Chief Operating Officer (Bursar) - St Mary's Calne and St Margaret's Prep

The Head and Governors are seeking to appoint a commercially astute, strategic, and dynamic Chief Operations Officer (COO) to join the Leadership Team at St Mary's Calne and St Margaret's Prep.

St Mary's Calne is a leading UK independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, shaped by the values of a full boarding ethos. St Mary's Calne opened in 1873, currently has 335 pupils of whom around 80% board and has a strong national and international reputation. St Margaret's Prep provides a rich and dynamic educational experience for boys and girls aged 2 to 11, offering boarding from Year 5. The Schools share a beautiful 27-acre campus, where exceptional facilities support a broad and diverse educational offering. Located in the historic market town of Calne, in Wiltshire, the Schools are 20 minutes from Bath, within easy reach of Bristol and Oxford and have direct transport links to London. The Schools together enjoy a healthy pupil roll and robust finances.

This is a pivotal role for an experienced and engaging professional who will lead the Schools' business and support operations, while playing a central part in shaping and delivering their long-term strategic vision. Reporting to the Head, the COO will have overall responsibility for key operational areas including finance, estates and facilities, HR, the Sports Club, Health and Safety, catering, housekeeping, transport, and commercial activities. They will help shape and execute the Schools' future strategy while ensuring operational excellence, financial strength, and long-term sustainability across both schools. The COO will also serve as Clerk to the Governors.

Candidates will have a proven track record in senior financial and operational leadership, with strong business and strategic planning skills, and the ability to inspire and lead multi-disciplinary teams. Experience in an education setting is not essential, but candidates must demonstrate empathy with independent education, as well as commitment to the ethos and values of St Mary's and St Margaret's. A collaborative style and the ability to build trusted relationships across a warm, engaged school community are essential.

Interested candidates are invited to contact RSAcademics in the first instance to arrange a confidential discussion with:

The deadline for receipt of applications is 10.00am on Monday 17 November 2025.

Applications should be made electronically to RSAcademics. To submit your application, please click on "Apply Now " and upload your documents according to the instructions provided.

You should submit the following (both in PDF format):

• A completed application form.
• A covering letter addressed to the Head, Mrs Anne Wakefield. The letter should be a maximum of two pages and should explain your reasons for applying and outline your suitability for the role.

If you have any questions about uploading your application documents, please contact Laura Cave, Project Coordinator, at . Laura can also be reached by calling our Head Office on (0) .

N.B. Safer recruitment checks will be made at all stages in the recruitment process.

• St Mary's Calne is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.
• This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
• The safeguarding responsibilities of this post are detailed in the candidate information brochure.
• RSAcademics is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and to promoting diversity and inclusion in schools.

The deadline for receipt of the application is 10.00am on Monday 17 November 2025

Preliminary interviews with RSAcademics will take place online via Microsoft Teams in the week commencing Monday 24 November 2025

Longlist interviews will take place at the school on Monday 1 December 2025

Shortlist interviews will be held at the school on Monday 8 December 2025