Welcome
Thank you for your interest in joining the staff at
Ipswich High School.
This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining the school. We have recently welcomed boys to the Prep School and the Sixth Form and will become fully coeducational via a Diamond Model approach in the next academic year. We will also open our first boarding house in September 2019. As the school community moves forward, it is essential that we maintain our momentum and Marketing, Communications and Admissions are crucial in this. We are now looking for a Director of Marketing and Communications (Maternity Cover) to lead on the school’s Marketing and Admissions function. The role represents a significant opportunity for the right individual to lead and advise the Senior Leadership Team and Local Governing Body on matters relating to Marketing, Communications and Admissions.
As Head, I am enormously proud of our talented staff. Every member of our school has access to support and training to help them develop professionally within their role. We welcome applications from qualified individuals who will relish the opportunity to make an impact. If this is you, I look forward to reading your application.
Ms Oona Carlin Head
The School
Ipswich High School is a leading independent school in Suffolk, proudly educating
hundreds of pupils between the ages of 3 - 18. The school has long enjoyed a high
profile across the region, and is much respected for both its academic success year-
on-year, and for its superb pastoral care and enrichment activity. With feeder schools
spread across East Anglia, the school typically sees its greatest demand for places
from the counties of Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk.
Founded in 1878, the school has been at its impressive home in Woolverstone, near
Ipswich since 1992. We have an 87-acre campus and make use of our superb natural
and inspirational surroundings.
The school is renowned for its academic excellence, including some of the strongest
GCSE results in the region, yet remains a uniquely warm and nurturing community
underpinned by incredible pastoral care. Teaching staff contribute to our extensive
Enrichment Programme, which includes the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and World
Challenge.
At this exciting, transformative stage in the school’s history we have begun to admit
boys throughout the school via a Diamond Model approach and will soon be opening
a boarding house, allowing us to reach a wider market.
The Candidate
The school is looking for an exceptional and experienced marketing professional with
a proven record of implementing successful marketing strategies across a variety of
channels. The chosen candidate must be an effective leader, with strong verbal and
written communication skills who is prepared to play an active role within the Senior
Leadership Team.
The individual must have the enthusiasm to succeed in this role and the ability to work
on a number of important projects simultaneously to ensure success. A positive
approach and a willingness to be involved in school life is essential.
Job Description
Responsible to: The Head
Responsible for: The effective development and delivery of a Marketing and
Communications strategy which will enable the school to continue to meet its
objectives. These include lead generation, local pupil recruitment, international pupil
recruitment, PR and alumni engagement.
Job Purpose:
1. Develop and successfully implement cost effective marketing strategies
which enable strong pupil recruitment and stakeholder engagement
2. Continued market research to better understand audiences and influencers
and utilising this to the school’s advantage
3. Further develop the school’s branding and messaging and ensure
consistency of approach in internal and external communications
4. Lead and manage the Admissions and Marketing team to ensure effective
delivery of these key areas
5. Be an active member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team, Governing
Body and relevant Committees
6. Build key relationships with stakeholders across the school and external
community
Leadership & Strategy:
1. To advise the Senior Leadership Team and Local Governing Body on matters
relating to Marketing, Communications and Admissions using statistical
evidence
2. Attend SLT, Full Governing Body, Ipswich Education Ltd. Board meetings and
appropriate Governors’ sub-committee meetings
3. Supporting the Head through negotiating and influencing strategic decision-
making within the school’s SLT
4. To take delegated responsibility for marketing decisions following appropriate
discussions with the Head
5. To undertake such duties as agreed with the Head and carry out duties as
may be required from time to time as detailed by the Head
6. Management of staff in the Admissions and Marketing team
7. Evaluate, monitor and adapt the marketing strategy as necessary
8. Develop a positive and proactive whole-school marketing culture amongst
teaching and support staff
9. Work with the Head and SLT to ensure clear and appropriate communication
to all audiences
10. Manage and protect the corporate image, brand and house style
11. Manage admissions, marketing and communications budgets.
Pupil Recruitment:
1. Through the marketing and communications strategy maximise pupil numbers
and pupil retention across the whole school
2. Contribute to the development of feeder school engagement programmes
(particularly local primary, prep schools, nurseries and childcare providers),
and help to develop engagement with schools in the community
3. Develop new opportunities to attract and recruit new pupils, including
boarders (UK and international)
4. Ensure a full understanding and communication of the school’s USPs including
the Diamond Model and the benefits to pupils and parents
5. Implement and monitor the school’s retention strategy to ensure transition
from Pre-Prep through to Sixth Form
6. Focus on increasing lead generation and enquiries from prospective parents
7. Attend education fairs, exhibitions and events including overseas where
necessary
Marketing:
1. Overall responsibility for the school’s website, social media and intranet
output
2. Ensure marketing campaigns are effective, timely and measurable across a
number of channels ensuring strong ROI
3. Create brand awareness and lead generation campaigns and consistently
monitor their impact
4. Write copy for the website and printed materials in line with the school’s
ethos, brand and identity
5. Develop essential marketing collateral such as brochures, posters and
prospectuses as needed with a view of the target audience
6. Undertake market research and interpret results. Make recommendations to
the Head on future actions and build results into marketing strategy.
