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)

Early applications are recommended. We reserve the right to commence interviews and offers prior to the closure date stated in this advertisement.

Join Our School Community as an Admissions Manager

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

Our inspiring learning spaces include:

• Woodland outdoor areas
• Specialist classrooms
• Creative arts studios
• Modern sports facilities

We take pride in our strong pastoral culture, focus on individual strengths, and commitment to nurturing confident, curious, and compassionate young people.

Joining Akeley Wood School means becoming 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 growing our student body. Your mission will be to deliver a distinctive, market-leading, and 'surprising and delightful' customer experience. You will establish 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 enrolments and the retention of existing students.

Key Responsibilities

• Admissions Management:
  • Oversee all aspects of the admissions process and pipeline management to optimize conversion rates.
  • Implement a retention strategy for all transition points within the school.
  • Regularly report and forecast data with actionable insights.
  • Enhance the digital admissions experience with excellent follow-up for prospective parents.
  • Lead conversion events, including personal tours and open mornings.
  • Act as a brand ambassador, understanding the local market and the needs of parents and pupils.
  • Develop ambitious annual enrolment 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.
  • Collaborate with the overseas recruitment team to ensure compliance with visas and regulations.
• People Management:
  • Support the Admissions & Marketing team in delivering a first-class customer experience.
  • Lead relationships with external agencies.
  • Ensure the department is well-resourced.
  • Maintain effective working relationships with key colleagues across the school.

What We're Looking For

Essential Skills

• Be a personable individual who easily relates to others.
• Enjoy and thrive on interacting with people.
• Operate with autonomy and authority, demonstrating good gravitas.
• Exhibit excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Possess a high level of numeracy 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 and various database systems.

Experience

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

Why Join Akeley Wood School?

Become part of a supportive, high-performing team that takes pride in delivering exceptional experiences for families. This rewarding role directly shapes the first impressions and future journeys of our pupils.

Safeguarding Commitment

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 safeguarding concerns must be reported in line with school procedures. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Why Join Us?

At Blenheim Schools, you will make a real difference every day, positively impacting the lives of pupils and vulnerable young people. 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 be subject to an enhanced DBS. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Blenheim Schools are 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 as a result of delays or compliance processes.