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. Together with St Neot’s Prep School, 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, including a £9 million state-of-the-art Science Centre that opened in 2022.

Under the leadership of the Head, Jonathan Slot, St Neot’s has been transformed into one of the fastest-growing prep schools in the UK. The new Chief Operating Officer will play a critical role in positioning it for even greater success.

Job Summary

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.

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.

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.

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).

Location: Hook, Hampshire

A competitive salary commensurate with the seniority of the post will be offered. An excellent family home is available on campus should the successful candidate decide to live on site. Fee remission for children is also part of the package at 50% of the day fee.

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 20 7367 9795, lottie.willis@odgersberndtson.com

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Lord Wandsworth College

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