Candidate Information Pack
Head of Communications The Perse School
in partnership with
The School
The Perse School, which was founded in 1615, is one
The School is academically selective and a place
of the country’s leading independent day schools.
where bright children thrive; intellectual curiosity
The Perse School Foundation is fully co-educational, educating boys and girls from 3-18 on three sites: the Pelican Nursery and Pre-Prep (ages 3-7) in Glebe Road; the Prep (ages 7-11) in Trumpington Road; and the Upper (ages 11-18) in Hills Road. Children thus progress through three different schools, but have all the benefits of being part of one larger institution with an integrated curriculum and pastoral care system.
is encouraged and celebrated, and pupils embrace opportunities to go beyond the curriculum. The School also provides a very rounded education, with first class opportunities in sport, art, music and drama and a large number of thriving clubs, societies and extracurricular activities in which all pupils participate. The pastoral system is strong and supportive, the student body is diverse, and the atmosphere is open and friendly. There are currently 1130 pupils in the Upper School; 280 pupils in the Prep; and 150 pupils in The Pelican. The permanent staff of the School, sub-contractors, catering staff, peripatetic music, sports coaching and other specialist staff number over 400.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Communications
The School
The School has undertaken an almost continuous
Further works are currently in the pipeline. In particular
programme of building works over the past decade.
construction of a performing arts centre started in
Seven years ago a new Library, Art and Technology
February 2016; a new science department at the Prep
department and classroom building at the Prep and
started at Easter 2016; a further all weather pitch at
the Richardson Hall at the Pelican were completed. At
the Upper will begin to be built in May 2016.
the Upper School an extension to the Sports Centre
More details about the School can be found on:
providing a sports studio and further changing rooms,
www.perse.co.uk
and a major new building providing 21 classrooms, a new library, a new ICT department and various support services were completed in 2010. Further buildings were added in 2011 and 2012, including a sixth form study centre and an outdoor pursuits centre at the Upper, and a full sized all weather pitch at the Prep. More tennis and netball courts and an extension to the Margaret Stubbs Pavilion were built in 2013. A new Upper School classroom building (seventeen classrooms; seven meeting / interview rooms; departmental & pastoral offices; and a large multipurpose space) was completed in 2014. September 2014 also saw the completion of another stage of extensions and refurbishment to existing departmental accommodation. Autumn 2015 saw the completion of a pavilion and car park on the Abington playing field (converted from agricultural land during 2014 and 2015.)
Candidate Information Pack Head of Communications
Bursary The Bursary, which is situated at the Upper School, is responsible for the School’s support services and in particular for the financial, HR, communications, legal, H&S, administrative, estates and facilities management work of the School. The Bursary also provides (through the Bursar and Clerk to Governors) a governance resource and is the secretariat to the Governing Board.
Cambridge
Image Credit: Alex Brown
Cambridge is one of the world’s fastest growing
The Perse School is uniquely situated at heart of this
business clusters. With a population of only 120,000
exciting growth and development across the city. Just
the city has more billion dollar companies than much
minutes away is Addenbrooke’s hospital, which is
larger UK cities, near full-employment and productivity
undergoing major expansion as the new Cambridge
levels 30% above London. It is rapidly becoming
Biomedical Campus is built. This will be a world-class
the most exciting technology cluster in Europe, with
centre of excellence in biomedical related research,
companies such as Microsoft and Apple alongside
patient care and education. By 2020, it will be one
exciting start-up companies, with a total of some 4,000
of the leading biomedical centres in the world. The
knowledge-intensive firms. The city has one of the
expansion has also led to major housing developments
highest concentrations of Nobel prize-winners in the
in the area as Cambridge becomes an increasingly
world.
