HR Officer | Secondary School | Newham
- Permanent, Full-time
HR Officer
Location: Newham
Ofsted Rating: Outstanding
School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (36 hours per week, Full Year or Term-Time Plus options negotiable)
An Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ secondary school and Sixth Form in the vibrant London Borough of Newham is seeking a knowledgeable, proactive, and people-centric School HR Officer to join their central operations and personnel team. This is an excellent opportunity for a human resources professional, whether an experienced HR coordinator looking to step up in an educational setting or a dedicated HR generalist with public sector/schools experience, to lead essential workforce processes, talent acquisition, and employee relations in a high-performing academic environment.
About the Role
As the HR Officer, you will serve as a trusted advisor and operational manager for all staff-related matters across the school. Working closely with the Headteacher, School Business Manager, and Senior Leadership Team, you will oversee end-to-end recruitment, Single Central Record (SCR) compliance, pre-employment safeguarding checks, contract management, absence monitoring, and staff wellbeing initiatives.
Start Date: Immediate or upcoming term
Environment: A flagship Inner London secondary school celebrated for academic achievement, strong social mobility, and an exemplary work culture
Culture: A collaborative, professional, and supportive administrative environment where employee development, inclusion, and welfare are prioritized
Key Responsibilities
Recruitment & Onboarding: Coordinate end-to-end talent acquisition for teaching and support roles, including job postings, candidate screening, interview scheduling, offer letters, contracts, and comprehensive induction plans.
Safeguarding & Compliance: Maintain and audit the school’s Single Central Record (SCR) with absolute accuracy, ensuring all enhanced DBS checks, reference verifications, right-to-work checks, and overseas clearances comply with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) regulations.
Employee Relations & Advisory: Act as the first point of contact for staff queries regarding HR policies, pay progression, maternity/paternity leave, pensions, and sickness absence management routines.
Payroll & Records Management: Collate, verify, and submit monthly payroll variations (overtime, unpaid leave, pay scale changes, sickness) to external payroll providers while maintaining secure, GDPR-compliant personnel files.
Staff Wellbeing & Performance: Assist leadership with performance appraisal cycles, professional development tracking, occupational health referrals, and whole-school employee wellbeing strategies.
Requirements
CIPD Qualification (Level 3, Level 5, or equivalent experience in Human Resources / Personnel Management).
Proven HR operational experience (prior experience within an educational setting, local authority, or trust network is highly desirable).
In-depth knowledge of safer recruitment practices, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) frameworks, and maintainer-level expertise with the Single Central Record (SCR).
Familiarity with educational HR systems and databases (e.g., SIMS, Arbor, SAM People, iTrent, or similar HR/MIS platforms).
Exceptional communication, discretionary judgment, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle sensitive employee matters with empathy and strict confidentiality.
Salary & Benefits
Pay Scale: Inner London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with HR experience and qualifications).
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous holiday allowance, funded CIPD professional development opportunities, and access to comprehensive employee assistance and health programs.
How to Apply
If you are a detail-oriented, people-focused HR professional ready to make a significant operational contribution at an Outstanding secondary school in Newham, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application as soon as possible for consideration.