School HR Officer

HR Officer (Maternity Cover – 12 Months)
Location: Redbridge
Contract: Full-time, 12-month maternity cover
Start Date: ASAP
Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience)
A well-established and forward-thinking school is seeking an experienced HR Officer to join their central team on a 12-month maternity cover. This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive HR professional to play a key role in delivering a high-quality, efficient HR service within an educational setting.
The Role The successful candidate will support the full employee lifecycle and ensure HR processes are compliant, accurate, and effectively managed.
Key responsibilities include:

Managing end-to-end HR administration, including recruitment, onboarding, and offboarding
Maintaining and updating the Single Central Register (SCR) to ensure safeguarding compliance
Supporting safer recruitment practices, including DBS checks, references, and right-to-work checks
Overseeing absence management processes and maintaining accurate staff records
Assisting with payroll data preparation and ensuring information accuracy
Producing HR reports, including contributions to the School Workforce Census and HR metrics
Acting as a first point of contact for HR queries and supporting line managers with HR matters
Ensuring all HR records and systems are fully compliant with safeguarding and employment legislationSystems & Experience Required
Experience using HR systems and education databases (e.g. MIS systems, HRIS platforms, and payroll systems)
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and HR reporting tools
Proven experience developing and maintaining HR processes and systemsPerson Specification
Previous experience within an HR role, ideally in an education or public sector setting
Strong understanding of HR best practice and employment law
Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
Ability to manage a busy workload and meet deadlines
Professional, discreet, and able to handle confidential information
Strong communication skills with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholdersAdditional Information
A strong understanding of safeguarding and safer recruitment practices is essential
An enhanced DBS check will be required
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed