for children and young people with additional needs.

About the School

Based in Tonwell, the satellite provision forms part of a well-established specialist school supporting children and young people with severe and complex learning difficulties, all of whom have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The wider school supports pupils aged 2-19 and was judged Outstanding by Ofsted in 2024.

The Tonwell provision is part of the school's continued expansion to create much-needed specialist places within Hertfordshire. The site offers pupils access to purposefully resourced classrooms alongside a PE hall, cooking facilities, outdoor areas, a library area and nature space. The school places a strong emphasis on personalised learning, communication, independence and preparing pupils for adulthood.

For an Executive PA to Head Teacher, this creates an opportunity to join a highly purposeful environment where excellent organisation behind the scenes directly supports the education, care and development of pupils.

Your Role as Executive PA to Head Teacher

Working closely with the Head Teacher and wider leadership team, you'll provide a highly organised, confidential and professional PA service. The full job description places particular emphasis on diary management, stakeholder communication, meeting preparation, governance, accurate record keeping and supporting the efficient day-to-day running of senior leadership.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Managing a busy senior leadership diary, prioritising meetings, appointments and commitments.
• Acting as a professional first point of contact for staff, parents, governors and external stakeholders.
• Preparing reports, documents and briefing materials ahead of important meetings.
• Attending meetings and producing accurate, high-quality minutes and follow-up documentation.
• Drafting, proofreading and managing professional and confidential correspondence.
• Supporting governors and senior leaders with governance administration and full governing body meetings.
• Maintaining accurate records, staff files and information using school systems, including Arbor.
• Supporting school policies, procedures, CPD records and wider administrative projects.
• Liaising confidently with teachers, senior leaders, governors, families and external organisations.
• Handling sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion.
• Supporting the wider leadership and administration teams when required.

The position requires flexibility and the ability to travel between school sites across Hertfordshire, so a full UK driving licence and access to a car are essential.

Experience & Skills We're Looking For

We're looking for an accomplished Executive PA to Head Teacher who can remain calm, organised and professional while managing competing priorities.

You should have previous experience in a PA, Executive Assistant, senior administration or similar role supporting a senior leader, alongside excellent written and verbal communication skills. You'll need strong diary management, organisation and prioritisation abilities, confidence producing professional documents and meeting minutes, excellent attention to detail and strong IT skills across word processing, spreadsheets and presentation software.

You'll also need GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/Grade 5 or above. Previous experience within education or working with children and young people is desirable, although the right transferable experience and attitude will be highly valued.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who is discreet, proactive, adaptable and meticulous. You should be comfortable using your own initiative, dealing professionally with difficult or sensitive situations and working under pressure without losing sight of the details.

Why Work Through SENDhelp?

Joining SENDhelp as an Executive PA to Head Teacher in Tonwell means having a specialist SEND recruitment team behind you throughout your placement.

You'll benefit from competitive PAYE pay with no hidden fees, a dedicated consultant who understands specialist education, ongoing support throughout your placement and access to 400+ free online training courses to support your professional development.

We're specialists in SEND recruitment, so we understand that finding the right environment matters just as much as finding the right role. We'll support you throughout the process and help make your transition into the school as straightforward as possible.

Ready for Your Next Executive PA Opportunity?

If you're an experienced PA, Executive Assistant or senior administrator looking for a role where your organisational skills can contribute to something meaningful, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today for this Executive PA to Head Teacher opportunity in Tonwell, Hertfordshire and take the next step in your career within specialist education.

As a specialist SEND recruiter, child safety and welfare is our number one priority. That is why we conduct thorough checks on all our candidates, and ensure that they abide by our Candidate Code of Conduct.

All Candidates will be required to provide an Enhanced DBS that is actively registered on the Update Service, or apply for one as part of the onboarding process. This is in addition to other mandatory compliance checks in line with the DfE guidelines. For further information please see our Safer Recruitment Policy.

SENDhelp is an equal opportunities employer.