Description
“We are passionate about three things:
- Leading staff to become happy, successful, highly trained professionals who stay in the game and don’t burn out or lose their way.
- Creating a fulfilling secondary experience for students where they can grow to become well-rounded, ambitious and successful young adults ready to put a ding in the universe.
- Life outside work.
Being great at number 1 and number 2 should not mean we can’t do number 3!”
We are an 11-18 academy with a thriving Sixth Form and a lovely building. It is a school where we are as passionate about developing our staff as we are about developing our students. In February 2024, we secured a judgment of ‘Outstanding’ from Ofsted finding the Academy outstanding in every aspect. Ofsted stated ‘Pupils benefit hugely from attending this remarkable school. Staff and leaders’ sky-high expectations are immediately evident in pupils’ scholarly demeanour. Pupils are attentive and work hard in lessons. The school and trust have created a centre of true excellence. Pupils experience an extraordinary education at Harris Academy Ockendon. Pupils’ achievements are very high, and still improving.’ (Ofsted 2024)
Our location just outside the M25 means we attract staff not only from Essex but from London. Indeed, over half our staff live in Kent/Surrey/South East and Central London. Some of our team even travel from West London because they like the school so much.
Our role here is to help students and staff dream bigger than they ever thought possible, and to make that dream come true through our culture of “work hard, be kind, take responsibility” which beats at the heart of our school.
The Executive Principal is George McMillan. Originally from Glasgow, he graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an MA (hons) degree in English Literature and a burning desire to teach. After teaching in Edinburgh, then moving to senior management in Chafford (Essex), George took over Harris Academy Greenwich in 2011 and led its transformation to hitting the top 15% of schools in the country for progress 7 years in a row. Harris Greenwich is one of only a handful of schools in London to retain its Outstanding status (2014 then 2022) under the new Ofsted framework, and the World Class School status twice in a row.
The Principal is Ms Jo Rainey. Originally from Belfast, she graduated from the University of Ulster with a first class degree in History and Geography. Over the past 21 years, she has taught history and led in schools across London and Essex with most of her senior leadership career being spent in Hackney. Jo has been Principal at Ockendon since 2018. She is highly respected for her strong sense of integrity, her passion for student life chances, and loyalty to the school.
The Harris Federation is a highly successful group of schools who serve many of the most deprived areas of London and Essex. We are collaborative, enterprising and share a passion for turning lives around, yet each school is autonomous and free to set its own vision and strategy for how it does that.
Each Harris school feels completely different in terms of culture and ethos. Perhaps this is the school you’ve been looking for.
Main Areas of Responsibility
You will support the Exams Officer with the day-to-day operation of examination venues and other examination processes, with activities including:
- Assisting with setting-up examination venues by laying out stationery, equipment and examination papers
- Assisting candidates prior to the start of examinations
- Ensuring that candidates do not talk once inside examination venues
- Invigilating during examinations, dealing with queries raised by candidates and dealing with irregularities
- Checking attendance during examinations
- Recording details of late arrivals
- Escorting candidates from venues during the examinations and supervising candidates outside examination venues
- Collecting and collating scripts at the end of the examination
- Assisting with the preparation of script envelopes
- Supervising candidates leaving examination venues, ensuring that candidates do not remove equipment or stationery from the venue without authorisation and that they leave venues in an orderly and quiet manner
- Assisting with the packing of examination papers, stationery and equipment before examinations, and the delivery to and from venues as appropriate
- Assisting with the preparation of seating plans
Qualifications & Experience
For this role, you will need:
- Access to an email account so invigilation schedules can be arranged with the Examinations Officer
- A positive interest in young people and their education
- The ability to be flexible
- Accuracy and a high level of attention to detail
- Confident communication skills
- A firm but fair attitude
- The ability to work well under pressure
- Physical fitness appropriate to tasks required (exam papers can be heavy in bulk, and there is a lot of walking involved)
Professional Development & Benefits
Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.
