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Job Overview
Aldro is seeking a new school Bursar and Clerk to the Governors for a January 2026 start. The role becomes available after five years of outstanding leadership from the current Bursar, Victoria Smith, who moves on to a new role in January.
Job Overview
Aldro is seeking a new school Bursar and Clerk to the Governors for a January 2026 start. The role becomes available after five years of outstanding leadership from the current Bursar, Victoria Smith, who moves on to a new role in January.
Aldro is a leading co-educational, boarding and day prep school for 200 children aged 7-13, 90 of whom are boarders. Situated in the village of Shackleford, near Godalming in Surrey, the school benefits from on an idyllic, rural campus, with extensive playing fields, modern sports hall, large theatre, swimming pool and its own boating lake and adventure island, providing children with the ‘freedom to flourish’.
The ethos of the school is anchored in its Christian foundation, from which stem the school’s core values of kindness, respect, integrity, humility and service. Priority is given to the highest standards of pastoral care, ensuring that each child is uniquely known and individually valued. Aldro seeks to be an inclusive school, with a genuine 'family-feel', offering opportunities for all pupils to discover their talents and gifts whilst encouraging them to strive for excellence. Boarding is a great strength of Aldro, teaching the boarders vital skills of independence and responsibility, which stand them in good stead for their future schools.
The school offers a modern, rigorous and innovative curriculum that promotes curiosity, critical thinking and independence of thought and prepares its pupils to move on to highly selective senior schools and to thrive there. The school also prides itself in its extensive activity programme which makes good use of the excellent facilities and extensive grounds. Aldro wants its pupils to be happy, have fun and make lasting memories.
The school has a flourishing senior school (Years 7 & 8) from which pupils win numerous scholarships and exhibitions and progress to a wide range of prestigious senior schools such as Benenden, Bradfield, Canford, Charterhouse, Eton, Guildford High School, Harrow, King Edward’s Witley, King’s Canterbury, Lancing, Lord Wandsworth College, Marlborough, Oundle, Repton, RGS Guildford, Sevenoaks, Sherborne, St Swithun’s, Tonbridge, Uppingham, Wellington, Winchester and Wycombe Abbey.
The broad, varied and rewarding role of Bursar and Clerk to the Governors will suit an experienced, financially literate leader with robust commercial acumen, excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to manage a diverse range of operational teams and wider stakeholders, and a keen desire to play a meaningful, impactful role in the lives of young children.
Above all, the successful candidate will need to demonstrate a strong affinity with the vision, values and aims of Aldro and the ability to promote the school as a thriving, happy, successful co-educational independent prep school.
The Bursar and Clerk to the Governors role is appointed by the Governing Body of Aldro and reports to the Board through the Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee, whilst day-to-day line management is through the Head.
The Bursar is the second most important role in the school, integral and pivotal to the ongoing future success of Aldro. The Bursar works hand in glove with the Head, leading all non-teaching, operational and support teams to ensure that the school operates efficiently and effectively as a business whilst supporting the Head and the academic teaching team to deliver an outstanding educational and pastoral provision for the benefit of the children.
This somewhat unique role will not appeal to people who need routine, predictability or an easy life. Each day in a Bursar’s role is different and often presents new and unexpected problems to solve.
Success as a Bursar requires an ability to think and plan strategically for the long term whilst also being nimble, agile and ready to deal with the unplanned. Happiness as a Bursar requires an open, curious and collaborative mindset, a resilient disposition, and an ability to stay calm and positive at all times.
Key professional attributes required are commercial acumen and financial literacy, strong interpersonal skills to manage a wide variety of relationships, an ability to juggle multiple projects and priorities simultaneously and the charm and presence to lead and inspire others.
Few prep children would cite prep school bursar as a dream career of choice (astronauts, footballers and pop stars seem to have more fun), and there is no prescribed route into a career in bursaring but it is one of the most stimulating, rewarding and fulfilling roles for a career-shifter keen to channel their acquired professional skills into a purposeful second (or third) career. There are no bored Bursars, the vast majority of those who make the transition into a school role never regretting it, indeed often wishing they had done it sooner.
Candidates are welcome from any professional background. Prior schools’ experience and/or formal professional qualifications may be beneficial but are not a requirement. Proven financial and commercial leadership skills are.
How To Apply
Potentially interested applicants are encouraged to contact David Stephens of Join The Dots for an informal and confidential discussion to discuss their interest and suitability for the role. David Stephens can be contacted on 07739 457000 or at david@davidconsulting.co.uk
In order to be considered for this vacancy, candidates are requested to download and complete the Aldro application form from the Vacancies page of the school’s website at www.aldro.org. Candidates are then requested to send their completed application form together with a short covering letter addressed to James Geffen, Chair of Governors, and send both documents in pdf format to HR@aldro.org.
The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 1st September.
It is currently envisaged that selected candidates will be invited for a school tour and longlist interview day on Friday 5th September, and then a second date to meet the wider team senior leadership and bursarial support teams on Tuesday 16th September.
However, the school reserves the right to review applications as received and also to interview candidates and make an appointment at any stage, so early applications are strongly recommended.
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