How to become a school secretary
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- working towards this role
- applying directly
College
You could complete a college course to get some of the skills needed for this job. Courses include:
- Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools
- Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
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Apprenticeship
You can get into this job through a business administrator advanced apprenticeship or a school business professional higher apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
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Work
You could start as an admin assistant in a larger school or multi-academy trust and work your way up to a post with more responsibility.
Direct Application
You could apply directly to become a school secretary. Employers would expect you to have a good standard of general education and experience of office work.
You should be able to use common office software including spreadsheets. Knowledge of accounts packages would also be helpful, although employers may provide training in some of these.