THE VERNON EDUCATIONAL TRUST LIMITED

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            recruit@daneshill.surrey.sch.uk
            01372 842509
           daneshillschool.co.uk

At Danes Hill, we work to create a school culture that fosters personal growth, inspires
passion, empowers courage and nurtures respect. We believe that these core values
truly embody the  spirit of our community and guide us on our journey towards
excellence. Our school values were articulated through a comprehensive consultation
process, involving our dedicated staff team, the valuable input of our parents through
consultations and surveys, and the voices of our pupils. Through this collaborative
effort, we gained a clear insight into what makes Danes Hill special.

Following careful analysis of feedback, we are
proud to share our four school values:
Growth, Passion, Courage, and Respect.
These values reflect the qualities we aim to
instil in our pupils, forming a strong foundation
for their academic and personal success. Our
current focus is on embedding these values
into every aspect of our school culture.

We aim to promote our values at every turn,
ensuring that they become an integral part of
our pupils’  lives. Our assemblies are dedicated
to living out these values, exploring real-life
examples and discussing the importance of
embracing growth, pursuing passions, showing
respect, and demonstrating courage. To
encourage and celebrate our pupils’
embodiment of these values, we are targeting
house points dedicated to recognising acts
aligned with our values. We are also
establishing pupil awards that commend
individuals who consistently exhibit our values
in their daily lives.

For our pupils to be able to embrace them,  our
shared understanding of our values is based
on the following statements:

• I can demonstrate Growth by – working

hard, giving my best effort, investing in my
own development, being active in the
development of those around me,
expanding my horizons, nurturing my
community

• I can demonstrate Passion by – being
inspired, showing curiosity, showing
ambition in all I do, striving to succeed,
showing dedication in all things, not giving
up

• I can demonstrate Courage by –

developing the confidence to take risks,
trying new things, not being afraid to fail,
speaking up for myself and for others,
telling the truth

• I can demonstrate Respect by – having an
awareness of others as well as myself,
treating everyone with dignity, showing
others kindness and consideration,
showing others empathy

We are excited about the positive impact our
values  are already having on our
community. Together, we  can nurture a
culture where growth, passion, respect, and
courage thrive. By embracing these values
and ensuring that we model and
demonstrate them in our professional lives,
we are confident that our pupils will develop
into confident, compassionate, and resilient
individuals, well-prepared to face any
challenge that comes their way.

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A forward-thinking education designed for 21st Century families
With our 55 acres of stunning, beautifully maintained grounds, we blend
rigorous academics with innovative learning, fostering creativity, critical
thinking, and emotional intelligence in a supportive, inclusive
environment. We understand the evolving needs of modern families and
prepare pupils for life in a rapidly changing world.

Thank you for showing an interest in Danes Hill School. We are more than just a place
of learning, we are a vibrant, caring community where childhood is cherished, and
every day is filled with possibility. With around 600 pupils aged 2 to 13, our journey
begins at the Pre-prep site and continues through to the Prep school, where curiosity,
creativity and character are nurtured with intention and joy. I am a dedicated Prep
School Head who passionately believes in the value of 13+ education. Together with
my wife, I have the privilege of leading our school, shaping a community where
children are inspired, nurtured, thrive, take risks and prepared for the next stage of
their journey.

Our values, passion, courage, growth and respect are at the heart of everything we do.
They shape our teaching, our relationships, and the way we support each other and
each child to become their very best self.

We are proud of our warm and dedicated staff, who bring energy, imagination and
compassion to their work. Together, we create an environment where learning is
exciting, childhood is celebrated, and every pupil is encouraged to explore their
talents whether in the classroom, on the stage, in the lab, or out on the sports field.

It’s impossible to capture the magic of Danes Hill in words, seeing is believing. If you
believe in the transformative power of education, want to inspire young minds, and
are eager to join a team that truly makes a difference, we would be delighted to hear
from you and to welcome you to our school so you can experience this hidden gem
for yourself.

