Chief Operating Officer

Located on the border between North-East London and Essex and backing on to Epping Forest, Bancroft’s is a co-educational independent day school for around 1200 pupils from 7 to 18. Alongside outstanding academic outcomes, Bancroft’s holistic approach provides a broad education, that guides pupils to take full advantage of the huge range of different opportunities on offer at the school. Pupils are encouraged to challenge themselves and learn by taking part wholeheartedly in school life. A warm, forward-looking and modern school, Bancroft’s is a centre of excellence for the twenty-first century.

The Governors are now seeking to appoint a highly motivated, financially astute and enthusiastic Chief Operating Officer (COO) who has the skill set to shape and implement the School’s financial and operational strategy. The successful candidate will embrace working collaboratively with the Governors, the new Head and the SLT to navigate through the difficult political, economic and societal challenges that lie ahead for the independent school sector in order to ensure the school's long-term success.

Reporting into the Head, the COO has responsibility for financial and operational matters that affect the School, including catering, grounds, maintenance, facilities and compliance. This role will also be responsible for managing the external cleaning contract.

The following members of the SLT will report to the COO: Finance Director, Operations Director, Director of HR (jointly with the Head) as well as the Catering Manager and the Compliance Manager. In addition, the COO will work closely with the Director of IT, Director of Admissions, Marketing and Communications and Head of Fundraising and Development. The COO is Clerk to the Governors and therefore has regular dialogue with the Chair of Governors.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of successful business or organisational leadership with evidence of successfully developing, managing, and facilitating change through outstanding leadership and effective management. With a high level of financial and business acumen and superb relationship building skills, they will bring a strategic mindset, resilience, a high degree of emotional intelligence and a passion for working in education.

‘Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Bancroft’s School on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference FBKTA. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Monday 19th February 2024.

Closing date: 12pm on Monday 19th February 2024.

Bancroft’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Applicants are required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the role, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Bancroft’s may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants and all applicants will be required to provide details of their online profile, including social media accounts, as part of their applications.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Bancroft’s is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.