HR Business Partner - Fixed Term

City of Rochester School, Cliffe Woods

• Ref:MED887-6011-127S
• Posted:22/04/2026
• Pay:Negotiable - depending on experience
• Start Date:asap
• App Close Date:30/05/2026 at 21:00
• Interviews:TBA

Advert

HR Business Partner
City of Rochester School
Competitive Salary (dependent on experience)
Immediate Start | Temporary until end of the academic year (with potential to be extended)

This is not just an HR role. This is an opportunity to shape the culture, wellbeing and professional experience of a whole staff team—ensuring that every adult in the school is supported to do their very best work.

At City of Rochester School, we know that strong staff relationships and a positive working environment directly impact the lives of our pupils. We are looking for an experienced HR professional who can work at both a strategic and operational level, bringing expertise, discretion and a people-centred approach to everything they do.

The Role

This is a key administrative and strategic role where you will:

Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to align HR practice with the school’s vision and priorities
Provide expert advice on a full range of HR matters, ensuring compliance with employment law and best practice
Lead on employee relations, including complex casework, mediation and conflict resolution
Manage recruitment and onboarding processes, ensuring high-quality appointments across all roles
Develop and support staff wellbeing initiatives, promoting a positive and inclusive working culture
Oversee HR systems, data and reporting to inform strategic decision-making
Ensure compliance with safeguarding requirements, including oversight of the Single Central Record
Line manage the administrative team and contribute to the smooth day-to-day running of the school office
Provide high-level PA support to the Headteacher, including diary management, communication and coordination of key activities

You will play a central role in ensuring that the school runs effectively, with strong systems, clear processes and a culture where staff feel valued and supported.

About You

You will be:

An experienced HR professional, ideally with CIPD Level 5 (or working towards)
Skilled in managing complex employee relations issues with confidence and professionalism
Knowledgeable in employment law and HR best practice
Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
A strong communicator, able to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
Discreet and trustworthy, with the ability to handle sensitive information appropriately
Proactive and solution-focused, with a calm and measured approach
Committed to equality, inclusion and safeguarding

Why Join Us?

A unique opportunity to influence whole-school culture and staff experience
A varied and rewarding role combining strategic HR and operational leadership
A supportive and committed leadership team
A collaborative staff culture where every role is valued
Flexible working arrangements (hours to be agreed)
Opportunities for professional development and growth
A role with potential for extension beyond the initial contract period

About Us

City of Rochester School is a specialist setting committed to inclusion, high expectations and strong relationships. We pride ourselves on creating a supportive environment for both pupils and staff, recognising that a thriving team is key to a successful school.

Apply Now

If you are ready to take on a role where you can make a meaningful difference to staff, systems and culture, we would love to hear from you.

Information about the school

City of Rochester School is a specialist school for children and young people aged 5–18 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC). We are proud of our pupils, our strong partnerships with parents and carers, and our dedicated staff team who work together to create a safe, happy and inspiring environment for learning.

As a small school, we offer a highly personalised and bespoke curriculum built around the individual pupil. Guided by our core principles of Confidence, Resilience and Success, our curriculum is broad and ambitious, combining academic, vocational and creative learning delivered through a therapeutic and nurturing approach.

From Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5, pupils can access a range of accredited programmes, from entry-level qualifications to GCSEs and beyond. Experiential learning is a key feature of our curriculum and includes opportunities such as forest school, STEM activities, photography, wellbeing, music, geographical exploration and meaningful work experience. Pupils in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 also access age-appropriate vocational experiences at the Vocational College that build early practical skills, curiosity and independence.

Our partners include Squirrell’s Riding School, Larkin Farm, Creepy Claws Farm, Medway League of Friends and St Helen’s Church – to name a few. These partners understand the individual needs of our pupils and work with patience, flexibility and care to support confidence, inclusion and success beyond the classroom.

A key strength of the school is our Vocational College, which provides practical, hands-on pathways for pupils who thrive through technical and vocational learning. Courses include construction trades, engineering and motor vehicle studies, with English and mathematics embedded throughout. This provision is particularly well suited to pupils who do not enjoy learning in a traditional classroom environment and who are motivated by learning through “doing”.

Our post-16 provision, based at the Vocational College, focuses on preparing pupils for adulthood and life after education. Bespoke programmes develop independence, employability and life skills, including access to our on-site flat and extended work experience opportunities that support successful next steps.

Alongside academic learning, we place a strong emphasis on pupils’ social, emotional and communication development. Our therapeutic approach is embedded across the school and supported by a wraparound therapy team, including speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy, arts therapy and counselling. Strong relationships between staff, pupils and families form the foundation of our work.

During the most recent Ofsted Inspection in July 2024, inspectors recognised that “the school has designed its educational offer very carefully to ensure that pupils achieve well academically,” with learning that “deliberately builds on what came before and enables pupils to build their knowledge and understanding in manageable steps.” They also noted that pupils “work hard to meet the school’s high expectations for their behaviour and conduct and to achieve well in their learning.” This picture is strongly reinforced by feedback from our Parent Survey (2025), where all parents who responded said that their child is happy at City of Rochester School and spoke positively about the progress their child has made both academically and personally. Parents highlighted improvements in confidence, engagement with learning and readiness for next steps, saying that the consistent support helps pupils achieve success in ways that are meaningful for them.

City of Rochester School also benefits from an experienced and supportive Trustee Board, whose breadth of knowledge and expertise provides strong strategic oversight and ensures a continued focus on high standards and positive outcomes for pupils.

We are proud of our school community and warmly welcome you to City of Rochester School.

Alicja Emmett Headteacher

Job Contact Information

• Name:Alicja Emmett
• Address:Bradbury Centre, View Road, Cliffe Woods, Kent, ME38UJ
• Telephone: 01634570706
• Email: alicja.emmett@cityofrochesterschool.org

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Job Description