7. Measure and report on marketing plan results on a quarterly basis, and
monitor marketing budgets monthly
8. Develop opportunities to promote the profile of the Head and the Head’s
vision for the school
9. Ensure the school’s SEO and digital profile are strong
Communications:
1. Responsibility for communications effectively representing the brand and
maintaining a professional approach with all stakeholders
2. Reviewing appropriate communications methods and channels for
stakeholders with parents as the priority
3. Ensure effective and striking internal and external communications
4. Create a strong parent engagement programme to uncover and utilise
advocates of the school
5. Promote a culture of parental feedback and engage SLT and wider staff to act
on criticism
6. Create regular communications with the school’s alumni
7. Create regular communications with the school’s international agent network
8. Responsibility for school newsletters and briefing documents
Public Relations and Events
1. Work with PR agency to ensure that there is consistent and strategic
coverage in the local community and in sector-specific media
2. Lead on media liaison and press relations in conjunction with the Head and
other nominated spokespeople
3. Overall responsibility for events such as Open Mornings, Sixth Form Open
Evenings and other external events
4. Responsibility for dealing with negative press and potentially damaging stories
5. Be aware of the school’s schedule of activities and events and capitalise on
the PR opportunities they offer
6. Utilise opportunities across the school to collate news and write press releases
7. Ensure that staff write regular blogs on hot topics and be responsible for their
final content and dissemination
Personal Responsibilities:
1. Playing a full part in the life of the school community, supporting its distinctive
vision and ethos and encouraging staff and pupils to follow this example
2. Actively promoting school policies and procedures
3. Responsibility for own continued professional learning and development
4. Attending meetings scheduled in the school calendar punctually
5. Adhering to the School’s Safeguarding Policy
Notes:
The above responsibilities are subject to the general duties and responsibilities
contained in the statement of Conditions of Employment
This job description allocates duties and responsibilities but does not direct the
particular amount of time to be spent on carrying them out and no part of it may
be so construed
This job description is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post. It will
be reviewed at least once a year and it may be subject to modification or
amendment at any time after consultation with the holder of the post
The duties may be varied to meet the changing demands of the school at the
reasonable discretion of the Head
This job description forms part of the contract of employment. It describes the
way the post holder is expected and required to perform and complete the
particular duties as set out
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Proven track record of developing and
implementing successful PR, marketing
and communications plans
Essential
Educated to Degree level
Essential
Professional/postgraduate marketing
qualification
Desirable
Significant experience in a marketing
role
Essential
The ability to measure and evaluate the
impact of marketing tactics
Essential
Previous experience of leading a team Essential
An understanding of the uses and
limitations of traditional and digital
marketing channels within this sector
Essential
Able to communicate effectively and
confidently with all members of the
school community
Essential
Excellent computer skills and ICT
competence at a level to meet the
demands of the job
Essential
The confidence and knowledge
needed to fully participate at SLT,
Governing Body and Committee
Meetings
Essential
Experience of working with high value
customers/products or in an education
environment
Desirable
Experience of working at a strategic
level
Desirable
Skills
Excellent organisational skills Essential
Capable of being an ambassador and
representing the school at public
engagements
Essential
Excellent inter-personal skills with the
ability to influence
Essential
Efficient, resilient and reliable Essential
Excellent written and spoken English Essential
Able to write and edit good copy for
ads, press releases, newsletters and
other communications
Essential
An eye for detail and a flair for
recognising good graphic design
Essential
Excellent computer skills and ICT
competence at a level to meet the
demands of the job
Essential
Able to communicate effectively and
confidently with all members of the
school community
Essential
Able to work unsupervised and prioritise
work
Desirable
Attitude/Approach
Self-motivated and confident in working
under own direction
Essential
Proactive and imaginative in approach
Essential
A flexible team player with the ability to
support or lead depending on the
situation
Essential
Forward thinking and self-motivated
Essential
Ability to remain calm when under
pressure
Essential
Mindful of the need to respect
confidentiality
Essential
Flexible over working hours according
to the needs of the school and role
Essential
Seeks ongoing training and
development opportunities Essential
Staff Benefits Remuneration
The salary will be commensurate with the importance of the post and with the
experience and qualities of the successful candidate.
Starting Pay Range: £45,000 - £55,000
School Fees
• A 50% reduction in school fees from Reception class onwards available to staff
for the duration of the post
Development, Health, Pensions & Union
The school is committed to staff development with an annual review
scheme and regular opportunities for professional development
Teaching staff are provided with a school laptop/iPad
All teachers are eligible to belong to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme
All staff able to join NEU union membership with free on-site advice
available from the NEU representative
Corporate Membership of Ipswich Sports Club, at 30% off advertised
Membership Subscription Fees
Free Provision & Discounted Services
• Mid-morning refreshments and a midday meal during term time
• There is free on-site parking
• All staff can swim free of charge on two evenings per week and, at specified
times, have free use of the Fitness Suite
• Staff undertaking a free eye test will be offered £40 towards the cost of new
reading glasses
• Offer of free Microsoft Office software on devices at home while employed at
the school
Wellbeing
• Half price flu vaccination
• Cooked lunch each day (term-time) and sandwiches/fruit during parent
evenings
• Free tea and coffee for all staff all day, fruit twice each week in staffrooms
• Newspapers in staffrooms
Appointment Process
Please complete an application form and return to our HR Officer,
enclosing a cover letter supporting your application.
For further information, please contact the HR Officer at
Ipswich High School
Woolverstone
Ipswich
IP9 1AZ
Tel: +44 (0) 01473 780201
Web: ipswichhighschool.co.uk
Closing date for applications: Friday 21st June
Interview date: Monday 1st July
Start date: August 2019
Safeguarding Checks
All appointments in will be subject to two satisfactory references, Disclosure check by
the Disclosure and Barring Service, medical fitness for this role and evidence of
identity and qualifications. All the above checks must be completed before
beginning work in the school. In the unlikely event of an unsatisfactory report being
received following the issuing of a contract, the offer of appointment will be
terminated without notice.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and child protection screening
will apply to this post.
Head Ms Oona Carlin
Woolverstone, Ipswich, Suffolk IP9 1AZ
Telephone 01473 780201
Email [email protected]