Director of Admissions and Marketing – Cheltenham College

Cheltenham College is seeking an outstanding strategic leader for this pivotal senior role, which will report directly to the Head and be a key member of the College Executive Committee.

Founded in 1841, Cheltenham College is one of Britain’s top co-educational day and boarding schools — a school of genuine breadth, ambition, and character that combines a proud and distinguished history with a thoroughly modern outlook. With over 1,100 pupils across the College and Prep, a campus of exceptional beauty in the heart of one of England’s most desirable towns, and a growing international family of schools, Cheltenham occupies a compelling and distinctive position in the independent sector.

The arrival of a new Head, Chris Townsend, has brought with it a clear and ambitious intent: to place pupil recruitment, brand, and external relations at the heart of strategy. This newly created post is a deliberate expression of that ambition, bringing together the admissions functions and marketing team under a single, strategic leader.

The Director of Admissions and Marketing will be responsible for everything that shapes how Cheltenham College is perceived, how its story is told and how effectively it recruits and retains the pupils who will define its community. They will develop and own an ambitious, integrated recruitment and marketing strategy across the full 3 to 18 age range, positioning Cheltenham College as a destination of choice for families locally, nationally, and internationally. The successful candidate will provide inspiring leadership to a team of 14 professionals and will act as a prominent brand ambassador, articulating and promoting the school’s distinctive ethos, values and educational vision to a wide range of audiences.

This high-profile and exciting role will attract either an experienced education sector professional or an exceptional individual from a commercial background who brings both an instinctive understanding of the independent education landscape and the strategic, commercial, relational, and creative skills to thrive in a role of this complexity and ambition.

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics in the first instance to arrange a confidential discussion with:

Cat Sutherland-Hawes, Search Consultant: catrionasutherland-hawes@rsacademics.com

The closing date for applications is Monday 10th August 2026 at 10.00am.

Applications should be made electronically to RSAcademics. To submit your application, please click on “Apply Now” and upload your documents according to the instructions provided.

You should submit the following (both in PDF format):

• A completed Application Form.
• A covering letter addressed to the Head, Mr Chris Townsend. The letter should be a maximum of two pages and should explain your reasons for applying and outline your suitability for the role.

Early applications are encouraged as the College reserves the right to make an early appointment.

If you have any questions about uploading your application documents, please contact Laura Cave, Project Coordinator, at applications@rsacademics.com. Laura can also be reached by calling our Head Office on +44 (0) 204 6269 7931.

N.B. Safer recruitment checks will be made at all stages in the recruitment process.

• Cheltenham College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.
• This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
• The safeguarding responsibilities of this post are detailed in the candidate information brochure.
• RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.