Head of Admissions (BCPS)

Brighton College; Merthyr Tydfil; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Brighton College Prep School is seeking a Head of Admissions to start as soon as possible. Reporting directly to the Head of the Senior Management Team, the postholder will provide strategic leadership of the school’s admissions activities across the whole school and be a key public face for the brand.

The role combines strategy with hands-on leadership, building a data-driven, customer-focused admissions journey to recruit families who will thrive at the school and potentially progress to The

Qualifications

• Proven track record in admissions or pupil recruitment.
• Experience in education sector or transferable commercial experience.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to forecast and plan pupil recruitment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive admissions strategy.
• Lead admissions and recruitment across local and international audiences.
• Collaborate with Head of Marketing to promote brand and ethos.
• Lead admissions team and manage budget.
• Provide timely advice to SMT and governance.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Public speaking

Stakeholder engagement

Data-driven decision making

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics (CRM)

Job description

Brighton College Prep School is seeking to appoint a Head of Admissions to start as soon as possible.

Reporting directly to the Head as a member of the Senior Management Team, the Head of Admissions will provide inspiring and strategic leadership of the school’s admissions activities across the whole school.

This role has a significant strategic element as Brighton College Prep School seeks to differentiate itself within a competitive landscape. The Head of Admissions is a key public face and will have primary responsibility, alongside the Head of Marketing, for marketing the Brighton College brand to a wide range of audiences, to build its profile and to drive pupils’ recruitment by offering a bespoke, customer focussed admissions journey.

It is of most importance to us that we recruit families who will thrive at Brighton College Prep School with a view to possibly entering The College, but also who give something of themselves back to enrich the community here.

The postholder will maintain and develop our relationship with the other Brighton College Schools, collaborating with their admissions and alumni teams.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced admissions (or sales) professional to join a committed and vibrant senior team and to play their part in continuously delivering best in class admissions practice and procedures within the school.

Person Specification

The Head of Admissions will be a key public face of Brighton College Prep School, they will have a high profile within the School and will carry significant responsibility. The post will likely attract an experienced professional from the education sector with a track record of success in admissions or pupil recruitment.

Alternatively, the role might suit and exceptional individual with commercial experience gained outside of the sector but who can demonstrate and understanding of education and the School’s ethos and values, and the right transferable skills to undertake and make a success of this crucial role.

The successful candidate will be an articulate, persuasive, and credible ambassador for Brighton College Prep School, able to work effectively with a wide range of people and cultures, to lead and manage change and to work collaboratively with other departments.

The ability to apply sound communications principles to drive the School’s pupil recruitment strategy, by thoroughly understanding both target audiences and the dynamics of the highly competitive Prep School marketplace will be essential.

The postholder will also be adept at working with data and forecasting pupil roll, ensuring that accurate forecasts are provided on a bi-weekly basis.

The postholder will lead on the expert use of Microsoft Dynamics (CRM system) and other cloud based MIS systems, so will be flexible and adaptable, with a high level of strategic understanding and hands‑on knowledge.

Primary Purpose of the Role

• To develop and implement a comprehensive admissions strategy, aligned with the school’s key aims, vision and values and position as a leading Prep School.
• To lead and drive all pupil recruitment both strategic and tactical and act as a key public face of the School, promoting its brand and ethos.
• To develop and implement both local and international pupil recruitment strategies, differentiating the school and offering a first-rate admissions process attracting pupils who will thrive at Brighton College Prep School and contribute to its community.
• As a member of SMT, to contribute to whole‑School strategic leadership and promote the 3 – 11 nature of Brighton College Prep School and the reputation of The College as a senior destination.
• To identify, build and sustain effective relationships with key stake holders and members of the local community including local nurseries, current parents and, in time, alumni.
• To identify, commission, analyse and use data to build and share a strategic picture of admissions opportunities and risks.
• To articulate to parents, through a deep understanding, the possible senior school routes for children, including but not limited to, the route to Brighton College.
• To provide timely advice and appropriate information to the Head and the Senior Management team to enable all to fulfil their duties and responsibilities to the School.

Main Duties

Key Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Admissions Manager, to recruit pupils nationally and internationally and to meet agreed pupil recruitment targets.
• In collaboration with the Head of Marketing to promote, protect and develop the identity and brand of the School and its position locally, regionally and internationally.

Leadership and Management Responsibilities

• Inspire, develop and manage the Admissions Team, setting high expectations and driving the successful delivery of admissions targets.
• To have a comprehensive understanding of the data required to monitor trends within pupil roll, being able to analyse and draw conclusions to be discussed with SMT and the wider team.
• To understand what a best practice customer service experience should look like, and have high professional integrity to lead the team to deliver the very best at every stage.
• Work in mutually beneficial collaboration with The College and the Family of Schools. Where appropriate share resources and best practice.
• Monitor, report on and assess the effectiveness of the school’s pupil recruitment strategies, developing interventions as appropriate to meet agreed targets.
• Overall responsibility for the admissions budget.
• Keep abreast of educational developments and to have a thorough understanding of next destinations and the school’s route to achieve this.
• Report regularly to Governance.
• Be well informed about Brighton College Prep School’s academic and extra-curricular offer and the workings of the School.

Admissions

• Provide guidance to the team in respect of pupil recruitment strategies, building relationships with prospective parents, standards of service, customer experience and engagement, communication, key metrics and data capture and promotional events.
• To develop a comprehensive, data driven admissions strategy aligned with the School’s objectives.
• Have an excellent understanding of Customer Relationship Management systems and how to use them to maximum effect throughout the admissions process.
• Working with the wider staff body, stimulate and improve pupil recruitment.
• Deliver an impressive, effective and efficient admissions process for applicants, which reflects the values and ethos of the School and provides exemplary customer service, nurturing prospective parents and children at each stage of the pipeline.
• Systematically and regularly review and develop admissions procedures after monitoring results and effectiveness of all activities.
• Plan and lead all aspects of Taster Days, Open Days and any other events deemed necessary to promote the admission of children into the school or to market the school to prospective parents.
• A commitment to working some evenings and weekends as necessary in the admissions event calendar.
• Further develop relationships with a growing number of recruitment agents and local Pre-Prep and Nursery Schools.
• Remain informed about the market and competition.

Experience and Skills

To meet the high standards expected of a leading professional in our School, the successful candidate will understand and believe in the aims and ethos of a Prep School education and a Brighton College education, in particular.

They should also have an instinctive feel for the prep school market and understand the driving motivations of parents and an understanding of the senior school market.