What is an Education Administrator?
Education Administrators are academic professionals who ensure that the activities of schools at a given level meet the success criteria of an educational system.
Coordination of academic, administrative, and auxiliary functions of schools, such as academics or athletics, is one of the responsibilities. Specific job functions for an Education Administrator will vary depending on the employer. They are typically those of Principals or Assistant Principal in schools. A job as a Director of programmes or Headmaster may be available in private schools and businesses.
In addition to working in educational institutions, Education Administrators are frequently employed in libraries and museums. Education Administrators work at all levels of management in colleges and universities, holding positions as Admissions Officers, Department Heads, or Deans.
An Education Administrator is responsible for developing policies and procedures, as well as establishing educational goals and standards. They supervise managers and provide assistance to other faculty members such as librarians, coaches, teachers, and aides. In small organisations one Education Administrator may be in charge of all of these responsibilities. When it comes to larger institutions, such as universities or school districts, multiple Education Administrators may share the workload, dividing it into specific responsibilities.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of an Education Administrator may vary depending on their employer and seniority, but they can include the following:
- Managing student services such as counselling services
- Managing relationships with employees, parents, students,
- Training, supervising, and motivating faculty, including teachers and auxiliary staff community.
- Supervising record-keeping.
- Participating in academic boards, task groups, and governing bodies .
- Assisting with recruitment, public or alumni relations
- Participating in marketing activities
- Providing administrative support to other employees
- Liaising
- Helping to shape policy and planning.
- Purchasing goods and equipment, and processing invoices.
- Evaluating and standardising the curriculum
- Communication with family members
- Institutional event planning
- Performing evaluations of teaching personnel
- Training faculty members and providing necessary instructions
- Ensuring that a school adheres to local and country education standards
- Monitoring their institution’s financial affairs and ensuring compliance with financial systems.
Salary
The location and the kind of organisation both affect the salary for Education Administrators.
For instance, earnings are often greater if you work for a large employer in London. However, advancement to a senior or lead developer could be more rapid within a smaller organisation.
The UK average salary for Education Administrators is £26.396, ranging from £18.000 to £38.000.
While a London based Education Administrator earns an average of £28.562 ranging from £20.000 to £40,000.
Working hours for Education Administrators are typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though some roles may require weekend or evening work. You may be required to work overtime at certain times of the year depending on curriculum and school events.
Part-time and job-sharing opportunities are common.
Education Administrators are primarily employed by public and private schools, school districts, colleges, and universities. In addition, Educational Administrators can work in private preschools, museums, and libraries managing curricula and educational programmes.
Meetings with teachers, parents, and school staff are common daily activities for Education Administrators. Work is done in an office setting, and paperwork is frequently required. In addition to a typical work day you may be frequently expected to attend school events and after-hours meetings.
An Education Administrator can fill a variety of roles, each with their own set of specialised job duties. Here are a few jobs in education administration that you might be interested in:
- Deputy Principal
Deputy principals collaborate with their principal and school board members with the goal of creating, specifying, and enforcing school policies and guidelines. They might be in charge of student activities and support services. They are also in charge of human resources and community relations. - Principal
Principals are in charge of overseeing all high-level school operations. They lead an administrative team that is supported by their assistant principal. They also supervise the teaching staff and work to ensure that students have a safe learning environment as well as a supportive work environment. - Curriculum Coordinator
Curriculum directors oversee and design a school district’s curriculum. Curriculum directors introduce new curriculum to teachers and train them on its content. They also ensure that a school district’s curriculum meets the educational standards of its state.
If you’re here, you’ve probably considered becoming an Education Administrator A good candidate for this job should be caring, pay attention to details, be good at planning and organising, have taught in a classroom,have empathy, and know how to find and solve problems. However, having the right personality and skills isn’t enough. You must be extremely motivated.
Education Administrators have the power to influence both student learning outcomes and teacher job satisfaction. They can ensure that teachers have the resources they need to present curriculum effectively. They can provide crisis leadership and guide schools and school districts towards bright futures. The ideal future Education Administrator is motivated by a desire to make a difference.
Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree is usually required for employment as an Education Administrator. Generally, you can study whatever subject interests you, but some employers prefer Education Administrators to have degrees in education or a related field. When deciding on a degree, think about what types of academic subjects interest you the most or what age group of students you’d like to work with. You could study early childhood education or a specific subject like English education.
