Admissions & Referrals Manager / Officer in Accrington

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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