ABSTRACT
Most first contacts with a school, by whatever means, are often with the secretary, who carries a public relations and receptionist role, particularly with present and prospective parents. For new teachers and, indeed, anyone new to the school, the secretary can be an invaluable source of information regarding current procedures, past history and knowledge of the area. Outside the scope of this chapter, but worth mentioning, is that, increasingly, school secretaries carry major responsibility for administration of the budget, whether the school is managed by the Local Education Authority or is grant maintained. For that reason, if for no other, they will invariably be computer literate and financially aware.
