Marketing and Admissions Assistant
Our mission is to develop happy, confident and successful pupils who are well prepared for their future.
Westbrook Hay is a thriving co-educational independent day school. Pupils enjoy a broad curriculum, achieve excellent results and have the all-important confidence to succeed.
The school roll is currently at a record high of around 380 pupils and in September 2023 announced that it is growing its senior section of the school from Year 7 to Year 11 and will begin offering GCSEs.
Our ethos is to be a welcoming, inclusive family community that provides the best for, and expects the best from us all.
The school is well known locally for its warm and welcoming atmosphere. This is something we cherish and, even though we are potentially going to grow slightly in size, we do not want to lose this ethos.
We believe our ethos separates us from larger competitor schools in our locality. This ethos is generated by the staff and their relationships with the pupils and parents. It has been regularly described as ‘friendly and professional’.
We are seeking a new Marketing and Admissions Assistant who can help us with achieving our mission and thrive under this ethos, supporting our pupils to reach their full potential as they move through the school.
Our History
Westbrook Hay School, founded in 1892 by Augustus Orlebar in Bedford, has evolved over 130 years, relocating and renaming itself multiple times. Originally a small establishment with just two pupils, it grew under successive leaderships and moved to its current location at Westbrook Hay in 1963. It transitioned from a boarding school for boys to accepting day pupils and girls in the late 1970s.
Located between Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, the school’s beautiful location boasts 26 acres of parkland overlooking the Bourne Valley. For example, the school has a purpose-built Pre-Prep and is planning a new specialist STEAM building for Seniors. The Performing Arts Centre was added in 2016 and boasts impressive facilities for dance, drama and music. Specialist facilities also include a Science Laboratory, DT Workshop, Sports Hall, Swimming Pool, an ICT Suite and an Art Studio.
Under various heads the school has expanded and modernised, while continuing to prepare pupils for prestigious senior schools such as Bedford, Berkhamsted, Haileybury, Millfield, Stowe and St Albans. The school now moves into a new phase of development becoming an allthrough school to 16.
Long Term School Strategy
In September 2023, Westbrook Hay announced that it is growing its senior school from Year 7 to Year 11 and will begin offering GCSEs. The decision was made in reaction to the changing local market, from a position of financial strength and due to demand from current and prospective parents. This growth is scheduled to begin with our current Year 7 cohort who will become our first Year 9s in September 2025. The announcement has been met with great positivity from all parties.
School Structure
The school is growing to form three main sections
Pre-Prep: for pupils from Nursery to Year 2, this section of the school is two form entry and consists of approximately 140 boys and girls
Prep: for pupils from Year 3 to Year 6, this section of the school is two or three form entry and consists of approximately 190 boys and girls
Senior: currently just Lower Seniors, Years 7 and 8, this section of the school consists of over 50 boys and girls. Under our long term school strategy we will be adding Upper Seniors with the aim of having similar numbers in each year group.
Overview of the Role
Westbrook Hay is seeking a committed and motivated Marketing and Admissions Assistant to work within our busy school office.
Reporting to the Director of Marketing and Admissions, this is a varied role. The admissions and marketing functions operate as one team; the postholder will be required to provide administrative support for both areas.
This is a flexible, part-time role, predominantly term time, but with some work in the holidays and is for an immediate start.
The role includes assisting with the digital marketing, supporting the organisation of events and the administration around admissions.
With a strong interest in marketing, a high-level knowledge of social media platforms and IT skills, the
successful candidate will possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, with meticulous attention to detail. A creative flair, with experience of marketing is desirable. An understanding of the independent sector is an advantage.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities
The following is an indication of the tasks within the role. All of your work will be in conjunction with with your line manager. The purpose of this job description is to outline the main responsibilities of the Marketing and Admissions Assistant at our school. It is not restrictive and includes any other reasonable requests that may arise.
