Director of Development in England

Claremont Fan Court School is a leading independent co-educational day school of 1,200 pupils aged 2 to 18, situated in 100 acres of landscaped grounds just outside Esher, Surrey. The focal point of the grounds, a Grade I listed 18th-century Palladian mansion, served as a royal residence in the 19th century before becoming an independent school in the 1930s. Located just sixteen miles from London and within the M25, the school enjoys excellent road and rail links.

Over the last seven years, both the school and its foundation have undergone a period of transformation, with pupil numbers increasing, the opening of a £7m science and technology building, and a £4m refurbishment of Stable Court, the preparatory school building. Claremont is now seeking to appoint an exceptional director of development to re-establish and lead the development office. This is a pivotal senior role with the opportunity to shape and drive the school’s fundraising and engagement strategy, generating new philanthropic income as part of the school's new strategic plan.

Reporting to the head, the director of development, who will be a member of the senior leadership team, will lead fundraising for new developments to the estate, alongside the preservation and refurbishment of treasured heritage buildings. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and experienced fundraiser to shape a programme in a dynamic and vibrant school, helping it to advance its strategic priorities through philanthropy.

The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge of broad fundraising programmes gained from within or outside of the education sector. They will demonstrate proven success in engaging a wide range of stakeholders (both internal and external) with development and have the professional experience and confidence to build a successful and sustainable long-term fundraising function at Claremont.

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics to arrange an informal and confidential discussion about the role: Peter Lockhart, Search Consultant.

For more information about the role and details of how to apply, please visit. Closing date: 10.00am on Monday 20 April 2026.

Claremont Fan Court School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. The safeguarding responsibilities of this post are detailed in the candidate information brochure. RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.