Admissions Manager

Cognita Schools; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Pension

Free lunch during Term Time

Holiday allowance

Free parking on site

School fee discount

Exclusive discounts

Ongoing professional development

Job summary

Downsend School, part of Cognita, seeks an experienced Admissions Manager to lead the end-to-end admissions journey from enquiry to enrolment. You will coordinate tours, events and assessments, oversee communications and partnerships with families and stakeholders, and manage admissions data and compliance.

You will report to the Head and Marketing teams, line-manage the Admissions Assistant, and contribute to pupil recruitment in a busy, customer-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Highly organised and customer-focused admin professional with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong administrative and analytical abilities, comfortable with data, reporting tools and Excel.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, able to work independently while delivering accurate admissions support.
• Experience in admissions or an independent school environment is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the admissions process from initial enquiry through to enrolment.
• Oversee school tours, Open Events, assessment days and induction activities.
• Manage admissions communications and maintain relationships with families, staff and external stakeholders.
• Oversee admissions data, reporting, forecasting and compliance.
• Line manage the Admissions Assistant.
• Contribute to pupil recruitment and the ongoing success of the school.

Skills

Organised

Customer-focused

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Data reporting

Excel

Attention to detail

Independent worker

Admissions experience

Tools

Excel

Job description

About the School - Downsend - Main

Downsend is an innovative and forward-thinking independent school, with a new vision; to inspire a generation to embrace the future, shaping incredible people who will make change in our world. At Downsend, we prepare our young people for the future with a creative and problem-solving approach. We think big, we celebrate innovation, and we never hold back. We are delighted to announce that all four schools in the Downsend family have been judged to 'excellent in all areas' by the Independent School Inspectorate. The school now has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Admissions Manager to join our fantastic team.

About Cognita

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 90 schools in 21 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, \"Thrive in a rapidly evolving world\".

About the Role

As Admissions Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the experience of prospective families joining Downsend School. Working closely with the Head and Marketing team, you will lead the admissions process from initial enquiry through to enrolment, ensuring every family receives a professional, welcoming and customer-focused experience. You will oversee school tours, Open Events, assessment days and induction activities, while managing admissions communications and maintaining strong relationships with parents, colleagues and external stakeholders. The role also includes oversight of admissions data, reporting, forecasting and compliance, as well as line management of the Admissions Assistant. This is an excellent opportunity to make a significant contribution to pupil recruitment and the continued success of the school.

This is a full-time, permanent position working 37.5 hours per week, year-round (52 weeks per year).

Who We Are Looking For

You will be a highly organised and customer-focused professional who enjoys building positive relationships and delivering exceptional service. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to work collaboratively across a wide range of stakeholders and manage multiple priorities effectively. Strong administrative and analytical abilities are essential, including confidence working with data, reporting tools and Excel. You will be proactive, detail-oriented and able to work independently while maintaining high levels of accuracy. Experience within admissions or an independent school environment would be advantageous, but most importantly, you will be passionate about helping families navigate their educational journey and ensuring an outstanding admissions experience.

Benefits at Cognita

• Competitive salary depending upon qualifications and experience
• Enrolment in our company's pension scheme
• Free lunch provided during Term Time
• Holiday Allowance
• Free parking on site (subject to availability)
• School fee discount
• Exclusive third-party discounts
• Ongoing professional development

Cognita Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available on the school website. Details on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is included within the Application Guidance.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.