Business Support Assistant - Virtual School

Overview

Business Support Assistant – Virtual School

Salary - Grade 3 £26403 - £28142

Interview Date : 14 October 2025

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated professional to join Sunderland’s well-regarded Virtual School Team, part of Together for Children’s Education Directorate.

The Virtual School consists of a highly experienced team of professionals who are dedicated to ensuring vulnerable children and young people receive an education which meets their individual needs. We are proud that Together for Children Sunderland maintained an outstanding Ofsted rating in 2025, recognised for the stability of our well-supported and talented workforce that delivers an ongoing commitment to improving children’s outcomes.

The team work effectively with multi-agency partners to raise educational standards, promote inclusion and wellbeing, and improve the life chances of our young people. The successful candidate will be expected to provide high quality professional, flexible, proficient and constructive administration and financial support to colleagues within the Virtual School.

The post holder will be responsible for the administrative functions of the team including communication, personnel and finance. They will offer support to the wider team, attend and minuting meetings as required, produce meeting documents within agreed timescales, maintain the Microsoft Teams system, and act as the first point of contact for all stakeholders. They will provide support for training events, ensuring paperwork is prepared, assist with construction of presentations, venue booking, and technological support. They will ensure accurate records are maintained and will possess a sound knowledge of developed IT systems, contributing to statutory procedures, legislation, corporate standards and policies. Much of the work is self-generating, and the post holder will be expected to work within established procedures and guidelines and to prioritise day-to-day work, referring only exceptional or complex queries to managers.

The Virtual School team safeguards and protects its pupils and staff by being committed to respond in accordance with Together for Children’s Safeguarding Policies.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality professional, flexible, proficient and constructive administration and financial support to colleagues within the Virtual School.
• Attend and minute meetings as required; produce meeting documents within agreed timescales.
• Maintain the Microsoft Teams system and act as the first point of contact for stakeholders.
• Provide support for training events : ensure paperwork is prepared, assist with construction of presentations, venue booking, and technological support.
• Maintain accurate records and possess a sound knowledge of IT systems; contribute to statutory procedures, legislation, corporate standards and policies.
• Prioritise day-to-day work within established procedures and guidelines; refer only exceptional or complex queries to managers.

Qualifications and Skills

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Together for Children is committed to developing and retaining a workforce representative of the diverse local communities we support across Sunderland. We strive to build an inclusive workplace culture where all employees feel valued and diversity is celebrated. We work with networks including :

We welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race and background. In addition to a competitive salary, benefits include agile working arrangements, Local Government Pension Scheme membership and a flexi-time scheme. A comprehensive health and wellbeing programme is available to all employees.

If you have a disability, please contact our Accessibility Network Chair to hear how we can support you during the recruitment process and in the workplace. Email : peoplesupport@togetherforchildren.org.uk

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