Location: UK

Head of Communications and Engagement – Cranleigh School

Salary: In the region of £65,000-£75,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience

Cranleigh School is a highly successful independent co-educational day and boarding school, educating around 1,050 pupils across its senior and prep schools. Set in the beautiful surroundings of the Surrey Hills, Cranleigh combines a strong sense of heritage with a progressive and ambitious outlook.

This is a particularly exciting time to be joining Cranleigh. The School is energised, buoyant and growing – in the UK, with a new Sixth Form Centre and Pre-prep, and internationally, with plans to add to its existing portfolio of four schools. Cranleigh has a strong identity, a distinctive culture and a compelling story to tell across both the Senior and the Prep School. It is now seeking to tell that story with greater clarity, consistency and reach.  

The Head of Communications and Engagement is a new role, created to strengthen Cranleigh’s communications capability at a time of ambition and growth. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Marketing, the postholder will play a central role in shaping how Cranleigh is seen, heard and understood by its key audiences. This is a broad strategic communications role, with a particular emphasis on brand voice, external profile, media relations, thought leadership and executive communications. The role also has an important internal dimension, and the postholder will ensure effective communication with staff, parents, pupils and governors.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic, confident and highly capable communications professional who can combine strategic judgement with strong editorial instinct. They may come from a PR, corporate communications or media relations background, potentially gained in or alongside a media owner, PR agency or consultancy. They will bring a proven track record of raising organisational profile and supporting senior leaders to communicate with greater visibility and influence.

Prior experience in an independent school is not essential. More important will be the ability to understand the sector quickly, appreciate the expectations of a school community and communicate with empathy, intelligence and care.

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics in the first instance to arrange an informal and confidential discussion with Hannah Freestone-Smith: hannahfreestone-smith@rsacademics.com.

The closing date for applications is 10.00am (UK time) on Monday 24th August 2026.

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, Sam Price. The letter should be a maximum of two pages and should explain your reasons for applying and outline your suitability for the role.

If you have any questions about uploading your application documents, please contact Jonathan
Barnes, Head of Operations (Leadership Appointments) at: applications@rsacademics.com. Jonathan
can also be reached by calling our Head Office on +44 (0) 204 6269 791.

  • Cranleigh School 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.

CRM and Data Systems Assistant – RSAcademics

RSAcademics is a leading education consultancy working with schools and education organisations across the UK and internationally. Through our research, consultancy and executive search services, we help schools make informed decisions and achieve their strategic ambitions.

We are looking for a highly organised and analytically minded CRM and Data Systems Assistant to join our team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working with data, takes pride in accuracy and wants to play an important role in supporting a busy and successful consultancy. Working remotely and collaborating closely with colleagues across the business, you will help ensure that the data and systems on which we rely every day are accurate, reliable and well managed.

A significant part of the role involves working with data: extracting, cleaning, validating and preparing information for reporting, analysis and consultancy projects. You will also support the day-to-day administration of our CRM and related systems, help manage surveys and reporting processes, and provide support to colleagues across the organisation.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys solving problems, has excellent Excel skills and is comfortable handling large and complex datasets. You may already have experience working with CRM systems and relational databases, or you may have developed these skills in a data-focused administrative, operational or analytical role.

You will work closely with colleagues from the Leadership Team, Research Team, central operations and Appointments Practice, making this a varied and collaborative role with exposure to many different aspects of the business.

The successful candidate will be someone who:

  • enjoys working with data and producing accurate, high-quality outputs;
  • has excellent attention to detail and a methodical approach to their work;
  • is confident using Excel and working across multiple systems;
  • can manage competing priorities effectively;
  • enjoys helping colleagues and solving practical problems; and
  • is looking to develop their expertise in data management, reporting and business systems.

Experience of CRM systems, relational databases, survey platforms or reporting tools would be advantageous, but we are more interested in finding someone with strong data-handling skills, excellent attention to detail and the ability to learn quickly.

In return, we offer a fully remote working environment, the opportunity to work with experienced and supportive colleagues, and a role that provides genuine breadth and scope to develop your skills across data, reporting and business systems.

Salary: £25,000–£35,000 depending on experience.

The closing date for applications is 10am on Friday 31st July 2026. 

To apply, please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button on the right side of this page. Here you will find an application form to download and complete. Once you have done that you will need to follow the instructions to reach the online portal where you will be able to upload the following documents –

  • Completed application form
  • CV
  • Covering letter – preferably of no more than two pages, which should be addressed to Louise Peddie, Head of Consultancy Services and Julia Seagrave, Data and Systems Manager at RSAcademics. The letter should explain your reasons for applying and the relevance of your experience.  Please make sure your letter is tailored to this role; an application letter that is largely generic is discouraged and may lead to your application not being considered. 

