Admissions Officer London, England
Job description
Admissions Officer at David Game College
David Game College is a private sixth-form college (day and boarding) in the City of London.
Reporting to the Co Principals, you will be responsible for the admissions process for GCSE and A level courses and working with alongside with the Head of Admissions. The admissions process begins with the initial enquiry and continues into the students’ first weeks at the College.
It is imperative to build and maintain positive relationships with parents and students as the experience delivered by the Admissions Officer sets the tone for what parents and students can expect in their time at David Game College.
The College has two main entry points, the larger being in September and the other in January. However, as the College aims to be as flexible as possible students will often join throughout the year. The College also allows students to study a mixture of subjects and even courses, therefore you will need to think in a lateral way while considering resources available, timetables and budget in order to offer students courses that meet the requirements of the student and are also profitable to the College.
As the College specialises in retake courses, the Admissions Officer will often deal with parents and students who have unexpectedly not achieved the grades needed to progress to sixth-form or university. This is often an upsetting time for families and you will need to be able to advise families with accurate information and with compassion. While it may seem the end of the world, every year the College helps students to retake or try something new to progress to the next stage of their education.
Throughout the year, there will be busier and quieter times and during the quieter periods the Admissions Team will organise events such as Parents’ Evenings. Throughout the year, the College holds Open Evenings and in the summer there are Open Days/ Results Clinics. Therefore, you will need to enjoy organising and running events from start to finish.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you will work closely with the Head of Admissions, Registrar, Co- Principals (CPs), Head of GCSE (HoGCSE), Head of Sixth Form (HoSF), Director of Operations and Marketing (DoOM) and the Accounts department in the admissions role. A team approach is important and while your colleagues will support you in peak periods, you will also assist your colleagues when needed.
Job Description
Below is a summary of the main duties of the Head of Admissions. However, there will be other duties from time to time that you may need to fulfil.
Admissions Duties:
· Answer enquiries in a timely, accurate and caring manner – by telephone, email, and Skype/Zoom.
· Run Open Evenings – approximately 3-4 per term with Open Days/Interview Days/Results Clinics in the summer
· Organise interviews and Zoom interviews with the CPs/HoGCSE/HoSF
· Ensure that applicants move through the process from enquiry to enrolment by reconnecting with past enquiries
· Collect and check all the documentation required for enrolment such as application form, passport, qualifications, medical/SEN information, Acceptance Forms etc.
· Use NARIC to compare international qualifications to assess a student’s suitability for a course
· Conduct tours of the College and arrange trial lessons for prospective students
· Offer Places and Conditional Places (as directed by the Principal/ CPs/HoGCSE/HoSF
· Obtain references from students’ previous/current schools
· Have a good understanding of the contemporary UKVI Tier 4 Guidance although the Registrar will support with international applications and visas.
· Maintain a good knowledge of course/subject specifications and examinations, (e.g. which subjects include coursework, have different options, practical components etc.) so that you may provide accurate guidance to applicants
· Ensure that safeguarding is always at the forefront of the admissions process and to liaise with the Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL) to ensure that any safeguarding file is received from students’ previous schools
· Work with the SENCO to decide with the Senior Leadership Team if the College is able to meet an applicants’ needs
· Review the Admissions Policies, Terms and Conditions and Forms etc. to update practices
· Work closely with the Data Manager and Registrar to ensure that students’ accurate data is logged on Schoolbase (the College’s Information Management System)
· Complete the School Level Annual Census for the Department of Education
· Analyse data and work with the DoOM to produce reports
· Ensure information is up to date David Game College website to and work with the Digital Marketing Manager (DMM) and DoOM to make any changes.
· Produce marketing material, content for the website and social media with the DMM and DoSM
Other duties:
· Another key part of the role is the A Level and to a lesser extent the GCSE timetables. While the Principal will devise the timetable, the Head of Admissions will assist the Principal in solving any clashes on student timetables and making any reasonable adjustments to the timetable which will allow the College to provide courses to as many students as possible.
· Organisation of Parents Evenings- these are held for GCSE and A level parents in November and March.
Job Package
£29K per annum
The company’s pension contribution is 4%.
A bonus scheme may be introduced after you have gained experience.
The role is full-time (40 hours per week) and the hours are flexible but should generally be fixed. That is, you could decide with the Principal if you were to work, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm (with a one-hour lunch break) or 10am – 6pm (with a one-hour lunch break).
Overtime will likely be necessary during the peak recruitment period of mid-August to mid-September and this will be compensated with time-off in lieu.
Annual leave is 4 weeks per year (20 days) plus the standard public/bank holidays. It would not be appropriate to take annual leave in the peak period.
There may also be the opportunity, to travel for marketing trips in order to represent the College at agent fairs/workshops.
Person Specification
Due to the nature of the role, it is imperative that the Head of Admissions is able to work well with a variety of stakeholders. In order to ensure maximum enrolments, you will need to work in an efficient and systematic manner. The College is both an educational establishment and a business so you will need to deliver solutions that are both educationally and financially sound.
You will also need to demonstrate empathy for students who are perhaps studying in a new country and students who need to retake a course.
You will guide families through the process of applying for a place at the College and for a visa. In many cases, English is a second language to students and the process is repetitive so you will require a patient, easy-going and tolerant attitude.
Criteria
Essential/Desirable
Qualifications
Educated to degree level
Desirable
Educated to A Level
Essential
GCSEs in Mathematics and English Language
Essential
Experience and Skills
Experience of working in an education setting
Desirable
Competent in the use of SchoolBase
Desirable
Use of NARIC to compare international qualifications
Desirable
Experience in organising events
Desirable
Knowledge of Safeguarding issues for young people
Desirable
A good understanding of Tier 4 visas and UKVI guidance
Desirable
Experience in delivering excellent customer service
Essential
Fluent in English and able to communicate confidently and precisely in writing, in person and on the phone
Essential
Good knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
Essential
Competent in the use of databases
Essential
Ability to analyse data and report on relevant data
Essential
Personality and Characteristics
Well-presented
Essential
Flexible with time – particularly during busy periods
Essential
Detail orientated
Essential
Enjoyment of problem solving and the ability to think laterally
Essential
A diplomatic and caring personality with the ability to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders
Essential
A good sense of humour
Essential
Patient, tolerant and respectful
Essential
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: From £29,000.00 per year
Supplemental pay types:
- Bonus scheme
Work Location: One location
