HR Officer | Secondary School | Newham

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.