St Christopher School Hiring for Admissions Registrar (Junior School) Job at Letchworth, England Full Time

The School

Founded in 1915, St Christopher School is an independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 3-18. We have 535 pupils and 199 teaching and support staff. We have no school uniform and everyone is called by their first name. We have no religious affiliation and welcome students and staff of all faiths and none.

Our Ethos

We treat our young people as individuals and aim for them to develop competence and resourcefulness, social conscience and moral courage, the capacity for friendship and a true zest for life.

Overview:

The School is seeking to appoint an Admissions Registrar (Junior School) to work under the direction of the Director of Marketing & Admissions, working closely alongside the Senior Admissions Registrar and other members of the department.

The key focus of this role is to work with the Director of Marketing and Admissions to implement the strategy for the attraction, recruitment and retention of students across the Junior School and Nursery, supporting the growth of the student roll.

The Admissions Registrar (Junior School) is responsible for leading the recruitment and admissions process in the Junior School and Nursery, from initial enquiry, organisation of admissions events and the assessment process all the way through to admission, supporting induction and retention activities.

The successful applicant will provide excellent customer service to prospective families and will foster effective relationships across St Chris and with any relevant feeder schools. They will contribute to regular reviews and analysis of internal and external admissions trends, ensuring they act with due regard to legal process.

While taking the lead for Junior School and Nursery admissions, the Admissions Registrar (Junior School) will also contribute to the work of the department as a whole, have a thorough understanding of all areas of life in the Junior and Senior Schools and play a key role in contributing to a positive and consistent school image.

In the first instance it is envisaged that this role is full-time, but term time plus six weeks could be considered and discussed at interview.

Main Responsibilities

The following is an indication of the tasks within the role, though it is not exhaustive

• Develop and deliver the admissions objectives for the Junior School and Nursery as part of the wider marketing and admissions strategy, to ensure the School’s recruitment targets are met, attracting outstanding students across all year groups.
• Provide input to the overall marketing and admissions strategy as required. Keep informed of admissions trends and developments across the sector.
• Support the Senior Admissions Registrar with timely data to help regularly forecast and report on key admissions figures for the whole school, revising strategies and tactical plans in conjunction with the Director of Marketing and Admissions.
• Together with the Senior Admissions Registrar track, manage, analyse and report on elements of the admissions process, including enquiries, visits, registrations, assessments, new joiners and premature leavers, to the Director of Marketing and Admissions.
• Effectively use the School’s admissions system (Open Apply).
• Carry out regular competitor research and report back to the Director of Marketing and Admissions
• Develop positive working relationships with departments and colleagues across the School.

Management of the Admissions Process for the Junior School and Nursery

• Manage and maintain a highly efficient and effective admissions process, with a focus on bespoke customer service and tactical recruitment for all year groups in the Junior School and Nursery.
• Be the primary point of contact for all matters relating to admission, overseeing all enquiries, tours, visits, interviews and meetings with senior staff.
• Ensure that all correspondence, communications, and meetings with prospective parents and students reflect the high-quality of the School’s educational provision and its core interest in the individual.
• Ensure all relevant documentation for applicants is gathered as part of the admissions process. Keep accurate records using Open Apply of each applicant’s journey through the admissions process, including ensuring all interview notes, taster day notes and assessment data is entered accurately.
• Oversee the entrance assessments for prospective students and ensure that these are carried out effectively, working with the Head of the Junior School and the Lead SEN Training Co-ordinator to ensure a whole-child approach to admissions.
• Manage the offering of student places in conjunction with the Head and senior staff in line with the School’s Admission Policy. Manage waiting lists where required.
• Liaise with the Head on a regular basis regarding prospective students, individual visits, and tours. Liaise with the Head’s PA for diary management for family visits.
• Issue a weekly admissions email to Junior School staff informing them of all parental tours and student taster days for the coming week
• Support the retention of current students through actively participating in School Liaison Committees and lead on transition correspondence with current Junior School families.

Starters and Leavers

• Provide accurate starters and leavers lists for the whole school on a regular and timely basis, and ensure leavers procedures are followed in line with Local Authority policy.
• Liaise with the Senior Admissions Registrar to ensure lists are accurate across the whole school, to enable the Senior Admissions Registrar to accurately forecast and report on key admissions figures.
• Liaise with Old Scholars’ (alumni association) on leavers lists.
• Manage administration for Junior School / Nursery starters and leavers:
• Play an active role in School Liaison Committees and lead on communications with prospective families for the transition and induction process for new pupils.
• Ensure the accurate, timely and fulsome handover of information about new pupils to the leadership, teaching and Individual Needs teams.
• Oversee the preparation and content of new starter information packs, liaising with the wider school to ensure all information is correct and sent out in a timely way.
• Liaise with the Finance department regarding applications and advise with regard to the payment of deposits and fees.

Driving Enquiries

• Plan and execute Junior School open days in conjunction with the Director of Marketing and Admissions and the department, liaising with all key stakeholders within the School.
• Play a key role in supporting the delivery of Senior School and Sixth Form Open Days, which are led by the Senior Admissions Registrar.
• In conjunction with the Director of Marketing and Admissions and the Head, co-ordinate the development of relationships with feeder Nurseries, pre-prep and infant schools.