Colin Baty

Head

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ABOUT THE ROLE

Job title:

Commercial Manager

Job purpose:

Reporting to:

Hours:

Required:

Salary:

Benefits:

Closing Date:

To lead the development and management of new commercial income streams for
the School, including holiday clubs, commercial lettings, film location hire and other
revenue-generating initiatives. You will manage all aspects of the process from sales
and business development through to operational delivery, ensuring high-quality
customer experience and alignment with the School’s ethos and reputation. This role
contributes directly to the School’s financial sustainability and wider community
engagement.
Chief Financial Officer

Part time: 20 hours per week, all year round, mornings. Availability to work
throughout the school holidays is essential. Some flexibility required to cover
meetings or events which may be held outside normal hours.
As soon as possible

£38,760 per annum FTE, rising to £40,800 after first year in post pro rata (£19,380
actual starting salary based on 0.5 FTE), plus potential bonus depending on targets

Generous pension scheme. Free lunch on site during term time. Annual flu jabs,
online EAP service and counselling. Training and development support. Parking on
site.
January 6th. Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received, and
the recruitment may close ahead of this date, if the right candidate has been found.

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We are seeking a dynamic and commercially minded Commercial Manager to drive new
income opportunities for our School. This exciting role will focus on developing and
managing holiday clubs/camps, commercial lettings, film location hire, weekend sports
hire and other revenue-generating ventures.

You will take ownership of the full process — from identifying opportunities and
marketing the School’s facilities, through to negotiating contracts and ensuring smooth
operational delivery. With strong sales, relationship management and organisational
skills, you will help secure the School’s long-term financial sustainability while maintaining
the highest standards of customer service and safeguarding.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a proven track record in commercial income generation, lettings, hospitality or

events.

• Can confidently market, negotiate and deliver new business.

•

Is highly organised, proactive and able to manage projects from start to finish.

• Brings energy, creativity and professionalism to building lasting partnerships.

• This is a unique opportunity to make a real impact in a thriving independent prep

school, contributing directly to our future success.

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Job specification

Primary duties and responsibilities

• Delivering friendly, informed and responsive communication in line with normal expectations of

a Commercial Manager role.

• Managing the end-to-end process: identifying opportunities, marketing, negotiating contracts,

coordinating bookings, and ensuring smooth operational delivery.

• Actively marketing the School’s facilities and services to target audiences, including through

digital channels.

• Managing internal and external suppliers, contractors and temporary staff as required.

• Monitoring financial performance of commercial ventures, preparing reports, and providing

recommendations for improvement.

• Driving growth of commercial income through holiday clubs, lettings, film location hire and

other entrepreneurial initiatives.

• Delivering friendly, informed and responsive communication in line with normal expectations of

the Commercial Manager role.

Other key duties and responsibilities

• Ensuring that a positive impression of the School is given to pupils, parents, visitors and

colleagues at all times.

• Providing support to the School reception, and a friendly and positive welcome to all.

• Establishing and maintaining efficient and effective working relationships with the wider

community of the School.

• Supporting the work of the Business and Operations team and delivering shared outcomes.

Duties of all staff

• Playing a full part in the life of the school community, supporting its mission, ethos and policies.

• Setting high personal standards of dress and appearance, attendance/punctuality and class

discipline/behaviour, always upholding the staff code of conduct.

• Actively engaging in safeguarding practice and health and safety awareness around the school

sites.

• Committing to personal professional development, including active engagement in staff training

and the performance review process.

• Always complying with relevant school policies and procedures.

This job description should be seen as enabling rather than prescriptive and will be subject to
regular review as the needs of the School evolve. You will be required to undertake other
comparable duties as the line manager, Head or senior colleague may require from time to time.

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Person specification

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in business, marketing, events, or a related field (desirable).

• Strong educational background, ideally with a minimum of A-level standard.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of commercial operations, marketing and sales strategies.

• Knowledge of effective approaches to maximising revenue from facilities and events.

• Awareness of safeguarding, health and safety, and risk management requirements in a school

setting.

