Assistant
Part time, three days per week
Term time plus two weeks
“ Pupils of all ages have a mature understanding of, and respect for, cultural diversity and tolerance of individual differences.
ISI Inspection
Both in and out of class, behaviour is excellent.
ISI Inspection
Thank you for your interest in the position of Admissions Assistant at the Royal Grammar School Guildford.
The RGS boasts a diverse, vibrant community of individuals in both teaching and support roles who take pride in the success of their School.
The School’s success presents itself in its most recent GCSE and A level results (80% at Grade 8/9 and 50% at Grade A* respectively); in the large number of student applications year on year (consistently four applications for every place); the ISI inspection report in which the RGS was rated ‘Excellent’ across all aspects of School life; in the range of sporting achievements and in the staff who are proud to say that they work here.
Our boys are “excellent listeners who contribute to discussion with great respect” and “display excellent attitudes to their learning” (ISI report, February 2022). The academic standards in the School are excellent and the curriculum is enriched by an extensive extra-curricular programme in which all academic staff are expected to participate; sports and the arts are an important element in School life.
The benefits of working here go beyond those listed in the job description; if you accept an offer of employment, you would be joining a staff body that collaborates professionally and socially across all departments.
The RGS is an exciting place in which to be a member of staff; I look forward to receiving an application from you.
HEADMASTER
Located in the original Tudor building on the High Street, the office of the Admissions Department is in the very heart of this historic building. Working as part of a very small team and in close collaboration with the Marketing Department, we are the professional, friendly face of RGS Senior and the first point of contact for both parents and head teachers. The Admissions team is involved in every aspect of the journey of each prospective family: from initial enquiries, to tours and Open events, to entrance examinations and interviews, to offers and contracts, to New Student Reception events, all the way through to each student’s arrival at the RGS on their first day in September.
The RGS regularly has pupils applying from well over 130 schools, both State Primary and Prep, throughout Surrey and up to the borders of Hampshire and Sussex. The School is fully committed to trying to make the education offered as accessible as possible and the Admissions Department works passionately to support the widening access agenda and the School’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The breadth of intake in terms of background is one of the key factors in making the RGS such a tolerant and welcoming community.
The Admissions team is dynamic, hard-working and supportive, and takes genuine pride in every interaction with prospective parents and pupils alike. Afterall , you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Pupils show an acute sense of respect for each other and were unanimous in their belief that diversity is a normal part of life. ISI Inspection
“
Job Title: Admissions Assistant
Responsible to: Head of Admissions (Registrar & Marketing)
Responsible for: No direct reports
A list of detailed duties is shown below; however, this is not necessarily comprehensive, and the Admissions Assistant may be called upon to perform other tasks as directed by the Headmaster, Bursar, Senior Master, Head of Admissions or anyone acting on their behalf.
Role
• Provide day-to-day support for admissions and marketing activities in respect of the RGS Senior School;
• Create a positive image of the School, promoting its values and ethos in interactions with all stakeholders, including prospective families, feeder schools, staff and others;
• Respond to telephone and email enquiries regarding the School and admissions process in a welcoming, timely and efficient manner providing clear guidance on the School’s admissions process;
• Build and maintain a rapport with prospective families, ensuring that the School is presented at its best and that the admission journey experience is a positive one;
• Assist with the preparation and running of assessment days, interviews, taster and induction events;
• Assist with general administrative support to ensure the smooth running of the office;
• Organising badges, publications and registration of visits for prospective parents including briefing the tour guides in conjunction with the Head of Admissions (Registrar & Marketing) and the Headmaster’s PA;
• Processing the online registrations of candidates for entry to the School, including the cross-checking payment of registration fees and admission deposits, in conjunction with the signed admission agreements and direct debit mandates;
• Cross-checking registration details on the Admissions database to ensure it is correct;
• Updating all feeder schools on the database to ensure all details are up-to-date;
• Communicating with prospective parents and feeder schools regarding entrance examinations, follow-up interviews, scholarship (academic, art, sport and music) invitations etc.;
• Liaising with feeder schools regarding admissions matters, including requesting the provision of confidential reports on candidates;
• Liaising with overseas schools to organised invigilation of entrance examination papers for prospective pupils;
• Organising the timetable for Sixth Form interviews for both the candidates and departments;
• Involvement in all aspects of entrance testing, examinations and interviews, including production of lists of candidates, name badges, etc.;
• Being present on public occasions concerning entry, such as the RGS Open Day, 11+ Entrance Exam days, New Students’ Reception afternoon and meetings of Heads of feeder schools;
• Wider distribution of school publicity materials, including The Register to new students once their place is confirmed;
• Ordering badges for all new members of staff and prefects in time for the Open Day.
