HR Graduate

Springwell Alternative Academy; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

An independent school in Chelmsford is seeking a proactive Human Resources (HR) Graduate to support its HR functions. The role includes HR administration, recruitment, payroll assistance, and ensuring compliance with legal requirements. Ideal candidates should hold a degree and demonstrate commitment to safeguarding children. This position offers a supportive environment with professional development opportunities while engaging in the school community.

Benefits

35 days' holiday

Excellent benefits & CPD

Complimentary lunch during term time

Discounted membership for sport club

Qualifications

• Understanding of HR principles and practices.
• Commitment to safeguarding children's welfare.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate HR processes across employee lifecycle.
• Maintain accurate HR records and provide guidance.
• Support the full recruitment cycle.

Skills

HR principles

employment law knowledge

IT proficiency

communication skills

Education

Degree level in HR, Business, Psychology or related

Job description

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Human Resources (HR) Graduate to support the strategic and operational HR function of our School. This role offers the opportunity to gain comprehensive, hands‑on experience across payroll, HR administration, recruitment, and employee engagement.

This is an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate to develop professional HR expertise within an independent school setting, contributing to a vibrant and supportive School community. The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring smooth HR operations while living and promoting the School’s values.

Key responsibilities

• to facilitate HR processes across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, contract changes, absences, offboarding, and performance management support
• to maintain accurate HR records, including data held on the School’s Single Central Register and HRIS system to support with the provision of first‑line HR guidance, responding to staff queries, and acting as a trusted first point of contact while maintaining confidentiality
• to support the full recruitment cycle, including creating job packs, arranging interviews, collating feedback, and administering candidate assessments
• to collaborate effectively within the HR team, fostering positive relationships and supporting broader operational priorities and ad hoc projects
• to assist with the administration of monthly payroll processes, ensuring accuracy and compliance
• to ensure recruitment processes comply with legal requirements and reflect the School’s values and safeguarding priorities

The successful candidate will be expected

• to have a clear understanding of, and a commitment to, the aims of a Catholic independent boarding & day school and be committed to the values expressed in the Mission & Ethos Statement
• to be educated to degree level with a minimum of a 2:1 (or above) in HR, Business, Psychology, or related discipline
• to have a basic understanding or interest of HR principles, employment law, and HR practices
• to have excellent spoken and written English with strong IT proficiency
• to be able to demonstrate high standards of personal and professional integrity, discretion, and confidentiality
• to understand the importance of promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children
• to use initiative to identify issues and suggest practical improvements
• to be able to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, and to actively participate in the School’s educational and boarding life

What New Hall offers

• 35 days’ holiday (including bank holidays)
• Excellent benefits & CPD
• Lunch without charge in term time
• Discounted annual membership for New Hall Sport Club

New Hall School offers an exceptional working environment. The main campus occupies the stunning Grade I listed former Tudor palace of Beaulieu. The School’s conference and events venue is at the Grade I listed Boreham House, one mile away. New Hall is a warm, welcoming, and supportive community, with a staff of around 300.

Beaulieu Park railway station is at the entrance to New Hall’s Avenue: 30 minutes to Stratford and 38 minutes to London Liverpool Street. The Elizabeth Line at Shenfield (13 minutes by train) terminates at Heathrow airport. There are nearby airports: London Stansted, London Southend and London City.

Application closing date: midday, Friday 20 February 2026

Early applications are encouraged. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date of this advertisement.

All adults employed by the New Hall School have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations. All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview.

As well as verification of identity, we ask all successful candidates to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). New Hall School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

SAFEGUARDING AND FURTHER INFORMATION

Due to the nature of this role, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. In making your application, it is essential you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind-overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up; any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.