Admissions Manager

Join a community where relationships drive success!

Job Title: Admissions Manager

Location: Akeley Wood School, Akeley, Buckingham
Salary: Up to £44,000 per Annum
Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8am - 5pm | Some evenings and weekends required
Contract: Permanent | 52 weeks per year
Working Pattern: On-site (this role is not hybrid)

Note: Early applications are encouraged! We may begin interviews and offers before the closing date.

Become Our Admissions Manager!

Akeley Wood, part of Blenheim Schools, is a vibrant co-educational independent school nestled in the stunning Buckinghamshire countryside. We cater to students aged 12 months to 18 years, fostering a warm, inclusive, and ambitious environment where every child is recognized and supported to reach their full potential.

Our inspiring learning spaces feature woodland outdoor areas, specialized classrooms, creative arts studios, and modern sports facilities. We take pride in our strong pastoral culture, focusing on individual strengths and nurturing confident, curious, and compassionate young people.

By joining Akeley Wood School, you’ll become part of a dedicated, collaborative team that believes in high expectations, meaningful relationships, and the transformative power of education.

The Role

As the Admissions Manager, you will play a pivotal role in increasing student enrollment. Your mission? To deliver a distinctive, market-leading, and 'surprising and delightful' customer experience. You will cultivate a sales culture throughout the school, starting with the leadership and admissions teams, ensuring everyone understands their role in our growth strategy.

Your focus will be on both attracting new students and retaining our current ones.

Key Responsibilities

Admissions Management

• Oversee all aspects of the admissions process and pipeline management, optimizing conversion at every stage.
• Implement a retention strategy for all transition points within the school.
• Regularly report and forecast data, providing insights and actionable steps.
• Enhance the digital admissions experience with excellent follow-up for prospective parents.
• Lead conversion events, including personal tours and open mornings.
• Ensure our global minimum standards for admissions are met or exceeded.
• Act as a brand ambassador, understanding the local market and the needs of parents and pupils.
• Set ambitious annual enrollment targets in collaboration with the Head of Marketing & Admissions and the Head of the school.
• Monitor feedback through various channels and take action to improve the admissions service.
• Build relationships with feeder schools, estate agents, and key community partners to support enrollments.
• Collaborate with the overseas recruitment team to ensure compliance with visas and immigration regulations.

People Management

• Support the Admissions & Marketing team in delivering a first-class customer experience.
• Lead relationships with external agencies (estate agents, clubs, associations, etc.).
• Ensure the department is appropriately resourced at all times.
• Maintain effective working relationships with key colleagues, including the School Operations Manager and SLT.

What We're Looking For

Essential Skills

• Be a personable individual who easily connects with others.
• Enjoy and thrive on interacting with people.
• Operate with autonomy and authority, demonstrating good gravitas.
• Exhibit excellent interpersonal and communication skills, handling sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Possess strong numeracy skills and the ability to analyze data for insights.
• Manage multiple stakeholders effectively while working well within a team.
• Demonstrate first-class organizational and administrative skills.
• Remain calm under pressure and meet tight deadlines with attention to detail.
• Be confident in using Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, and various database systems).
• Maintain high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.

Experience

• A successful track record, including learning from past failures.
• Prior experience in managing direct customer contact, ideally in sales and customer service.
• Experience in a complex, busy, service-driven environment.
• Familiarity with customer databases and relationship management tools.
• An understanding of the competitive schools marketplace is a plus.

Why Join Akeley Wood School?

Become part of a supportive, high-performing team dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences for families. This rewarding role allows you to shape the first impressions and future journeys of our pupils.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to follow safeguarding policies and engage in relevant training. Any concerns must be reported in line with school procedures. This position is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Make a Difference with Us!

At Blenheim Schools, you will have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of pupils and vulnerable young people every day. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people.

All applicants will undergo social media checks, and successful candidates will require an enhanced DBS. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Blenheim Schools is committed to a fair, thorough, and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, we do not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other costs incurred due to delays or compliance processes.