Head of Admissions

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Head of Admissions

Location: London, ENG, GB

Date: 6 Jan 2025

Inspired Education is the leading global group of premium schools, with a portfolio of over 110 premium private schools spanning six continents which utilise proven educational practices from every corner of the globe, ensuring over 85,000 students receive a world-class learning experience from Kindergarten to Year 13. In addition, we are delighted to be recognised in the top 10 highest value private companies in the UK by Beauhurst.

In over 25 countries, Inspired schools are individually developed and anchored in the vibrant cultures of their respective locations. They collectively form an international family of schools that nurtures each student's academic and personal development in a progressive, dynamic, and innovative learning environment.

By joining our award-winning team of over 12,000 employees, you can work in state-of-the-art facilities alongside industry-renowned educators and leaders in some of the world's most desirable locations. We invest heavily in our team members who enjoy industry-leading professional development, exceptional career opportunities, and mobility across our group.

ROLE SUMMARY:

As the Head of Admissions for Wetherby Pembridge Minors, Holland Park, you will be responsible for leading the acquisition and conversion, including the outreach and recruitment events and supporting the retention strategy for the nursery.

Reporting to the Principal and the Director of Customer Acquisition & Experience UK, you will be enrolment focused and responsible for the delivery and development of a highly effective acquisition and retention function, one that is responsive to the evolving needs of identified target audiences, grounded in the principles of customer service excellence and the values of Wetherby Pembridge Minors, Holland Park. The successful candidate will bring innovative thinking and a collaborative leadership style to advise the Head of School and motivate and empower the Admissions team and/or Senior Leadership team, resulting in enhanced enrolment and retention outcomes for the nursery.

The Head of Admissions is expected to have a whole nursery approach and ensure that they understand the importance of daily school life and school events in relation to termly activities. He or she will also be expected to attend whole school events to gain a thorough understanding of the academic and pastoral experiences that students can expect.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Head of Admissions will be responsible for the admissions process from the initial point of enquiry until the child enrols at Wetherby Pembridge Minors, Holland Park. This process will include responsibility for ensuring the entire database is fully utilised to allow relevant records to be accurate and up-to-date. The statistics generated will help the school to assess the extent to which the strategies employed are useful and if remedial action is required.

The aim is to secure student enrolment through the following:

• To implement the Admissions Strategy (focused on student acquisition and retention from enquiry to enrolment) for the school, working closely with the Director of CX, the Head and Group marketing team.
• Communicate with parents of prospective and exchange students as first point of contact, to ensure they receive accurate and timely information and advice regarding admission to Wetherby Pembridge Minors.
• Lead the Admissions team and/or guide the Head of School and SLT, ensuring they have the knowledge, training and support to deliver a customer-centred service to support student growth.
• Deliver best-in-class tours for prospective parents and partnership prospects (businesses, embassies etc). These will be conducted throughout the year (within and out of term time as required).
• Ensure service standards and quality assurance procedures are met and evolve with parent expectations and needs.
• Ensure admissions, conversion approach and associated processes enable the school to optimise achievement of student recruitment targets with significant accountability for conversion from enquiry to application and application to enrolment.
• Ensure the admissions and admissions appeal process is compliant with Inspired Education’s Admissions Policy.
• Plan, co-ordinate and implement a successful programme of recruitment fairs, open mornings, taster days and exhibition events. To maximise attendance, events might be scheduled periodically after hours and on weekends.
• Working with the Head of School and Regional Head of CX manage budgets, format, location, catering, invitations, publicity and bookings and all other elements necessary to deliver successful admissions related events.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to degree level plus one years’ related experience in an educational setting. (Candidates without a bachelor's degree but with equivalent professional experience are encouraged to apply).
• Strong leadership and influencing skills.
• An understanding of the principles of sales and marketing.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with an ability to lead and motivate a team of staff and build effective and trusting relationships and professional networks in the wider community.
• Highly competent using a range of IT systems including MIS & data analytics tools.
• Experience of working with CRM systems and integration with the sales life cycle.
• Ability to communicate effectively and build confidence and credibility at senior levels both in person and through papers, presentations and reports. This includes the ability to distil and communicate complex information, to persuade and influence, and to keep the school abreast of progress and performance.
• Ability to operate at a strategic level whilst ensuring translation of the strategy into clear, measurable deliverables.
• Demonstrable experience of managing budgets, resources and funding, driving enhancements in systems and processes to deliver improved performance.
• Understanding of and ability to build strong customer advocacy and repeat client loyalty and retention.
• Enter and maintain application data at all stages of the admissions process into iSAMS, including initial application, offer information, financial and contract details for JD Edwards and acceptance status.

Personal Qualities

• Be flexible, reliable and well organised. Can demonstrate agility and ability to problem solve.
• Have a proactive approach to work; have personal integrity and the drive to do what is best for the students, parents and the school.
• An innovative thinker, with strong collaboration skills and a high degree of professional integrity.