Alexander
Kate Jones Deputy Estates Manager, joined 2018What’s the best thing about the RGS?
The people are so friendly and the amazing lunches!
What’s your philosophy/motto in life?
Trust the process, I am quite impatient so often remind myself this!
Hadley Teacher of Mathematics, joined 2016What do you love about your department?
The positive atmosphere and the fact that everybody is always willing to help each other.
What is your motto in life?
Work hard, be yourself and smile!
Jill Thorpe Deputy Head,
joined 2016
What's the best thing about working at the RGS?
Working in a school where you are given professional freedom, trust and the resources to do your job.
If you could give one bit of advice to your younger self what would it be? Enjoy the moment.
• Previous Admissions experience;
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• High degree of accuracy and attention to detail;
• Understanding of strict confidentiality and dealing with sensitive information appropriately;
• An ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines;
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office packages (Word, Excel, Email) plus Microsoft Teams, Google Forms as well as data input.
Please note that there may be some changes and additions to the above, which will be discussed before implementation and changes may occur as the post develops. This document is designed to provide applicants with a “flavour” of the position and responsibilities.
Your career at the RGS begins with a warm welcome and comprehensive induction. You will be introduced to department colleagues, key people within the School and fellow new starters from across the departments.
Opportunities to get involved in wider school activities are many and varied; sporting fixtures, theatre productions and field trips to name just a few. Then there are the social groups set up by and for colleagues which include a running group, book club, theatre trips, football and a wind band. However you choose to get involved, you are guaranteed to find yourself among like-minded individuals.
We are proactively committed to creating a diverse staff body, which reflects the community that we teach. At RGS we value diversity and inclusion; we want to attract the best people for the roles available. This is regardless of age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, disability, socioeconomic status or religious beliefs.
Kathryn Sweet Head of Admissions (Registrar
and Marketing), joined 2006
What's the best thing about working at the RGS?
The students - they are sparky and engaging. And two days are never the same!
If you could give one bit of advice to your younger self what would it be? Embrace every opportunity, even if it pushes you out of your comfort zone.
Linia Kurian Teacher of Mathematics, joined 2022
What do you love about your department? It's amiable and supportive.
If you could give one bit of advice to your younger self what would it be? You don't know the big picture yet!
Peter Channing Head of Finance, joined 2023
What's the best thing about working at the RGS? There is a very positive sense of community and purpose.
If you could choose any other career, what would it be? Being a writer.
In addition to joining a successful and sociable staff body you will also receive the following benefits:
Hours of work
Remuneration
Fee reduction
Private healthcare
Pension
Commuting Loan
Gym
Dining
Employee Assistance Programme
8am - 4pm three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; term time only plus two weeks
£14,973 (£28,933 FTE)
Fee reduction for son(s) of staff is available (after a qualifying period and subject to success at the entrance examination).
Private medical cover is available for all staff. This is paid for by the School, but is a taxable benefit so there is an indirect cost to the individual.
All support staff are automatically enrolled into the company pension scheme. The level of contribution by the individual is 5% the School will contribute 10%.
Interest-free loans are available for rail season ticket holders.
Use of on-site gym at certain times of the day.
A choice of hot lunches, a delicious salad bar and range of desserts are provided daily in the staff dining room during term time.
A free, confidential counselling & wellbeing support service that can support you, your partner or spouse, and dependent children over 16 still living at home.
The RGS is a kind, inclusive, tolerant community where diverse opportunity, personal development, high achievement and collaborative partnership define who we are.
Our values of inclusivity, scholarship, integrity, respect, courage and collaboration underpin all we do.