• Together with the Senior Admissions Registrar, represent the Admissions department at future school’s events, education shows and other events to support marketing activity as required.
• Work closely with the Director of Marketing and Admissions to ensure the School is marketed appropriately for all matters relating to Junior School admissions. Provide content for the School’s website and ensure the Admissions section is kept up to date, is clear and welcoming.
• Assist in the running and managing of school events relating to all marketing, admissions and development activity. This may involve some evening or weekend work.
• Assist with anything that is reasonably requested by the Director of Marketing and Admissions or the Head in relation to the work of the Marketing and Admissions Office, providing that such duties are appropriate to your role.

Person Specification:

The successful candidate will be an articulate, persuasive and highly credible ambassador for St Chris, able to work effectively with a wide range of people and bring about change with resilience, confidence and a positive attitude. They will have to demonstrate flexibility and enthusiasm and enjoy working within a team with all members of the School community.

The ideal candidate will also have an excellent track record of success in admissions, sales, or communications, and have extensive experience in customer care.

It is essential that the Admissions Registrar (Junior School) has exceptional verbal and written communication skills. They will also be an organised, flexible and highly personable individual who can be calm, confident and professional with diverse audiences.
Education and Skills:
Essential

• The ability to establish and maintain good professional relationships with all stakeholders including students, parents, prospective parents, alumni, colleagues, feeder schools and external agencies.
• The ability to manage multiple projects, with excellent project management skills and the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Extensive experience in a recruitment or admissions role, or significant sales experience in a service- or education-based organisation.
• A thorough understanding of, and sympathy with, the aims of the independent schools’ sector.

• The ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with staff at all levels
• Willingness to maintain a busy schedule with regular evening and weekend commitments.
• Excellent general business skills, including research, preparing reports and proposals.
• Excellent telephone manner and ability to deal with callers and visitors in a warm and welcoming way.
• IT literate, and experienced in and comfortable with Microsoft Office and database management.

Desirable

• Experience in an admissions role in the UK independent schools sector;
• Experience of event management;
• Educated to degree level or equivalent;
• Knowledge of Schools’ Admissions software;
• Good knowledge of the educational landscape and a keen understanding of the factors which drive parents to consider and invest in independent education for their children.

Personal Attributes:

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate that they have:

• The ability to work as a team player;
• Enthusiasm, maturity, flexibility, creativity, self-motivation, integrity and resilience;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal;
• Excellent organisational skills;

Be of a discrete and diplomatic nature.

Hours of Work:

Full-time, 8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday – with a one-hour unpaid break for lunch – 40 hours per week. The occasional evenings and Weekends for Assessment Days, Open Days and other school events for which time can be taken back as lieu. For the right candidate part-time, term-time plus 6 weeks would be considered and a pro rata salary and holidays would be offered.

Reporting to: Director of Marketing & Admissions

Salary:

Based on a 40 hour working week, the role is placed at Point 34 on the Support Staff Scale, The Full Time Equivalent (FTE) for the role is, £38,102.37 per annum. Pro rata for part-time

Holidays:

Five weeks plus normal bank / public holidays – pro rata for part-time

Benefits:

• The successful candidate will be entitled to join the St Christopher contributory Pension Scheme. Currently the School contributes 8% towards the scheme and matches individual’s contributions to a maximum contribution by the School of 12%.
• The School operates health benefit and death-in-service schemes for staff.
• Employee Assistance Programme, an independent, free and confidential advice service that can offer both practical advice and emotional support.
• Part remission of fees at St Christopher School for children of employees (subject to our normal entry procedures). Please note that remission of school fees is not a contractual entitlement. The Governors reserve the right to vary the rate of remission or to withdraw it altogether.
• Free parking on site.

The Application Process:

In order to apply for this post candidates are required to complete the St Christopher School Application Form, which can be found on the School’s website (www.stchris.co.uk/about-us/job-vacancies/).

Completed applications should be sent, along with a letter of application outlining why you are applying for the role and how your skill set matches our requirements to:

Human Resources Team

St Christopher School

Barrington Road

Letchworth Garden City

Hertfordshire

SG6 3JZ

Application Deadline: 1200 on Friday 30th September 2022. Please visit the St Chris website to obtain a St Chris application form. Early application is advised we reserve the right to close the advert early.

Child Protection

At St Chris we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The School is committed to safeguarding children and has rigorous safer recruitment procedures in place. An Offers of employment are subject to satisfactory safeguarding checks including but not limited to, Enhanced DBS clearance.

Data Protection

In the course of employment at the School, staff may have access to confidential information relating to pupils and their families and are required to exercise due consideration in the way they use such information. Staff should not act in any way which might be prejudicial to the School’s interest. Information which may be included in the category covers both the general business of the school and information regarding specific individuals. A strict code of confidentiality must be adhered to at all times. The School is registered under the Data Protection Act 1984 and staff must not at any time use the personal data held by the school or disclose such data to a third person.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £38,102.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• On-site parking

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Expected start date: 07/11/2022