| Reference: | AQ3528 |
| Specialisms: | Education, Schools |
| Date posted: | 18th March 2026 |
I am delighted to extend my warmest welcome to you as you consider joining St James Schools. We appreciate your interest in becoming a part of our unique and inspiring educational community.
At St James, we take immense pride in our distinctive philosophical approach to education. Mindfulness, vegetarian lunches, and the inclusion of Sanskrit in our curriculum are just a few of the ways in which we stand out from the crowd. Our students, parents, and staff all cherish our truly unique ethos, built on principles of open-minded enquiry, collaboration, and a steadfast belief in the limitless potential of the each individual.
With locations in both Ashford, Surrey, and Kensington Olympia, London, our schools are a vibrant and diverse hub of learning. Our commitment to fostering a culture of mutual respect and trust is central to our mission, and our dedicated staff play a pivotal role in making this a reality.
Our school’s unique ethos extends to our support for staff. We have our own salary scale, and we highly value our team members. You will find ample opportunities for professional development to help you grow in your career.
We would love to hear from you and look forward to receiving your application.
Warm regards,
William Wyatt
Chief Operating Officer
Founded in 1975 by philosophically-inclined parents, our three independent day schools offer a distinctive approach to education which provides for the intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of every child; they aim to provide an environment in which a child can discover all that is best within their own nature.
We actively support our pupils’ emotional wellbeing, focusing on mindfulness and fostering a positive school atmosphere built on mutual respect, trust and kindness.
Our schools enjoy enviable locations in London and Surrey: our Nursery, Preparatory School and Senior Girls’ School are close to Hammersmith and High Street Kensington, while St James Senior Boys’ School occupies a stunning 33-acre site in Ashford, in leafy Surrey, with transport services from London.
About the role
St James Schools is a distinctive and values-led educational organisation with a reputation for nurturing both academic excellence and personal development. Rooted in a strong sense of community and purpose, the Schools provide a rich and supportive environment for pupils and staff alike. As the organisation continues to develop, they are seeking an organised, knowledgeable and highly professional HR, Payroll and Pensions Officer to play a key role in supporting our people and ensuring the smooth operation of core HR and payroll processes.
This is an important operational role at the heart of the Schools’ central team. Reporting to the Head of HR and working closely with the COO and Headteachers across the three Schools, the postholder will act as the first point of contact for HR, payroll and pensions queries, providing accurate guidance, efficient administration and a high standard of professional support across the employee lifecycle.
The successful candidate will take responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the HR Management System (Every HR), ensuring data is maintained accurately and processes are managed efficiently. They will support recruitment and onboarding, including pre-employment vetting, preparation of recruitment packs and job descriptions, and the coordination of new starters to ensure a seamless induction into the organisation.
A key element of the role will be advising and supporting school leaders on a range of people management matters, including absence management, disciplinary processes, grievance and capability procedures, ensuring that policies are applied consistently and fairly.
The role also has responsibility for managing the groups payroll processe, working with an outsourced payroll provider to ensure that payroll data is complete, accurate and submitted within agreed timescales. This will include collating payroll information, reviewing monthly payroll reports, ensuring pay adjustments are applied correctly, and maintaining compliance with statutory requirements including National Minimum Wage regulations.
Working with colleagues across the organisation, the HR, Payroll and Pensions Officer will ensure joiners and leavers are processed efficiently, liaising with relevant departments to support onboarding and offboarding arrangements and ensuring systems and records are kept up to date.
The successful candidate will bring strong organisational skills, attention to detail and a commitment to confidentiality and professionalism when handling sensitive information. They will have experience working in an HR and/or payroll environment, a sound understanding of HR processes and employment practices, and the ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues across the organisation.
Above all, we are looking for someone who shares the Schools’ commitment to supporting staff so that they can provide the very best experience for pupils.
The School is committed to providing a comprehensive range of non-contractual benefits
Meal: Lunch will be provided on your working days in the on-site refectory during School term time.
Discounts: All permanent members of staff who have passed their probationary period may be eligible for School fees discounts. Any discount agreed ends when your employment terminates for whatever reason.
Christmas Closure: All support staff contracted to work during School holidays will receive paid leave during the Christmas period when all School sites are closed. This is in addition to the annual contractual holiday entitlement.
School of Philosophy and Economic Science membership: The Schools will cover the cost of membership fees for the employee to the School of Philosophy and Economic Science.
Life Assurance: All permanent members of staff are covered by life assurance. It is designed to help your dependants in the unfortunate event of your death while employed by us.
How to Apply
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to St James Schools. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
Closing Date: This role is currently live on a rolling basis and we encourage early applications
Applications should consist of:
Should you wish to discuss further details about the role in strict confidence, please get in touch with Alasdair Redwood at alasdair.redwood@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0) 7394 012 383.
If you have any questions about your application, please get in touch.
