Admissions & Referrals Manager / Officer

An established Independent School Trust based in Accrington is seeking an organised, proactive, and commercially astute Admissions and Referrals Officer to oversee pupil intake across its independent provisions.

Unlike a standard local authority multi-academy trust, this independent trust manages bespoke placements funded both through Local Authority commissioning (SEN / EHCP consultations) and direct admissions. Operating from central offices in Accrington, you will act as the operational bridge connecting commissioning local authorities, caseworkers, parents, clinical/pastoral leads, and headteachers to steer prospective pupils smoothly from initial inquiry to enrolled start date.

Key Responsibilities

• Referral & Consultation Management: Act as the first port of call for incoming placement referrals from Local Authorities across the North West (Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, Greater Manchester) and private applicants.

• EHCP & Casework Review: Assess documentation, educational psychology reports, and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) alongside school leadership and therapeutic leads to establish suitability and support tiers.

• Statutory Timelines & Commissioning: Coordinate timely responses to statutory local authority consultations, draft formal placement offers, and support fee schedule proposals or bespoke costing agreements.

• Family Tours & Pupil Assessments: Arrange and host parent visits, open mornings, and pupil taster/assessment days, providing an informative, welcoming, and reassuring presence throughout.

• Transition & Enrolment Logistics: Manage the complete onboarding and induction process, ensuring all emergency contacts, medical records, transport arrangements, and contractual agreements are finalized prior to the child's start date.

• Occupancy Tracking & Reporting: Maintain accurate live capacity tracking, roll projections, and waiting list data across all sites within the Trust, delivering weekly pipeline reports to the Executive Board.

• Safeguarding & Compliance: Ensure all admissions procedures comply fully with the Independent School Standards Regulations (ISSR), GDPR, and local safeguarding protocols.

Candidate Requirements

• Sector Experience: Prior background managing admissions, student recruitment, or referral casework within an independent school, specialist independent setting, or local authority SEN commissioning team.

• EHCP & Placement Literacy: Solid understanding of EHCP structures, Local Authority consultation procedures, and the funding/commissioning mechanisms typical of independent provisions.

• Client & Parent Relations: Polished stakeholder management skills with the emotional intelligence to navigate sensitive family conversations and the commercial awareness to liaise effectively with LA SEN commissioners.

• Systems Proficiency: High competence with school management systems (Engage, SIMS, ISAMS, Arbor) and CRM/pipeline tracking software.

• Working Pattern: Comfortable with a full-time, all-year-round schedule to ensure admissions coverage during school holidays when key placement decisions and September intakes are finalized.

Package & Benefits

• Full-year salary up to 35,000.

• Generous holiday allowance (25-28 days plus bank holidays).

• Company pension scheme and life assurance.

• Free on-site parking at the Accrington central hub.

• Clear career progression paths within an expanding independent education provider.

How to Apply

Please submit your up-to-date CV and a concise statement outlining your experience with independent admissions, EHCP consultations, or pupil referral pipelines.