Marketing and Communications Manager - May 2024

Candidate Information
Marketing and Communications Manager

May 2024

Introduction

Sutton Valence School (SVS) is an independent, HMC co-educational day and
boarding school situated in the heart of Kent. The School is part of, and
overlooks, the picturesque village of Sutton Valence whilst being just five miles
from Maidstone and within convenient travelling time from central London.

The School enjoys an excellent reputation for providing a truly holistic
education for its pupils. An important part of its success is the partnership
between staff, parents and pupils who work together as a purposeful and
supportive community, allowing pupils to excel and realise their full potential.

The Senior School’s roll is currently 575 of which 120 are boarders. Class sizes
are small and the overall pupil-staff ratio of 9:1 enables Sutton Valence pupils
to benefit from the close guidance and individual attention of teachers. The
academic staff are all highly-qualified subject specialists. In addition to the
focus on excellent academic achievement, all pupils are encouraged to take full
advantage of the School’s broader co-curricular offering to expand and develop
their interests in both the creative arts and sport, as well as their leadership
skills and sense of service.

Contained within the 100 acre site, there are dedicated games pitches, an
all-weather playing surface, a sports centre, which contains a fitness suite, an
all-weather athletics track and field sports arena and an indoor six-lane
swimming pool.

Sutton Valence Preparatory School (SVPS) occupies its own site in the
neighbouring village of Chart Sutton and currently has 285 pupils between the
ages of 2 and 11. SVPS offers outstanding learning opportunities for a
wide-ranging cohort in each of the four pillars considered core to an SVS
education: Academic, Enrichment, Community and Leadership and Service.
SVPS has a long history of preparing children for the next stage of their
education, including the Kent Test and entry to Sutton Valence.

Sutton Valence
one school, many journeys

The Role

Reporting to the Headmaster, the Marketing and Communications Manager (MCM)
will be responsible for the planning, design and delivery of all marketing activities,
including advertising and social media campaigns, website management, PR,
production of marketing communications and publications for both the Senior and
Prep School, public relations and admissions. The MCM will manage photography
and videography and take a leading role in the organisation of key School events.
The MCM works closely with the Headmaster’s Office and the Admissions and
Development departments. The MCM will manage the Marketing Assistant and
manage the Marketing budget.

This is an exciting time for Sutton Valence School. There is scope to develop even
further the already excellent marketing provision to celebrate current successes and
to support and strengthen the School’s reputation as it moves towards its 450th
anniversary in 2026.

The responsibilities listed below are not exhaustive, but they outline key aspects of
the role.

Marketing Internally and Externally

• Be responsible for all marketing materials to ensure key messages are

• Ensure the SVS brand is used appropriately and communicates the vision and

• Understand the key target markets of prospective parents and feeder schools;
• Keep the School website exciting, relevant and up-to-date in all areas;
• Ensure social media channels are exciting, up to date and give an excellent

to inform future tactics for marketing the School.

Marketing for Admissions

• Work closely with the Headmaster, Senior Management Team and

• Work closely with the Head of SVPS and Preparatory School staff in

• Strengthen relationships with, and understanding of, feeder schools to

Marketing via Events

• Play a significant role in organisation of all Open Mornings and Open Events.
• Lead the School’s involvement in various recruitment fairs and similar events

internal events which serve to market the School.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Hold a relevant higher education qualification or have demonstrable,

Experience

• A proven track record of successful management with experience of leading

• Understanding of the marketing environment in a school or similar context;
• Evidence of having designed and delivered quantifiable and strategic growth

for an organisation through strategic and tactical marketing.

Additional Duties

• This is not an exhaustive list and will vary as the School’s requirements

Must be able to:

• Think strategically at a whole-school level;
• Balance effectively the priorities of the School;
• Operate independently under broad direction;
• Be a creative thinker, able to design solutions to challenges and consider new

Must have:

• Commitment to Sutton Valence School, and able to demonstrate

• Ability to lead and work as part of a team;
• Excellent listening skills;
• Proven ability to persuade and influence staff;
• High level of integrity and confidentiality;
• Resilience;
• Thorough approach;
• Energy;
• Positive attitude and approach to change and development;
• Strong sense of self-awareness and a willingness to learn;
• High standards of personal and professional presence;
• Client focused;
• Thoroughly detailed approach;
• Ability to write clearly and concisely.

