HR Business Partner

Location: Haywards Heath
Salary: £36,323-£45,404 (depending on working pattern)
Closing Date: 09/10/2026 12:00
Position Type: {Advertised Full Time / Part Time}
Expiry Date: 09/10/2026 12:00

Ardingly College Family of Schools is seeking an HR Business Partner to join our friendly and ambitious HR team. Working across both teaching and operational staff groups, you will provide professional HR support, advice and coaching to managers, helping to shape a positive, high-performing and supportive culture.

This is a genuinely broad generalist HR role, offering exposure to employee relations, recruitment, organisational change, learning and development, wellbeing and HR projects. You will work closely with managers across the organisation, supporting them to navigate complex people matters while helping deliver strategic HR initiatives.

What you'll be doing

  • Partnering with managers to provide practical and proactive HR advice.
  • Supporting a wide range of employee relations matters, including absence management, disciplinary, grievance and flexible working cases.
  • Driving recruitment and onboarding activity to attract and retain talented colleagues.
  • Supporting staff wellbeing and management development initiatives.
  • Contributing to HR projects, process improvements and organisational change programmes.
  • Helping ensure compliance with employment legislation, safeguarding requirements and safer recruitment expectations.

About you

You will be a confident HR practitioner who enjoys building relationships, coaching managers and finding balanced, people-focused solutions. You will have:

  • HR experience gained in a generalist HR role.
  • Experience advising managers on a range of people matters.
  • Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
  • Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
  • CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent experience.

Why Ardingly?

Set within a stunning 240-acre campus in West Sussex, Ardingly College is an award-winning independent school with a reputation for excellence in academic achievement, pastoral care and staff development. We offer a collaborative and supportive working environment, a range of wellbeing initiatives and excellent benefits, including pension provision, staff meals, sports facilities and fee remission for eligible staff children.

This role is primarily based at Ardingly College with regular presence required at Great Walstead School. During school holiday periods there is greater flexibility around working location.

To view the full job description please see the documents attached at the bottom of the page. To apply please click the green 'apply' button in the top right-hand corner. If you require further information please contact the HR team on 01444 893192 or email hr@ardingly.com.

A completed application should be submitted by the closing date of 09/10/2026 12:00, although applications may be considered upon receipt. 

Ardingly College is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 2 -18, a member of the HMC and a school of the Woodard Corporation. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All employees are required to undertake child protection screening appropriate to the post including enhanced DBS checks.

Working for Us - Please visit our new page to find out everything the College has to offer and all the benefits available to our staff by clicking this link: Working here - Ardingly.