Digital Marketing
Developing and maintaining a social n media plan that dovetails the strategic aims of the school
Gathering and creating content for n use on social media channels and the website
Organising photos for key events and n supporting the teaching staff with this
Generating greater engagement n across all social media channels
Providing monthly and annual social n media reports which give comprehensive figures and can be measured against business trends
Posting updates on the school’s n website
Maintaining the video and n photograph libraries
Admissions
Responding to prospective parent n enquiries by phone and email
Sending out prospectuses n
Ordering and maintaining collateral n for marketing
Maintaining the schools CRM system n – Schoolbase and running monthly admissions register and reports as required by ISI
Gathering information required for n pupils joining the school or attending the taster days
Liaising with local educational n authorities regarding children joining and leaving the school
Running the monthly admissions n register
Events
Supporting the administration of n Open Days
Helping to plan and host other key n marketing events
Updating information required to n maintain pupil records
Producing reports from the CRM n
Use email marketing to encourage n attendees at the events
Liaise with local Prep and primary n schools regarding joint events
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
The successful candidate will have the personal qualities to gain the respect of pupils, parents and colleagues. The holder of this post will have to demonstrate flexibility and enthusiasm and enjoy working within a team with all members of the School community.
All staff are expected to be:
Able to demonstrate high levels of interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence
Patient and kind, yet determined
Able to demonstrate integrity at all times
Loyal to the school and an embodiment of Westbrook Hay’s values (mission, vision and ethos)
n support others’ needs and challenges
n
Empathetic to the plight/work of others and flexible enough to adapt their expectations to
Understanding of the impact of their own behaviours on others
A personal and professional role model for the community n
Skills, Experience and Personal Attributes
All staff at Westbrook Hay are expected to embrace and demonstrate in their professional lives the School’s values of courage, independence, integrity, reflective learner, responsibility and togetherness.
Skills and Experience
A flair for writing engaging copy for digital platforms and the ability to adapt style where required
The creative skills to develop multimedia content designed to engage and grow digital audiences
Technical understanding of social media platforms for business use
Including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube
Strong analytical skills with experience in using analytical tools to optimise activity e.g. Facebook for Business, Google Analytics etc.
A keen eye for trends in the digital space and the ability to analyse and understand data
Experience of working with website Content Management Systems
An understanding of the independent sector is desirable
Empathy and understanding of what is important to parents when choosing a school
Essential
Personal Attributes
A systematic approach to tasks Essential
Excellent attention to detail/ accuracy
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Desirable
Desirable
Essential
The ability to remain calm and positive under pressure and work to deadlines Essential
Proactive approach to planning and prioritising work with the ability to use initiative appropriately
A customer-focused approach
Essential
Essential
Exceptional communication skills Essential
Ability to learn and implement new processes Essential
A friendly and approachable manner
Essential
Salary and Benefits
This is a Marketing and Admissions position, the salary will be competitive and dependent on experience. There is flexibility with the hours to suit.
What can we offer you?
30 hours per week (excluding 30-minute unpaid lunch break) n attending on a Friday
Reduced hours in the holidays n Attendance at all inset days n
Attendance at some weekend marketing events – Open Days, n Teddy Bears’ Picnic, Bonfire Night, Easter Egg Hunt
5 weeks holiday
Staff pension scheme
Free lunch available when the school’s catering facilities are open
Staff fee remission subject to terms and conditions
Enhanced family leave
Application
and Recruitment Process
Further details and an Application Form can be obtained from the School Website (https://www.westbrookhay.co.uk/current-vacancies).
Should you require further information, please contact , Mrs Rachel Franklin, HR Manager, at rachel_franklin@westbrookhay.co.uk
To apply please send a covering letter together with the Application Form. A CV may not be submitted in lieu of the Application Form.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 12:00 on Friday, October 4, 2024. Interviews take place week commencing October 7, 2024. The School reserves the right to appoint an outstanding candidate before the closing date, so early applications are encouraged.
This is for an immediate start.
Compliance Requirements
The appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks in accordance with DfES guidance, to satisfactory references, satisfactory clearance from the DBS, proof of identity and qualifications and a satisfactory medical report. Westbrook Hay is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening including checks with current and previous employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.