Additional Information

The post is available from May 2024. The salary is circa £34,900 per annum. The
annual holiday entitlement is five weeks plus public holidays, to be taken outside
of term time.

The normal working hours are 8.45am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Flexibility
regarding working hours will be expected from time to time to include attending
feeder school events, parent information evenings and Open Mornings.
Occasional Saturday working and overseas travel will be necessary.

The post does not include any accommodation.

Application Process
Applications will only be accepted from candidates completing the application
form in full. CVs will not be accepted in substitution for completed application
forms.

Covering letters of application should state particular skills and attributes you can
bring to Sutton Valence School and a brief details of how you fit the position,
including specific details of skills, experience and achievements.

Do not meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and
people of colour are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single
qualification. At SVS we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive
workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience does not
align perfectly with every qualification or experience in the information provided,
we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this
or other roles.

Further information about Sutton Valence School can be found on our website.To
apply please complete the application and monitoring form and email it with a
covering letter to hradmin@svs.org.uk or post it for the attention of the Assistant
Bursar, Sutton Valence School, North Street, Sutton Valence, Kent ME17 3HL.

Closing date: Friday 19th April 2024

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to
the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring
Service (DBS), and a declaration of medical fitness. It is an offence to apply for
this role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to
children.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
A copy of the School’s Child Protection policy may be found on the School’s
website, which all applicants are expected to read prior to interview.

Sutton Valence School is an equal opportunities employer.

Please note: we reserve the right to appoint prior to the closing date.

Vision, Mission and Ethos

Vision

Through membership of our community and the academic and co-curricular
opportunities it provides, we believe that all young people in our School will be
enabled to fulfil their true potential. We want our students to be confident
civilised, tolerant and open-minded individuals who possess a love of learning
and a strong set of values reflecting our principles as a Christian Foundation.

Our Mission is to provide:

• A caring, supportive and inclusive community for the education of

• A challenging, relevant and broad curriculum delivered in ways that

• An outstanding range of sporting, artistic, cultural and social activities,

• A safe, secure and stimulating environment which promotes excellence,

• A grounding in moral and spiritual understanding which will promote

Ethos

A community where each cares for all and individuality is cherished.

Benefits to Working at SVS

Pension
The School operates a contributory pension scheme which is open to all members of
staff. Support Staff are offered the opportunity to join a defined contribution (DC)
scheme, and currently offer two levels of contribution. With Option One, the
employee contributes five per cent of their salary, and the School contributes three
per cent. With Option Two, the employee contributes seven per cent and the School
contributes fourteen per cent.

School Meals
All staff are provided with excellent lunches with no charge.

Electric Vehicle Scheme
All staff are offered the opportunity to purchase an Electric Vehicle (EV) as part of
an HMRC approved Salary Sacrifice scheme; Octopus Electric Vehicle. Basically this
is much like a cycle-to-work, but for electric vehicles. You give up some of your
gross monthly pay for a new EV, and can save up to 40% on the monthly cost
thanks to saving on National Insurance and Income Tax.

Benenden Healthcare Membership
All staff are welcome to join the Benenden Healthcare Scheme. The cost of
joining Benenden is currently £11.90 per month; the School pays up to 80 per
cent of contributions, based upon length of service. Further Information is
available from the Bursary.

Fitness Facilities
All staff may use the Senior School’s fitness facilities at designated times.
These facilities include an indoor, heated, six-lane swimming pool, a fully
equipped air-conditioned Strength and Conditioning Suite, and a
Cardiovascular Suite, as well as a large sports hall available for a multitude of
sports.

Community and Environment
We are very proud of the positive and supportive community we have and staff
often comment on this being one of the best aspects of working at SVS. This,
coupled with a beautiful physical environment both at School and in the
immediate vicinity, make it a highly desirable place to work.

Free Parking
Both the Senior and Preparatory School sites have free, ample parking available
for staff. Both sites have allocated accessible bays.

Press Reader
The School has a subscription to Press Reader which allows anyone on the SVS
networks access to over 7,000 news publications from across the world in
different languages.

Sutton Valence School

North Street

Sutton Valence

Kent ME17 3HL

www.svs.org.uk

01622 845200

A member of The United Westminster and Grey Coat Foundation. Registered Charity No 1181012.