Reporting directly to the Head of External Relations, the Admissions Officerplays a crucial role in helping to build on the success of Holmewood House School.
The role supports External Relations Team with pupil recruitment and admissions at Holmewood and plays a key ambassadorial role for the School in promoting its values and ethos in all interactions with prospective parents.
The Admissions Officerworks very closely in a small team with the Head of External Relations, the Marketing Executive and Alumni Assistant – all four roles provide mutual support to each other at peak activity periods.
We are looking for a candidate with a good understanding of prep schools and a strong empathy with our Schools’ ethos and focus on care for the child. They will be a natural and engaging communicator and possess excellent organisational and administrative skills with good attention to detail when handling data. This role would suit a person who can work independently and is proactive and results-focused. A sensitivity to prospective parents’ needs and a confidence to positively promote the School in a balanced and sophisticated way will also be important in this role.
The working pattern is likely to be a standard 37.5 hour week, worked over 5 days per week in school during term time plus 6 additional weeks each year (worked as 12 weeks of half-days) for progressing admissions applications and handling prospective parental requests over the school holidays. The 12 weeks of part-time school holiday work is flexible: most of the work can be conducted remotely and at hours to suit the candidate.
There is flexibility, for the right candidate, to expand this role to full-time, all year round – to support other areas of the school (not limited to the External Relations Team). Working arrangements at the discretion of the Head of External Relations.
Some flexibility will be required to support recruitment events and tours that may take place outside the standard hours in order to fulfil the remit of the role. Specific hours of work will be agreed with the successful candidate.
Key duties:
· Manage interactions and communications with prospective parents ensuring enquiries are met with a professional, timely and personal approach and that all enquiries (email, telephone or online) are recorded accurately and in a timely manner in the admissions database
· Responsible for maintaining the visit diary for all parent visits and prospective pupil taster days including meetings with the Head and other staff, and confirming appointments
· Support the Head of External Relations in preparing their personalised School tours - to ensure the educational provision, ethos and facilities are presented in the best possible light to prospective parents.
· With the support of the Head of External Relations, organise and manage admissions events and school open days to drive pupil recruitment.
· Oversee and administer the online Registration Portal to process applications.
· Maintain the admissions database and ensure it is always up to date and report status of open applications to the Head of External Relations on a weekly basis
· Follow up enquiries (by phone, email and other channels) as required and report recruitment status weekly to the Head of External Relations
· Work independently and proactively to advance the team’s goal to represent Holmewood House positively and recruit pupils.
· Set up, run and and manage video calls, pupil interviews or other types of meetings between prospective parents and key members of staff (e.g. Head of Boarding, Deputy Head, Assistant Head Pastoral).
· Assist with Pupil and Parent Onboarding Events such as welcome, information sessions and transition days.
· Compile online prospective pupil profiles - to include school reports, pastoral questionnaires, confidential references – and inform the Head of External Relations when Offers can be made
· Liaise with the finance bursary about payment of registration fees, deposits and the billing of specific Nursery sessions.
· Arrange and set up Nursery/Reception ‘Stay and play’ sessions for getting to know joiners into EYFS
· Arrange and set up overnight ‘Taster Days’ for prospective day pupils and ‘Taster Stays’ for prospective boarders.
· Engage with teaching staff to arrange in-person taster days, or overseas video calls for potential pupils.
· Act as the key point of contact between parents and the School for Taster Days, ensuring visiting pupils are well informed and prepared and are made to feel welcome on arrival
· Ensure that Taster Days run smoothly from start to finish and that positive feedback is passed on to parents in a timely and appropriate manner
· Set up and invigilate cognitive profiling assessments (CAT4) for prospective pupils and interviews with the Deputy Head
· Set up scholarship assessments for external candidates and communicate details to parents.
· Work closely with Learning Strategies and EAL department to identify areas where prospective pupils may require support.
· Compile staff feedback after taster day assessment and liaise with the Deputy Head and Head to conclude offer recommendations
· Liaise closely with pastoral and academic staff, medical centre and catering to meet the requirements of every new pupil.