Boys come to the RGS from around 130 different schools in Surrey and the neighbouring home counties and this number is growing each year. We regularly receive four applications for every place.
The RGS curriculum aims to combine breadth with balance. In the first three years all boys study a broad range of subjects, choosing options at the end of their third year which sees them sitting ten GCSE subjects including English Language, English Literature, a Modern Foreign Language, Mathematics, three separate sciences and a humanities subject. From the Third Form, a Tutor Period is introduced during which boys study Information Technology, Problem Solving, First Aid, Health Education and Study Skills. It is also during this time that initial careers and higher education guidance is given which then continues throughout the boys’ time at the School.
The RGS boasts a thriving Sixth Form with all boys studying four subjects in the Lower Sixth and then continuing with three or four subjects to A Level in the Upper Sixth. This is complemented by a range of General Studies courses which are co-educational, organised jointly with Guildford High School.
All boys are encouraged to engage in independent research and activities throughout their time in the School via our Scholarship for all programme. Whilst not curricular, there is an expectation that staff will support this provision as their experience and expertise enables.
All members of the teaching staff help with co- and extra-curricular activities, of which there is an impressively wide range. Music, Art and Drama all flourish with performances, exhibitions and workshops. There is a well-equipped auditorium, a large Art School and a purpose built Music Department. We have a very active clubs and societies programme that takes place before, during and after school each day. All the Third Form take part in our curricular, weekly expedition and adventure programme, EXAD. We have five Field Days per year and also offer overseas expeditions, a large Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme and numerous sports tours. Staff are invited to attend and support all of these events.
Guildford is a vibrant and exciting place in which to live. Rich in history, it is a welcoming town with a flourishing and varied cultural life. Entertainment is diverse with a number of lively and nationally renowned venues including G Live, the Yvonne Arnaud theatre and the eclectic Electric Theatre. There are outstanding sport and leisure facilities which include the state-of-the-art training venues and sports complexes of Surrey Sports Park and Guildford Spectrum. Guildford offers one of the south east’s best shopping experiences with the iconic High Street combining exclusive and popular national chains as well as a number of independent retailers. Dining options cater for every taste and budget with local traditional and gastro pubs in nearby Surrey villages drawing customers from a wide area.
Educationally, Guildford is thriving. RGS Guildford and Guildford High School are regularly ranked in the top ten single-sex schools in the country. RGS also enjoys close links with other girls’ schools, Tormead School and St Catherine’s, Bramley. The University of Surrey was awarded ‘University of the Year for Graduate Employment’ by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.
Guildford has the advantage of being very accessible and enjoys excellent transport links. London is just over a 30-mile drive via the A3 and well served by trains (just 29 minutes to Clapham Junction and 39 minutes to London Waterloo). International airports London Gatwick and London Heathrow are only 30 minutes from the town.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are close by; the Surrey Hills and North Downs are on the School's doorstep and provide opportunities to enjoy the stunning countryside; the south coast is approximately one hour by car.
William Cobbett “
The town of Guildford, which I, who have seen so many, many towns, think it is the prettiest, and…most happylooking, that I ever saw in my life.
The setting:
The Surrey Hills
North Downs
South Downs
Picturesque villages
The south coast
Travel by rail:
Clapham Junction 29 minutes
London Waterloo 39 minutes
Portsmouth Harbour 60 minutes
Gatwick Airport 45 minutes
Travel by road:
London 32 miles via the A3; Heathrow 22 miles; Gatwick 34 miles via A3 and M25; Portsmouth 44 miles; Brighton 59 miles
North Downs
The
The Royal Grammar School Guildford meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check from the DBS before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions. It is of fundamental importance to The Royal Grammar School to ensure, so far as possible, that those who take up appointments do not pose a risk to the children in its care.
Further details will be sent to applicants invited to interview which will expand on the above.
All applications should be submitted via the standard RGS Application Form which can be found at www.rgsg.co.uk/about-us/vacancies and should include a covering letter.
Expressions of interest should be emailed to: recruitment@rgsg.co.uk
Please note: applications will be considered on receipt and we reserve the right to close applications early.
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