HR Officer – Barking Abbey School & Eastbrook School Partnership

Start Date: As Soon As Possible

 Scale S02 Pt 26-28 (£40,182-£42,060 (FT)) pro rata salary, likely to be between approx. (£35,450-£37,107) subject to experience working days and continuous service

 35 Hours per week, term time only plus 10 days (throughout the year in agreement with the HR Manager or School Business Manager)

 Current working hours are 08:00 to 16:00 or 08.30 to 4.30 term time, with flexibility for the additional 10 days, some remote working is a possibility

 Are you an organised, people-focused HR professional who thrives in a busy school environment? Do you enjoy building strong relationships, improving systems and making a genuine difference to staff wellbeing and support?

If so… this may be the job for you!

We are looking for a professional, dedicated and collaborative HR Officer to join our established and supportive HR Team, working across our partnership schools (currently 2) . This is an exciting opportunity for someone with excellent communication skills, a proactive mindset and a passion for developing efficient HR services within education.

About the Role

 This role sits at the heart of our schools’ people support function. You will take a lead role in front-line HR administration — particularly around sickness absence management, staff wellbeing and HR enquiries — ensuring colleagues receive a professional, consistent and supportive service every day.

 Working closely with leaders, line managers and external HR providers, you will help develop and improve HR systems, processes and services, always looking for smarter, more effective ways of working that support our staff and school community.

 The successful candidate will be approachable, discreet and highly organised, with the ability to manage sensitive information with integrity and professionalism.

 What You’ll Be Doing

• Acting as a key point of contact for staff absence and wellbeing enquiries
• Leading on sickness absence administration, monitoring trends and supporting improvement
• Supporting managers with HR processes, guidance and consistent practice
• Maintaining high-quality personnel records and HR systems across both schools
• Assisting with payroll administration, contracts and staff lifecycle processes
• Supporting confidential meetings and providing accurate HR administration
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to improve HR functions and enhance service delivery

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking someone who brings:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to liaise with staff at all levels
• A collaborative approach and genuine enthusiasm for teamwork
• Strong organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail
• A positive, solutions-focused “can-do” attitude
• The ability to work flexibly across two partnership schools and manage competing priorities
• A commitment to continuous improvement, professional development and CPD
• An interest in developing knowledge of HR practice, employment law and education sector processes

Why Join Us?

You’ll be joining a welcoming and supportive team where collaboration sits at the heart of everything we do. We invest in our people and are committed to helping you grow your HR expertise through hands-on experience, guidance and professional development opportunities.

 This is a role where your ideas will be valued — and where you will have real scope to help shape and improve the way HR services are delivered across our partnership schools.

 Barking Abbey and Eastbrook school have been working together in partnership since September 2023. They will be formalising this arraignment through the formation of a hard federation for September 2026. Whilst this role is primarily based at one of our partnership schools, there is an expectation that the postholder will work collaboratively with colleagues in other schools in order to develop and enhance practice and increase operational efficiency. The partnership and collaborative working provide exciting opportunities for career development and improvement in each school.

Interview: 12/3/2026

Safeguarding

The partnership schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS clearance and safer recruitment checks.