Should you have any queries relating to uploading your application documents, please contact Amy Murphy, Operations Administrator, at applications@rsacademics.com. Amy can also be reached by calling +44 (0) 204 6269 791.

Director of Admissions and Marketing – Cheltenham College

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.
 

Group Director of People – St Dunstan’s Education Group (SDEG)

Educating close to 2,000 pupils from early years to sixth form, the Group is united by a shared ethos, a commitment to Excellence. Differently, and a bold ambition to be recognised as a modern, socially purposeful and commercially sustainable model for independent education.

This is a significant and exciting opportunity for an accomplished HR professional to shape and deliver a modern, ambitious and values-led people strategy across a high-performing educational Group. Reporting to the COO, with a dotted line to the CEO, and sitting on the Professional Services Leadership Team, the Director of People will lead on all aspects of HR, including recruitment, retention, reward, employee relations, professional development, wellbeing and inclusion. They will lead a team of eight and working closely with the Heads of each school, they will deliver a high-impact business partnering service that drives school improvement, strengthens staff engagement and supports a positive, inclusive high-trust working environment fully compliant with regulations.

Candidates will bring a strong track record of HR or People leadership in complex organisations, with experience of shaping culture, managing change, and building effective teams and systems. They will combine a clear understanding of employment law and safeguarding compliance with the ability to think strategically, work collaboratively across multiple sites and influence at senior level. The role requires deep HR sector expertise, high-quality service delivery and strong interpersonal skills across the full breadth of people management.

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics to arrange a confidential discussion:

Hannah Freestone-Smith: hannahfreestone-smith@rsacademics.com

Nina Lambert: ninalambert@rsacademics.com

The closing date for applications is 10.00am UK time on Monday 10 August 2026.

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 CEO, Mr Nick Hewlett. Your letter should be a maximum of two pages and should explain your reasons for applying and outline your suitability for the role.

If you have any questions about uploading your application documents, please contact Jonathan Barnes, Head of Operations (Leadership Appointments) at: applications@rsacademics.com. Jonathan can also be reached by calling our Head Office on +44 (0) 204 6269 791.

St Dunstan’s Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo appropriate child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and 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

Education Director – SPGS International

This is a new, high-profile and fascinating role that will shape the education offered across a growing international network, and assure its quality and alignment with the standards and principles for which St Paul’s Girls’ School is well known.

SPGS International, a wholly owned subsidiary of St Paul’s Girls’ School, has established a school and a learning programme in China, and a school in Bangkok will open later in 2026. Further schools are at various stages of planning. SPGS International’s approach is to take great care in identifying potential partners and opportunities – seeking those that are appropriate for the local market but where there will also be an understanding of what it takes to operate authentically as a SPGS school.

The SPGS International team is headed by Sara Brazendale, who works closely with the High Mistress and senior leadership of the UK school. The team has been thoughtfully assembled to ensure that new opportunities can be assessed and supported to become the group’s future schools. The Education Director will add significant capacity and educational expertise and experience to this team.

Based at St Paul’s Girls’ School in London, but with frequent international travel and some flexibility possible around working arrangements, the Education Director will work especially closely with the Heads and leadership teams of the international schools. They will uphold and promote SPGS’s academic ethos across the international network, providing a mix of thoughtful support, constructive challenge and strategic guidance. The Education Director will play a key role in strengthening teaching and learning, pastoral care and safeguarding, and cocurricular provision, and contribute to the recruitment, development and growth of staff and future leaders across the network. He or she will also facilitate collaboration between the schools and ensure that the academic approach of the international schools is well understood in the UK school.

The role will suit a senior leader with experience both internationally and of British independent education. Candidates should be solutions-focused, open-minded, culturally curious, enthusiastic about adapting a SPGS education to very different cultural contexts, and with the capacity and self-starter mindset to make a new role work. They will have the credibility to work effectively with Heads and senior leaders, and they will be comfortable with international travel, not least using time in a country to start understanding its culture and what that means for the success of a SPGS international school.

The role comes with a competitive salary and the benefits associated with a senior leadership role at St Paul’s Girls’ School. SPGS International is seeking to fill this new role as soon as is practicable.

Further details about the role is available in the candidate information. For an initial, confidential conversation about the role, please contact Jean Sullivan (jeansullivan@rsacademics.com) (including a copy of your CV/resumé if you have not recently been in contact with RSAcademics).

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 2 June 2026 at 10:00 (UK).