· Coordinate the onboarding and induction process for new pupils.
· Provide comprehensive and accurate joiners information, update the school portal and website with orientation and welcome information. Update the ‘Welcome Booklets’ each term - ensuring onboarding information remains accurate and relevant
· Work closely with the appointed parent representatives to welcome new joiners.
· Support the Head of External Relations in key events and activities across the school from time to time.
· Engage with our international agents over queries and onboarding of overseas pupils.
· Level 1 User on Sponsor Management System for Home Office for processing of Child Student Visa Applications. Pre-joiner checks and ensuring compliance with UKVI
Person specification:
The successful candidate:
Qualities and Skills Required
- Strong and engaging communication skills both face to face and in written communications
- A confidence to positively promote and position the school and its values
- A positive attitude with the ability to work flexibly getting involved in school life and also on your own initiative
- Strong organisational and administrative skills
- Good attention to detail when handling data and confidence with IT (ideally with Excel and database experience)
- An ability to follow processes and execute procedures consistently and accurately –suggesting and implementing improvements where appropriate
- An ability to learn quickly and work efficiently
- Experience of working in schools and a good understanding of the Prep School market
- An empathy with the ethos and values of Holmewood
- An understanding of GDPR and how to operate within its requirement
- Will participate positively to all aspects of school life, including but not limited to engaging in the School’s performance and development approach and own CPD. Promote good relationships at all levels and work with sensitivity and professionalism when handling confidential information.
- A dynamic, collaborative approach with the ability to operate at a fast-pace.
- Have a positive approach to change and continuous improvement.
- Maintain high professional standards at all times with with a strong customer-focused work ethic
- The ability to prioritise effectively.
- The ability to plan ahead and pre-empt issues before they arise
- Have a good understanding of the school’s health and safety policies to ensure a safe working environment for staff, pupils and visitors.
- Excellent communication skills (both orally and in writing), comfortable in working with stakeholders across the School.
- Be self-aware, demonstrating a willingness to learn and develop skill-set.
Whilst every effort has been made to outline the main duties, responsibilities and requirements of the post, the list is not exhaustive. The successful candidate will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from their direct line manager or other members of the management/leadership team to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.
It is understood that areas of responsibility are from time to time subject to review and change in light of the changing needs of the school environment and the professional development of the staff. This job description may therefore be amended from time to time.
Salary
£25,000 to £27,000 dependent upon experience.
Pension & School Benefits
Holmewood House offers a range of benefits including a generous employer contributory pension, free parking, 25 days of annual leave prorata (plus statutory holidays) and free lunch/refreshments.
Hours of work
Term Time hours are between 8:30am to 4:30pm with a half hour unpaid lunchbreak
This is a full-time role, whilst the School is in session plus 12 additional weeks each year (worked as half-days) for progressing admissions applications and handling prospective parental requests over the school holidays. The 12 weeks of part-time school holiday work is flexible: most of the holiday work can be conducted remotely and at hours to suit the candidate.
There is flexibility, for the right candidate, to expand this role to full-time, all year round – to support other areas of the school. Working arrangements at the discretion of the Head of External Relations.
Some flexibility will be required to support recruitment events and tours that may take place outside the standard hours to fulfil the remit of the role.
Specific hours of work will be agreed with the successful candidate.
Start date
September 2026.
Offer
The successful applicant will be offered the role subject to the satisfactory completion of a number of background checks including but not limited to an enhanced DBS check, the taking up and verification of references, the verification of career history and fitness to undertake the role.
Safeguarding
All staff have a responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children with whom they come into contact and are required to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding policies at all times.
Application
If you wish to be considered for this role, please complete the word version application form, which can be found on our website at:
Holmewood House Job Opportunities and email to: [email protected]
The closing date for applications is Monday 22 June 2026 at 9:00am, the School reserves the right to short-list and interview candidates ahead of the closing date.
If you would like more information on the role or require a hard copy application form please contact: [email protected]
Pay: £25,000.00-£27,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
