Admissions Manager

Admissions Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the operational team in West Buckland School as Admissions Manager, with responsibilities to include admissions strategy, enrolment planning, recruitment and outreach, and bursaries and scholarships. This is a full-time year-round position which requires a flexible approach.

Responsibilities:  

1.      Admissions Strategy: Help to develop and implement a comprehensive admissions strategy to attract a diverse pool of pupils, aligned with the school’s mission and enrolment goals. Strategy planning will require clear assessment of the impact of previous strategies including data analysis. Admissions strategy planning will also require close co-ordination with and understanding of the marketing function within the Marketing and Admissions team. 

2.      Enrolment Planning: Work closely with the school’s leadership team to forecast pupil numbers, identify trends, and plan for future student intake, taking into consideration class capacities, boarding accommodation, balance between boys and girls, year of entry for international students, subject choices for GCSE, A levels, BTECs and the IBCP.  

3.      Recruitment and Outreach: With Prospective Families to include: 

• Proactively engage with prospective students and their families identified in the marketing strategy through various channels, including open days, school visits, fairs, and virtual online events.  
• Application Management: Oversee the admissions application process, ensuring all required documents are received, reviewed, and processed efficiently to an agreed timescale and in adherence with school policies.  
• Evaluation and Selection: Collaborate with the admissions selection committee to assess applications, arrange/conduct interviews, and make informed decisions on pupil admissions based on academic qualifications, character, and potential contributions to the school community.  
• Communication: Maintain regular communication with prospective families, answering initial enquiries, providing information about the school’s offer, and addressing any concerns or queries as they arise during the admissions journey.  
• Visa applications: manage visa applications liaising with outside suppliers as necessary to ensure compliance at every stage with necessary records in place.  

4.      Bursaries and Scholarships: Administer scholarship programmes, working closely with the Head’s PA to assess scholarship applications and refer bursary applications to the Heads PA and Bursar and ensuring transparency and fairness throughout the process. Liaise with Foundation representatives to support bursary applications. 

5.      Recruitment and Outreach: With Agents: 

• Relationship Management: Cultivate strong relationships with educational agents and consultants to enhance the school’s profile and reputation in a competitive market to attract potential applicants.  
• Plan international trips for the year to tie in with Admissions Strategy and work with Marketing Manager to ensure these remain within the International Marketing budget. 
• Plan domestic / sector events to support best practice within WBS Admissions including conferences, networking etc 

6.      Data Management: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of prospective and enrolled students, ensuring GDPR & UKVI compliance.  

7.      Reporting: Provide termly reports on admissions statistics, enrolment trends, and other relevant metrics to support strategic decision-making.  

Person Specification 

Essential:

• Educated to at least A Level standard with GCSE in English and Maths at Grade C or above 
• Experience in a customer facing role with an ability to secure an agreement 
• Understanding of the education sector 
• Understanding of compliance within an educational context 
• Excellent communication skills 
• Excellent organisation skills 
• Excellent interpersonal skills 
• Ability to work equally well in a team and/or on own initiative 
• Prepared to travel internationally  
• Ability to interpret statistical data to inform future strategies 
• An innovative approach that dares to be different 

 Desirable:

• AMCIS Certificate in Admissions 
• Experience of working in the independent sector 
• Experience of working with children 

Interviews will be conducted on receipt of satisfactory application form and covering letter.