• Evidence of appropriate continued personal and professional development.

Experience

• Proven track record of generating income through commercial ventures, lettings or events.

• Experience in managing end-to-end delivery of projects, from sales through to operations.

• Experience in building and maintaining positive relationships with clients, contractors and

community stakeholders.

• Experience of financial reporting, monitoring budgets, and delivering against income targets.

Competencies

• Ability to communicate professionally, confidently and effectively to a wide range of audiences.

• Strong negotiation and sales skills, with the ability to convert opportunities into bookings.

• Highly organised with the ability to work under pressure, prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.

• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, while independently managing own workload.

• Strong IT skills, particularly in MS Office; experience with school management or booking systems

(desirable).

• Commitment to equal opportunities, safeguarding, and high professional standards.

• Energy, drive and creativity in identifying and pursuing new commercial opportunities.

• Personal warmth and ability to build rapport with clients, visitors and colleagues.

• Flexibility and willingness to support school events and activities outside normal working hours as

required.

Danes Hill School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We expect all
staff to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to the receipt of an enhanced DBS
check, satisfactory references and medical clearance, and other statutory checks. Online checks of
publicly available information will be carried out for shortlisted candidates, in line with KCSIE 2025.

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Location:

Danes Hill offers an exceptional working
environment, and when you visit the site you get
a proper sense of the grounds, facilities and
resources. Set in 55 acres with views across the
beautiful Surrey countryside, it can be hard to
believe that it’s still an easy distance from
London. Staff travel to Danes Hill from a wide
radius, with Oxshott station less than a 20-minute
walk from the Prep School (15 minutes from
Bevendean). Car parking is available for all staff,
as well as our Cycle to Work scheme.

Community:

Working at Danes Hill, you become part of a
large, dynamic community encompassing all the
teaching and non-teaching staff. Dedicated
support staff work in tandem with teaching staff,
taking care of many administrative and support
tasks in a friendly, cooperative environment.
Teaching takes place across 34 weeks of the year
(with additional training days). Appropriate
technology is provided during induction,
including laptops and accessories. Class sizes are
small and the resources available to support
teaching, pastoral care and our co-curricular
programme are fantastic.

Development:

As a place of education, it’s vital to us that we all
invest in our learning. A weekly staff meeting and
twilight training session takes place on a Monday
after school, with updates and focused training
on a range of subjects. Our Head of Staff
Development works with teachers new to the
profession, to make sure they get the support
that they need. Our appraisal and probation
systems ensure that everyone gets the chance to
review their work with their line manager, and we
invest in CPD and training across the School –
including professional qualifications and
apprenticeships.

Reward:

At Danes Hill, we are committed to ensuring that
everyone who works here benefits from fair and
transparent pay systems. Our teacher pay scale,
introduced in September 2023 following staff
consultation, offers a generous core salary along
with opportunities to take on additional
responsibilities through management allowances.
A new pay scale for support staff was also
developed and implemented in September 2024.

Benefits:

Generous pension schemes for both Teachers
and Support staff. Non-contractual fee remission
is given to all staff on a pro rata basis and
currently represents up to 50% reduction on full
fees, as well as free wraparound care and
discounted holiday clubs.

We offer a salary sacrifice scheme for electric
vehicles, giving staff the opportunity to lease a
brand-new electric car at a reduced cost. This
benefit supports our commitment to
sustainability while helping employees save on
tax and National Insurance contributions.

Healthcare:

The dedicated medical team at Danes Hill provide
excellent support to staff as well as pupils and
parents and organise flu jabs for staff annually.
Education Support are in place as the School’s
Employee Assistance Programme – providing
confidential help 24/7, 365 days a year.

Wellbeing:

Lunch is provided to all staff during term time
(and is healthy, plentiful and delicious!), and
several members of staff offer their expertise free
of charge to run different activities, including
circuit training, running, badminton, football and
the staff choir. The Common Room
team organises social events and charity
fundraisers.

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Danes Hill School
Leatherhead Rd, Oxshott KT22 0JG