Director of Communications and Admissions

The Boarding Schools' Association; Holyport; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Boarding Schools' Association seeks a Director of Communications and Admissions to lead strategic initiatives in marketing and admissions at Holyport College. This senior role involves engaging with diverse stakeholders, enhancing the college’s visibility, and ensuring a high-quality admissions process.

Qualifications

• Direct experience in a customer-facing role preferred.
• Experience in managing teams and budgets.
• Track record of working with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the admissions process and marketing strategy.
• Manage communications with stakeholders.
• Coordinate events to promote the college.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Marketing Strategy

Customer Service

Education

Relevant Degree or Equivalent Experience

Job description

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Director of Communications and Admissions

The Director of Communications and Admissions is a new, senior, wide-reaching, strategic and operational role. The role combines leadership of Admissions, which is currently a well established team, with leadership of Communications and Marketing, which is currently widely shared across the staff team. You would work very closely with me and the rest of our wonderful Leadership team of which you would be a key part. You will shape the development of a culture of high-quality, timely, relevant communication with parents, potential parents and other stakeholders as well as one which showcases our wonderful school to a much wider audience.

Holyport College was the country’s first state boarding free school, opening in 2014. It is a distinctive, popular secondary school with 600 pupils, over 200 of whom are boarders. With a comprehensive intake at Year 7, it actively promotes social mobility and has an outstanding record of supporting the most vulnerable. Many of the pupils progress to our high-performing, academically selective Sixth Form where they are joined by a similar number of new students. The College is a vibrant, ambitious and inclusive community where young people thrive. They follow an aspirational academic curriculum alongside an exceptional co-curricular offering that is equally valued by the College and made possible by the extended school day. You would be joining a remarkable staff team who all care deeply about the College.

Holyport College operates as a Single Academy Trust but has a unique strategic and very close working partnership with its nearby sponsor, Eton College. With the help of a strong boarding ethos, it has managed to create a “joyous place to learn” which offers students the best of both state and independent education. It was graded outstanding in its most recent Ofsted Boarding inspection earlier this year.

Job Description

Strategic Leadership:

¨Support the Headteacher to develop the College’s identity, values and vision and the way these are articulated, promoted and understood

¨Engage with key stakeholders (students, parents, staff, applicants, alumni and others) to seek their input and leverage this to ensure the College is always improving

¨Attend leadership meetings as needed and have broad input into the strategic decision making and operations of the College

¨Manage the communications, admissions and marketing teams and budgets

Marketing & Public Relations:

¨Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy for student recruitment, retention and community engagement – with a particular focus on the College’s boarding community

¨Promote the College’s brand effectively and consistently

¨Line manage the Marketing and Communications Manager and, with them:

Identify and build relationships with key schools for boarding student recruitment

– Ensure the content and design of the College website is up-to-date, fresh and showcases the best of the College to all visitors

– Ensure the College is widely promoted on social media and through other channels in a positive, consistent and cost effective way

– Know the College’s schedule of activities and events to capitalise on PR opportunities.

– Edit and review printed and online admissions literature and advertisements

– Identify and encourage opportunities for the College to positively engage with the media

¨Coordinate and attend information events to promote the College (e.g. those at feeder schools) as well as organising feeder school events at Holyport College

¨Be prepared to engage with the media and support the Headteacher with media enquiries

Admissions:

¨Line manage the Admissions Registrar and, with them:

– Ensure the successful recruitment, admission and retention of students

– Act as the first point of contact for enquiries and then supporting families through the application process and beyond with a personal approach

– Represent the College to prospective parents, conveying its ethos and educational offering.

– Provide high-quality correspondence, face-to-face encounters, and telephone communications

with prospective parents and visitors

– Manage, oversee and audit the admissions practice and policy (including appeals), maintaining consistency across all points of entry within the College

– Plan, manage and lead arrangements for taster and open day events.

– Liaise with other staff in relation to applicants where needed

¨Keep up to date with the latest admissions legislation, ensuring compliance, implementing best practice, and disseminating guidance as appropriate throughout the College

Parent communications:

¨Champion positive and appropriate staff communications with parents (to include individual communications as well as whole school publications)

¨Help with the crafting and delivery of key communications

¨Support the Head’s PA to build and maintain a network of potential donors and manage efforts to raise funds from key stakeholders for the newly created Holyport College Foundation

Other:

¨Set an example of positivity and professionalism around staff and pupils

¨Carry out other such duties as may reasonably be required by the Headteacher from time to time

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

¨The successful candidate may emerge from within or outside of the educational sector

¨Direct recent experience in customer facing role is desirable

¨Evidence of delivering work to a high standard and showing initiative

¨Track record of working successfully with a diverse range of stakeholders

Skills and Knowledge

¨A brilliant communicator in all forms

¨An understanding of Holyport College’s unique position as a state boarding school partnered with Eton College within the educational landscape.

¨Commercial awareness and the ability to promote the College in a competitive market

¨Confident user of IT for communications and data management

Personal Attributes

¨The ability to foster excellent relationships with a wide variety of people

¨Tactful and diplomatic with a high level of emotional intelligence

¨Committed team player with a collaborative approach

¨Belief in and understanding of the benefits of a boarding education

¨Personal energy and enthusiasm, with a positive outlook

¨Meticulous attention to detail and high levels of organisation

¨Values and promotes equality, diversity and inclusion

¨Discretion and good judgement

Application information

Please visit our website to view the full Candidate Information Pack and application details:

Interested candidates are invited to contact the College to arrange an informal, confidential discussion about the role by emailing [e-mail]