Epsom College is an inspiring place to work, renowned for delivering an excellent all-round education to 1,100 girls and boys aged 11-18. We are proud to have been judged ‘Independent School of the Year 2023’ and named by The Sunday Times as the “UK’s Most Improved School” in its 2024 Parent Power league tables.
The College has grown significantly in the past six years, with pupil numbers rising 38% as the result of the opening of our Lower School in 2016, and strong growth throughout the rest of the College. We admit pupils into Years 7, 9, and 12, with an average of five applicants for every space.
Epsom is a happy school. The College values of kindness, ambition and integrity are at heart of all that we do. Almost all our pupils remain with us for their A-levels, and staff retention is equally strong. Around 60% of staff live onsite, which lends the College a sense of community and togetherness.
Our focus on delivering an all-round education that develops the whole child, is regularly celebrated. In the past four years, in both the TES and Independent School of the Year Awards, we have been a finalist in the categories of Boarding School of The Year, Co-Ed School of the Year, SLT of the Year, Creativity in Teaching, Student Wellbeing, Community Initiative, and Sporting Achievement.
We are seeking an experienced Head of Admissions to lead the Admissions department, which is comprised of an Admissions Registrar and an Admissions Assistant.
The team greatly values its productive and mutually-respectful relationships with many others across the organisation and works particularly closely with the Marketing and Communications Department, especially with regard to events (Open Mornings, College Tours, Feeder School Events etc) and overall promotional and recruitment activity; along with Enterprises, OE Club and Development Society and the Bursar.
It is an exciting time to be joining the College, with Mark Lascelles taking up the Headship from September 2024.
We hope that you will want to come and join the fantastic teachers and support staff who work here.
Our co-curricular programme – which features a vast array of clubs, societies and activities each week – is award-winning (picking up the ‘Best of the Best’ accolade from The Week for six consecutive years); our CCF is one of the largest in the UK; and our Duke of Edinburgh programme currently has over 100 pupils completing their Gold or Silver award.
In addition, our timetable features wellbeing lessons, an award-winning Personal Social Development offering, and an hour each week for volunteering in the community. Last year Epsom pupils gave 8,500 hours of their time to help local charities, schools, and community groups.
From 8am until 6pm, our 72-acre campus is alive with learning; academic lessons also take place on Saturday mornings meaning that pupils have time each day to learn and develop outside the classroom. When pupils aren’t busy, they can relax and catch up with friends in their House. We have 13 single-sex Houses for all our pupils from Year 9 upwards (whether they are day pupils or boarders). This combination of single sex accommodation within a co-ed environment provides pupils with the best of both worlds.
The fact our Houses are physical buildings, where pupils can step through the door into a space that’s entirely their own, is key to the success of our pastoral programme. The Carnegie Centre for Excellence in Mental Health in Schools honoured us with their Gold Award – making us one of just four UK boarding school to receive their top accolade – and in 2023 we were judged Independent School of the Year for Student Wellbeing.
Sport is central to the College. Last year, we won national titles in Squash, Tennis, Rugby and Shooting; and reached the national finals in Hockey, Golf and Swimming. Over 22 sports are offered to our pupils, and the aim is to encourage participation for all – we regularly field D and E teams, and see an average of 90% of pupils playing competitive fixtures.
One of the happiest places to live in Surrey, surrounded by open space, a beautiful campus and supportive colleagues. Epsom College is the Independent School of the Year, and a great place to work.
We are:
Our location:
Reporting to: Director of Marketing and Communications
Type of position: Full time working throughout the year
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Head of Admissions to start at the beginning of October 2024. The Head of Admissions will be responsible for leading the Admissions Department at Epsom College, which recruits day and boarding pupils at 11+, 13+ and 16+.
The Post Holder will report directly to the Director of Marketing and Communications and have line management responsibilities for the Admissions Registrar and the Admissions Assistant.
The post’s main duties will be to successfully and efficiently deliver the Admissions and Recruitment Strategies as developed by the Head, the Director of Communications and the Assistant Head: Futures & Progression.
Key responsibilities
The following are an indication of the key responsibilities and duties included within the role of Head of Admissions at Epsom College:
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
All of the following criteria are considered essential.
All of the following criteria are considered desirable.
In order to arrive at a decision, the selection panel may enhance any or all of the desirable criteria.
Terms and Conditions
Employee benefits include:
Safeguarding:
In compliance with safer recruitment regulations, the post will be offered subject to receipt of satisfactory written references, pre-placement medical assessment, proof of appropriate qualifications, a check of online search engines and websites of publicly available information that does not identify the candidate as potentially unsuitable to work within a school setting, a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if appropriate, as well as confirmation that the successful candidate is able to work in the UK.
Prior to interview, an online search of internet search engines, websites and other publicly available and publicly accessible platforms to ascertain applicant’s suitability to work within a school environment will be undertaken on applicants that have been shortlisted. Please note whilst the Enhanced DBS check will be paid by the College if an overseas police check is required it will be at the cost of the successful applicant.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the College, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
The closing date for applications is noon on 29th July 2024.
Applications should consist of:
Should you wish to discuss the role(s) in strict confidence, please contact Hayley Mintern at hayley.mintern@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7596 954 387 or Melanie Pye at melanie.pye@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7743 927 786.
The College is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supporting gender equality & Race Equality Charter. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.