Situated on a magnificent 1,200-acre campus of rolling countryside, woodland and a working arable farm, Lord Wandsworth College (LWC) provides an inspiring education to approximately 700 boarding and day pupils aged 11-18. Twenty minutes to the North is St Neot’s Prep School, a day school that caters to children aged 18 months to 13 years, with a roll of 350. Together, these two schools employ 335 staff and generate a collective turnover of £29 million.
LWC is thriving under the leadership of Adam Williams, who became Headmaster in 2015. Its increasing popularity has been reflected in rising pupil numbers, and a transformational vision for modern and compelling education has led to major investment in the campus. The latest, and most significant, of these capital projects, is a £9 million state-of-the-art Science Centre, which opened in 2022. A further £4m has recently been committed to building a cardiovascular suite, cricket bubble and driving range and conducting a major refurbishment of the Junior Boarding House.
Under the leadership of the Head, Jonathan Slot, St Neot’s has been recently transformed into one of the fastest-growing prep schools in the UK. This is a dynamic and highly successful group on a clear upward trajectory, and the new Chief Operating Officer will play a critical role in positioning it for even greater success.
The successful candidate will bring substantial generalist leadership and management experience with a track record of success in managing complex, multi-disciplinary and sizeable support functions.
An accomplished strategic leader, the new COO will combine the entrepreneurial flair to drive the commercial development of LWC, with the interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence to contribute as an integral part of the Senior Leadership Team. A strong personal ethos of service, and a collaborative, team-orientated leadership style are essential.
Existing Bursar experience is not a pre-requisite. Applications are encouraged from candidates with commercial, charitable, private-sector and public-sector backgrounds.
LWC has engaged the services of Odgers Berndtson to assist with the recruitment of the Chief Operating Officer.
The closing date for applications is 09.00 BST on Friday 6 September.
Following a longlist meeting of the Selection Committee, successful candidates will be invited to an initial interview with Odgers Berndtson on the week commencing Monday 16 September. If successful, candidates will then be invited to a shortlist interview with the Selection Committee on Friday 4 October. Briefing visits to the school will take place during week commencing 7 October and final interviews will take place on Monday 14 October.
To apply, please submit a comprehensive CV along with a covering letter which sets out your interest in the role and encapsulates the aspects of your experience relevant to the required criteria. Please include current salary details and the names and addresses of three referees. Referees will not be approached until the final stages and not without prior permission from candidates.
The preferred method of application is online HERE
All candidates are also requested to complete an online Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. This can be found at the end of the application process. Any information collated from the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Forms will not be used as part of the selection process and will be treated as strictly confidential.
For an initial discussion, please contact:
Peter Lawrence: +44 (0) 20 7529 3055 peter.lawrence@odgersberndtson.com
Isabel Howard: +44 20 7529 3925 isabel.howard@odgersberndtson.com
Lottie Willis: +44 (0) 20 7367 9795 lottie.willis@odgersberndtson.com
In line with GDPR, we ask that you do NOT send us any information that can identify children or any of your Sensitive Personal Data (racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning health or sex life and sexual orientation, genetic and/or biometric data) in your CV and application documentation. Following this notice, any inclusion of your Sensitive Personal Data in your CV/application documentation will be understood by us as your expressed consent to process this information going forward. Please also remember to not mention anyone’s information or details (e.g., referees) who have not previously agreed to their inclusion.
LWC 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).
