The opportunity you've been waiting for
Cargilfield was named Best Prep School in the UK at the Tatler Schools Awards 2026. It is Scotland's first prep school and Edinburgh's only stand-alone one. After 150 years, it has a story most schools would envy.
The task now is to turn that reputation into sustained admissions growth. Cargilfield is appointing a Head of Marketing to lead the brand, the website, the campaigns and the numbers, working directly with the Headmaster and Senior Management Team.
This is a senior role with a seat at the planning table. You set the plan. You shape the brand. You show governors exactly what it delivers.
How you'll make your mark
Your first job is to take a clear-eyed look at what exists today: the marketing, the digital activity and the data. Then build the plan that moves admissions forward.
Key deliverables
- Review current marketing and digital activity, then deliver an annual marketing plan tied to admissions targets.
- Turn admissions data, market trends and parent behaviour into clear priorities for growth.
- Lead marketing input into the school website, owning content, calls to action, conversion pathways and user experience.
- Build SEO and AEO strategies so Cargilfield appears when parents search online and when they ask AI tools for answers.
- Plan and optimise Google Ads and Meta campaigns, working with specialist agencies where they add value.
- Set and deliver social media growth and engagement targets, with content drawn from life across the school.
- Keep the brand consistent across every prospectus, handbook, banner, advert and presentation.
- Bring open mornings, admissions events and community partnerships to life alongside the Registrar.
- Manage the marketing budget and the agencies, designers, photographers and PR partners who support it.
- Produce termly reports for governors tracking leads, enquiries and return on investment.
What you bring
- Experience leading marketing strategy and delivery across digital and traditional channels.
- A track record of campaigns that grew measurable leads or enquiries.
- Hands-on knowledge of Google Ads, Meta advertising, SEO and web analytics.
- Confidence advising senior leaders and presenting performance to a board or governors.
- A good eye for creative work and the judgement to brief and manage external agencies well.
- Comfort with CRM systems and databases, and a habit of turning data into decisions.
- Experience in education or another relationship-led, premium sector would be valuable.
What's in it for you
- Competitive salary
- 40 days annual leave (inc public holidays)
- Pension – 5% employer contribution
- Free lunches during term time
- Direct access to the Headmaster and SMT, and a voice in whole-school planning.
- Real ownership. The plan, the budget and the results are yours.
- A brand with genuine substance to work with: 150 years of history, national recognition and a campus by the Cramond shoreline.
- Hours – Mon-Fri, 9-5pm
A bit more about Cargilfield
Founded in 1873, Cargilfield is an independent day and boarding prep school for around 300 boys and girls aged 3 to 13, across its Nursery, Pre-Prep and Upper School.
The school sits in Barnton, in north-west Edinburgh. As a stand-alone prep, it prepares pupils for senior schools across Scotland and England, with small classes and specialist teaching.
The Tatler award has put Cargilfield firmly on the national map. This role exists to build on that momentum with a joined-up plan, clear data and campaigns that convert interest into enquiries.
Denholm's take
Cargilfield arrives with the kind of credentials most marketers spend years trying to build. The heritage is real. The recognition is recent. The opportunity is to make both work harder.
What stands out is the scope. Brand, website, paid media, social, events and governor reporting all sit with one person. For a marketer who likes to see the whole picture and prove the impact, that is a compelling brief.
If you'd like to talk it through before applying, we'd welcome a confidential conversation. Scott Caithness, scott@denholmassociates.com.
