HR Support Apprenticeship

Compensation: £12.480

HR Assistant Apprenticeship -St Catherine’s School

The HR Assistant plays a key role in delivering efficient, accurate and confidential support across the HR function. Working within a busy and friendly school environment, the post‑holder helps ensure smooth staff processes, compliant record‑keeping and a positive employee experience. This is a varied role supporting recruitment, onboarding, payroll administration, data management and day‑to‑day HR queries — ideal for someone organised, proactive and committed to high-quality people operations

Apprenticeship Summary

Salary

£8.00 an hour

Working Week

• Monday to Friday 8:30am – 3:00pm including a 30 mins break
• Hours: 30 hours per week
• Online apprenticeship training supported by our skilled tutors
• HR Support Apprenticeship standard qualification

Location Station Road, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 0DF

What you will do

• Recruitment support — Assist with advertising roles, managing applications,
• scheduling interviews and candidate communication.
• Safer recruitment checks — Support safer recruitment and pre-employment
• vetting including references, DBS and Right to Work.
• Onboarding coordination — Prepare induction materials, manage new
• starter documentation and ensure compliance steps are completed.
• Performance administration - support probation process administration for
• new joiners, and review process administration for established employees.
• HR system - support the HR Manager with the implementation and upkeep
• of the HR system, inputting and maintaining HR data, supporting holiday
• administration, and ensuring the HR system is accurate and up to date.
• Compliance & record keeping — Help maintain the Single Central Record,
• ensure personnel files meet regulatory standards and support inspection
• preparation. Ensure HR processes reflect safeguarding best practice.
• Contract changes — draft letters for changes including FTE, fixed-term
• contract extensions, and pay changes, recording payroll changes correctly.
• Payroll and Benefits administration — work with the Finance team to
• support the administration of payroll, pensions and staff benefits.
• Leavers - support leaver administration and offboarding processes.

Employee relations admin —

• Support HR processes such as absence
• management and formal meetings through note-taking and document
• preparation.
• General HR queries — Act as a first point of contact for routine staff
• queries, ensuring a professional and helpful service.
• HR projects — Contribute to HR initiatives including wellbeing, engagement,
• policy updates and support with systems implementation.

Person Specification

Essential

Previous administrative experience

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Good IT skills (Microsoft Office, HR systems)
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively

Desirable

Previous HR experience

• Experience working in a school or education setting
• Understanding of safer recruitment and safeguarding requirements
• Experience with HR systems and databases
• Basic knowledge of UK employment practices

Personal Attributes

Professional, calm, and reliable

Approachable and supportive

Highly organised with a methodical approach

Collaborative and team-oriented

Committed to maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance

Essential qualifications

• GCSE English (Grade A*-C/9-4 or Level 2 equivalent) essential
• GCSE Maths (Grade A*-C/9-4 or Level 2 equivalent) essential

Training and Development

As an apprentice, you will receive support through both on-the-job learning and formal training as part of your apprenticeship programme. This will typically include:

• Study towards a Level 3 HR Apprenticeship Standard.
• On-the-job training and mentoring from experienced school professionals.
• Regular review meetings to support progress and development.
• Training in school administration, finance systems, and education-sector processes.

What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?
The successful candidate will obtain a Level 3 HR Apprenticeship Standard qualification.

What is the expected career progression after this apprenticeship?
Potential full-time employment opportunities within school administration or finance for the right candidate upon successful completion of the apprenticeship.

Pre-employment checks: Please be aware that successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment checks, including enhanced DBS checks with child and adult barred list checks, right-to-work checks, and safeguarding procedures in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance.

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