dynamic and desirable place to live and work.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Communications
Job Description Job Purpose
Strategy and planning
To promote the vision, values and strengths of The
•
Lead on the development and implementation of
Perse to external audiences to help the School:
the communications strategy, covering all areas of
1. Recruit high quality pupils
marketing and communications within the overall
2. Recruit and retain high quality staff
strategic objectives of the School
3. Maintain and enhance its position as one of the
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from the School’s communications strategy
UK’s leading independent schools
Communications •
•
media; PersePost (parental communications); and
management •
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Support the Head and other senior managers in
communications •
message and appropriate to audience
and ambassadors for the School
•
Responsible for stakeholder management with key
Events
journalists, neighbours and local opinion leaders
•
effective media crisis policy with Chelgate (School’s
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Event manage ‘Open Days’ and anniversary lectures
PR company) and the School’s crisis management
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Event manage occasional conferences and other
departments Develop and maintain key messages, statistics and current messaging to maximise positive media opportunities and interest •
SAGE conference •
of key issues
Marketing •
Manage the School’s brand and visual identity
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Edit and produce key school publications, including the weekly school newsletter, annual review, and prospectuses Champion the School’s corporate brand, values and vision, ensuring a high standard of consistency, clarity and quality in print, online and in other media
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Carry out parent and other market surveys
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Manage School publishing and advertising
Produce communications and marketing materials for events as required
Management •
Attend Upper School Senior Management Team meeting (weekly in term) for relevant items, and
Assist in the maintenance and development of position statements and ‘lines to take’ on a number
•
meetings that in part promote the school, e.g. the
Support the School’s internal communications culture and provide expertise across all
•
Act as a key link across the School for high profile visits and activities
Manage crisis communications and maintain an
team •
Work with senior staff and colleagues to ensure all copy and messaging for external audiences is on
their external facing roles as lead communicators •
Act as the School’s lead adviser for external communications activity and assist in internal
PersePortal (remote access by parents to school and pupil information)
Manage and be accountable for the communications budget; ensuring effective financial
Responsible for design, functioning, and use of key communications channels; the website; social
Develop systems to evaluate the impact of activity
3-18 Senior Leadership Team meetings fortnightly •
Work with/ line manage the Marketing and Communications Officer
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Work with the Development Office to ensure a coordinated approach to communication.
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Coordinate the School’s internal team, and external suppliers, listed here -
- The District (Design)
- Chelgate (PR)
- Chameleon (Website)
`
- Photography
Other •
Undertake, when needed, other reasonable tasks required by the School’s management
•
This is a 3-18 position which works across the Upper, Prep and Pelican
Candidate Information Pack Head of Communications
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and experience required for the role Qualifications
Personal qualities
•
•
Degree level or equivalent relevant qualification.
skills, comfortable working collaboratively across
Experience and skills • •
the School in a “hands on’, pragmatic and highly
Significant experience of a senior communications role Experience developing communications and
engaging manner •
communications, online and through publications and bulletins. •
Knowledge of national and regional media, media relations techniques and current media and communications trends and developments.
•
Senior management experience gained also ideally within a school or education institution or a setting with a similar range of drivers and complexities.
•
Strong experience of project management.
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Strong analytical and market research skills.
•
Strategic internal and external communications planning and delivery experience.
Candidate Information Pack Head of Communications
Well-developed interpersonal and presentational skills, able to provide other senior staff with
marketing strategy across a full range of channels, including media, internal and external
Exceptional interpersonal and management
communications support •
Excellent written and editorial skills
•
Ability to work as part of a team and using own initiative
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Ability to work to tight deadlines
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A commitment to the The Perse’s values and aims as a leading independent school
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An ability and preparedness to respond to issues out of normal office hours when necessary
Terms and Conditions Reports to
Working Hours
Head
This post is full time for 37.5 hours per week. Normal
Salary
working hours are Monday to Friday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, with a half hour lunch break (unpaid). You may be
£40,000 - £55,000
required to work additional hours as the needs of the
Holiday allowance
job require.
6 weeks plus bank holidays
Safer recruitment
Relevant Policies
The Perse School is committed to safeguarding and
The following document is available for your
promoting the welfare of children and applicants
information on the School website, or by request from
must be willing to undergo child protection screening
the HR Department:
appropriate to the post, including references from previous employers, and a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level as well as
•
Recruitment, Selection and Disclosure Policy and Procedure
compliance with Sections 15-25 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (eligibility to work in the UK). Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates’ suitability to work with children.
Application Please apply by submitting a copy of your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a covering letter highlighting your suitability for the position by email to: claire.reynolds@execucare.com For an informal conversation prior to applying to this role, please contact Execucare, the School’s executive search consultants: Joanna Logan
Director
Director
Execucare
Execucare
nicky.reames@execucare.com
joanna.logan@execucare.com Nicky Reames
execucare Execucare UK 71-75 Shelton Street London WC2H 9JQ United Kingdom (44) 20 7470 8865 Created by the Execucare team Candidate Information Pack Head ofDesign Communications
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