Job Introduction We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all. This is permanent, full-time position has a starting salary of £38,090 per annum based on a 36-hour working week. We are excited to be hiring a new Senior School Admissions Officer to join this friendly School Admission team, currently based in our Woking Office - Victoria Gate. This role is open to hybrid working with the right balance. As a team we split our time between collaborating with colleagues in the office and working remotely, subject to service requirements. Our Offer to You 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service plus bank holidays Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents About the Role Every child deserves access to education and the opportunity to thrive. As a Senior School Admissions Officer, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring Surrey's children and young people can access the right school place at the right time, while helping families navigate one of the most important stages of their child's educational journey. Working within the Education and Lifelong Learning directorate, the School Admissions Team is responsible for delivering a vital statutory service that supports thousands of families across Surrey each year. The team coordinates admissions for all Surrey schools, manages in-year applications, delivers the Fair Access Protocol for vulnerable and challenging-to-place children, tracks applications through to school entry, and identifies and refers children who may be missing education. Whether securing a school place for a vulnerable child, supporting families through complex admissions processes, or helping identify children who may be missing education, your work will have a direct and lasting impact on educational access and outcomes across the county. School admissions is a highly regulated and complex area of work, governed by statutory legislation and Department for Education guidance, including the School Admissions Code, School Admission Appeals Code, Fair Access Protocol guidance, Children Missing Education guidance, and Home to School Travel and Transport guidance. The service operates to strict statutory deadlines and within a fast-paced environment where accuracy, sound judgement, and excellent decision-making are essential. As a member of the extended Senior Management Team, you will provide day-to-day support to a dedicated team of Admissions Officers, acting as the first point of escalation for complex queries and helping colleagues develop their expertise and confidence. You'll work closely with parents, schools, academies, and other partners, providing expert advice and guidance on admissions policies, procedures, and individual cases. We're looking for an experienced and enthusiastic professional who can combine strong people skills with a thorough understanding of complex processes, policy, and legislation. You'll help ensure the efficient and effective delivery of Surrey's admissions service while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and customer focus. This is an opportunity to be part of a service that sits at the heart of the education system, balancing statutory responsibilities with the chance to make a meaningful difference to children, families, and communities across Surrey. Your Application In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours : Knowledge, and/or experience, of the school admission service area, including awareness of legislation and policies governing school admissions and appeals Ability to manage and prioritise workloads, and work effectively to meet deadlines Strong written and verbal communication skills, honed to deal with a diverse range of customers with experience of handing difficult situations IT confidence An understanding of the importance of safeguarding and GDPR principles Ability to manage or supervise staff A Basic DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) will be required for this role. To apply, we request that you submit a CV and answer the following 4 questions: Having read the job profile and advert, please tell us about the experience, skills and knowledge you have that make you suitable for this role. Please describe how you prioritise and manage a busy workload, both for yourself and, where relevant, for others. Provide examples of how your approach has helped ensure deadlines, service standards or statutory requirements were successfully met. Please tell us about your experience of mentoring, coaching or line managing others. How have you supported colleagues to develop their skills, confidence and performance? Please provide an example of a complex or challenging situation you have managed. In your response, explain how you communicated with those involved, built effective working relationships and achieved a positive outcome. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 30.08.2026 with interviews planned to follow. Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey Handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit. Contact Us Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Ishbel Bouchez via email at ishbel.bouchez@surreycc.gov.uk . Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council. Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

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