To apply, candidates should complete an application form and submit it electronically to RSAcademics, together with a letter of application and CV/résumé. Details of how to apply and about the letter of application are in the candidate information. Applications will be processed and reviewed on a rolling basis and SPGS International and RSAcademics reserve the right to make an appointment ahead of the timeline set out here. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

When you are ready to apply, you can do so using the Apply Now link on the right side of this page to complete your application. 

Should you have any queries relating to uploading your application documents, please contact Amy Murphy, Operations Administrator, at applications@rsacademics.com. Amy can also be reached by calling +44 (0) 204 6269 791.

St Paul’s Girls’ School 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 and Barring Service (DBS). We expect all staff to share this commitment.

St Paul’s Girls’ School is a “registered body” under the Police Act 1997 because employment here involves access to children under the age of 18. This post will require an enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly Criminal Records Bureau) before we can confirm an offer of employment. Unless you are a member of the DBS Update Service you will need to apply for a new disclosure, even if you already hold one. Former members of staff who are not on the Update Service who re-join us also require fresh disclosures, unless less than three months have passed between their leaving and their re-employment date. If you have lived or worked abroad for a period of 3 months or more during the past ten years you will also need to provide appropriate paperwork, such as a police certificate of good conduct, from the countries you have lived in.

St Paul’s Girls’ School welcomes applications from all sectors of the community as we aspire to attract staff that match the social and cultural diversity of our pupil intake. We seek to offer fair and inclusive employment policies, interview and arrangements that avoid bias and support all applicants and staff equally.

RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.

 

Chair of Governors – Eastbourne College and St Andrew’s Prep School

Eastbourne College, together with St Andrew’s Prep School, is seeking a Chair of Governors to succeed Mrs Nicky Eckert, who is stepping down in July 2027, after serving firstly as a governor of St Andrew’s, then joining the full Eastbourne College Board after the amalgamation of the two schools in 2010, and then serving as Chair of Eastbourne College incorporated. It is hoped that her successor will be appointed to the Board as a Governor from September 2026 to allow for a period of handover before taking over as Chair in July 2027.

While the role is voluntary, the Chair of Governors will have the opportunity to:  

  • Shape the future of the region’s leading independent, co-educational schools and strengthen their already excellent position in the region’s educational landscape
  • Develop governance and leadership skills in a dynamic educational environment
  • Make a lasting impact on pupils, staff and the broader Charity community

Eastbourne College is the leading co-educational boarding and day school in East Sussex. It enjoys an excellent reputation in academics, the arts and sports, aiming for what the school is proud to call “healthy learning for the long term.” St Andrew’s Prep is a vibrant and forward-thinking school that offers a warm, nurturing environment where childhood is cherished and where the community is defined by energy, enthusiasm and a deep commitment to the children who are at the centre of all that it does.

The two schools amalgamated in 2010 and have thereafter been referred to as Eastbourne College incorporated.

If this is an opportunity that appeals to you and you believe that you may have the required skills, experience and attributes to be a Chair of Governors, then we would be delighted to hear from you.   

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics by email to arrange a confidential discussion with either: 

 

  • Eastbourne College incorporated is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  
  • The successful candidate will be asked to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service for an Enhanced Disclosure.  
  • 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 promoting diversity and inclusion in schools and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Director of Development – Claremont Fan Court School

Claremont Fan Court School is a leading independent co-educational day school of 1,200 pupils aged 2 to 18, situated in 100 acres of landscaped grounds just outside Esher, Surrey, The focal point of the grounds, a Grade I listed 18th-century Palladian mansion, served as a royal residence in the 19th century before becoming an independent school in the 1930s. Located just sixteen miles from London and within the M25, the school enjoys excellent road and rail links. 

Over the last seven years both the school and its foundation have undergone a period of transformation with pupil numbers increasing and the opening of a £7m science and technology building and a £4m refurbishment of Stable Court, the preparatory school building. 

Claremont is now seeking to appoint an exceptional Director of Development to re-establish and lead the Development Office. Reporting to the Head, the Director of Development, who will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team, will lead fundraising for new developments to the estate alongside the preservation and refurbishment of treasured heritage buildings. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and experienced fundraiser to shape a programme in a dynamic and vibrant school, helping it to advance its strategic priorities through philanthropy.  

The successful candidate will have extensive knowledge of broad fundraising programmes gained from within or outside of the education sector. They will demonstrate proven success in engaging a wide range of stakeholders (both internal and external) with Development and have the professional experience and confidence to build a successful and sustainable long-term fundraising function at Claremont. 

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

Peter Lockhart, Search Consultant: peterlockhart@rsacademics.com

The closing date for applications is Monday 20th April 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 William Brierly. The letter should be a maximum of two pages and should explain your reasons for applying and outline your suitability for the role.

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 795.

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

  • Claremont Fan Court 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.