A degree may also help you stand out from the crowd of applicants. Qualifications in areas such as business administration are advantageous, as is experience working with word processing and common IT packages.
The majority of Education Administrators begin their careers as teachers in schools or universities. Although there are ways for professionals to become Education Administrators without first teaching, it is often recommended that they begin by teaching.
This allows you to become acquainted with school systems and gain firsthand knowledge of school operations, such as management, budgeting, and administration. It also allows you to gain more experience working with children if you want to become a primary or secondary school Education Administrator.
Get your Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) so you can start teaching. After completing your bachelor’s degree, you can apply for a QTS. This certification process assesses your knowledge of the subject you wish to teach as well as your familiarity with current teaching methods.
Some universities run their own graduate trainee programs, which give students hands-on experience in a variety of departments and areas of university administration.
A business apprenticeship is also available at three levels: intermediate, advanced, and higher.
Although a postgraduate qualification is not required, a relevant professional qualification or Masters degree may be useful, especially at the senior level.
Skills
Some of the skills that you will need to possess or acquire in order to become an Education Administrator include:
- Excellent written communication skills
- IT skills in areas
- Experience in effectively organising, prioritising, and managing your time
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to be open and receptive
- Time management skills
- Assertive communication ability
- Teamwork skills
- Ability to work independently
- Financial management skills
- Decision making skills
- Delegation skills
- Time management skills
- Leadership skills
Work experience
In order to gain the necessary experience to become an Education Administrator you will need to have experience in jobs that include administrative and office work.
You can acquire the necessary skills and experience working as a temp or through job shadowing. Job shadowing is a type of training in which one employee observes how another, more experienced colleague works in their role. It is a highly effective type of training that allows the trainee to ask questions and receive real-time answers.
Some valuable learning experiences can be gained through involvement in university life. You could participate in various committees, alumni, or recruitment activities, allowing potential employers to see your interest in the educational sector.
Casual employment is another excellent way to find work that matches your experience, education, and skill set.
Career prospects
Taking on an administrative position at a college or university allows you to shape educational policy, both at your specific school and across the academic field.
A career in higher education administration can be both challenging and rewarding. While administrative work can be fulfilling, it requires years of preparation, including advanced degrees and years of professional service.
Those considering a career in education administration should think about the best paths to their desired positions. Along with studies for an advanced degree, full-time work as a professor or in another on-campus role is a natural part of the experience-building process. There are numerous opportunities to advance to more senior positions or to move into other related roles. You may be able to apply for internal positions or be seconded to another department on occasion.
Experience in the field is essential. If you don’t have faculty experience, you could start by working in admissions or student offices. This way, you can learn all about how educational institutions work and how to effectively improve student outcomes through administration work. Before advancing to higher positions, candidates must have several years of experience working in administrative roles, and they should consider volunteering for department committees and other opportunities to gain different expertise.
As you gain experience, you are more likely to develop personal interests and seek opportunities in those areas. This could lead you into specialised fields such as human resources or finance, for which you may need additional training.
Obtaining a formal professional qualification may improve your chances of advancement.
Employers
- BPP Holdings
- Health and Care Professions Council
- West Midland Safari Park
- Unitemp
- NHS
- Various schools, universities, libraries and museums
Related Courses
- M.A. in Public Administration (MPA)
This is a full-time programme offered at the University of the West of Scotland’s London Campus, which is located in the heart of the United Kingdom’s economic core. Students interested in a career in Education Administration will benefit from the one-year program, which will prepare them for work in public as well as commercial organisations. This course integrates social science and communication.
- MSc Information Technology
The University of the West of Scotland teaches this program at their London Campus, so you’ll be studying at the heart of the UK’s political centre. This one-year, full-time curriculum is for students who have no prior expertise with computers or information technology. The course will help you learn much-needed IT expertise to help you prepare for a job as a Education Administrator.
- MEd Education Studies (Specialism)
The MEd Education Studies programme, offered by The University of the West of Scotland at their London Campus, is an excellent way to advance your career opportunities in the Education sector. This specialised course enables students with a background in Education Studies to focus on their preferred research areas while also gaining a broad, international perspective on educational developments.
