Admissions Manager in London

Reporting to: Director of Admissions & Marketing

Contract: Full time, term time only plus 30 days in holidays

Additional expectations: Occasional evening, weekend and holiday work (particularly in the autumn term)

Salary: FTE £45,000-50,000

There are two Admissions Manager roles within the Admissions & Marketing team, both covering junior and senior school entry. One part‑time Admissions Manager is already in post; this new role will work in close partnership with the existing manager to ensure a seamless, high‑quality admissions experience. This is a strategically significant position requiring a rare combination of commercial insight, market awareness, efficient operational planning, and exceptional customer service. Collaboration is fundamental.

The Admissions Manager will work closely with the Director of Admissions & Marketing, the Head of Marketing and the wider school community to ensure admissions activity, marketing strategy and communications planning are aligned, data‑driven and mutually reinforcing. Direct line management of Admissions Officer and shared line management of Data & Systems Officer.

Key Skills and Attributes

• Exceptional organisational and planning skills - able to design, manage and refine efficient, multi‑stage admissions processes throughout the year
• Strong commercial and market insight - understands local demographics, feeder‑school dynamics, competitor activity and parent decision‑making behaviours, using this intelligence to inform strategy and planning
• Collaborative working style - works closely with the Director of Admissions & Marketing, the Head of Marketing and the second Admissions Manager to ensure aligned, strategic delivery of annual strategic plan
• Excellent interpersonal skills - confident engaging with prospective families, feeder schools, staff, Governors and the wider community
• Outstanding communication skills — able to deliver clear, timely and accurate information through written, verbal and face‑to‑face channels
• Ability to operate at a senior level – supports the Director and the wider Senior Management Team to guide, support and direct staff in delivering an excellent experience for prospective families
• High level of professionalism and discretion - represents the school with integrity and confidence
• Capacity to manage peak‑period workloads - ensures the Admissions office is appropriately staffed during busy holiday periods, particularly in Autumn and early Spring
• Confident decision‑maker - able to take initiative and uphold the school’s standards for the prospective family experience
• Leadership and line‑management experience - capable of motivating, developing and managing the Systems & Data Officer and the Admissions Officer

Responsibilities

• Process and Planning
• Work with the Marketing team to manage the end‑to‑end communications journey for prospective parents, from initial enquiry to acceptance of a place
• Work with the Director to set and manage the annual Admissions budget
• Provide strategic input into advertising planning ahead of the Autumn Open Events season
• Collaborate with the Director to maintain and annually update a local area map showing feeder‑school patterns and family locations, using this data to inform strategic planning and market positioning
• Initial Enquiries
• Build strong, positive relationships with prospective families
• Gather and record all relevant information to evaluate and prioritise enquiries, ensuring the Admissions database remains accurate and up to date
• Ensure timely and personalised follow ups to all enquiries
• Provide a tailored, high‑quality service to high‑priority enquirers, including: understanding family needs, encouraging school visits and signposting relevant events
• Visits & Tours
• Manage appointment bookings and liaise with relevant staff
• Oversee the organisation of group and individual families’ tours
• Ensure visiting families’ information is accurate and available to the Head and relevant staff
• Ensure all visits are followed up promptly by email or telephone
• Events
• Work with the Director to organise and attend events for prospective and registered pupils, including taster days and Open Events and Welcome Events
• Oversee operational planning for Admissions events, delegating tasks to Admissions Officer as appropriate
• Manage team rotas for out‑of‑hours Admissions events and enquiry monitoring
• Applications
• Oversee all administrative aspects of the admissions process for new families, working closely with Systems & Data Office to ensure the application experience is as user-friendly and intuitive as possible
• Liaise closely with the Junior School and Sixth Form regarding admissions and pupil transitions
• Manage entrance tests, including coordination with teaching staff and remote assessments for overseas applicants
• Maintain proactive communication with families throughout the process, including after assessments and during the joining‑papers stage
• Liaise with the Bursar’s office regarding financial assistance applications, projected pupil roll and fee‑related matters
• Work with School Data Manager and Pastoral team to ensure new joiners in Years 8–10 are placed in appropriate teaching groups, tutor groups and mentoring arrangements
• Information Management
• Manage development and updates of Appliccaa system
• Provide statistical information and reports for the Head, SMT and Governors
• Work with the Director, Head and Head of Junior School on offer numbers, waiting lists and admissions decisions
• Feeder Schools and Market Insight
• Work closely with the Director to develop and implement a feeder‑school strategy and action plan
• Build detailed knowledge of feeder and competitor schools, using this insight to inform planning and positioning
• Prepare demographic and market‑related reports as required by the Director
• Management & Development
• Act as joint line manager to the Admissions Office and Systems & Data Officer, ensuring they are motivated, trained and appraised in line with school policies
• Undertake relevant training as agreed with the Director

Person Specification

• Essential
• Proven experience in admissions, marketing, customer experience, or a related professional services environment
• Demonstrable success in managing complex, multi‑stage processes with high levels of accuracy and organisation
• Experience working in a competitive, customer‑facing environment where service quality directly influences outcomes
• Strong understanding of market dynamics, including demographics, competitor behaviour and customer decision‑making
• Experience delivering strategic plans and contributing to organisational planning cycles
• Line‑management experience, including motivating and developing staff
• Experience working collaboratively with senior leaders and cross‑functional teams
• High level of digital literacy, including CRM/database management and Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to analyse data, identify trends and use insight to inform decision‑making
• Confident decision‑maker with sound judgement and the ability to act autonomously when required
• Desirable
• Experience working in an independent school or education‑sector admissions environment
• Knowledge of SIMS or similar school management systems
• Experience managing events, including planning, logistics and stakeholder coordination
• Understanding of the local educational landscape, including feeder schools and competitor schools

Personal Attributes

• Warm, welcoming and professional manner, with a genuine commitment to delivering best‑in‑class customer service
• Commercially aware, with the ability to balance strategic priorities with operational realities
• Proactive and forward‑thinking, anticipating challenges and identifying opportunities for improvement
• Calm under pressure, particularly during peak admissions periods and high‑stakes events
• Collaborative and team‑oriented, valuing partnership with colleagues across Admissions, Marketing and the wider school
• Discreet and trustworthy, able to handle sensitive information with professionalism
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable working in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment
• Personally invested in upholding the school’s values and representing the school with integrity

Application procedure:

The recruitment process will require all applicants to complete an application form, accompanied by a letter of application, current CV and details of two referees, who will be contacted prior to interview, in accordance with the School’s Safer Recruitment procedures. The application should be submitted electronically to: recruitment@colfes.com or by post to: Mrs A Ross, Human Resources, Colfe’s School, Horn Park Lane, London SE12 8AW. Applications should be sent by 12noon on Friday 12th June. Colfe’s reserves the right to appoint to this post before the closing date if necessary. Colfe’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.