Academic & University Guidance Counsellor
Singapore
Start Date: August 2024
Region: Far East and South East Asia
School Curriculum: UK, IPC / inquiry-based
Minimum Experience: 2+ years experience
The School
Part of a large school group with over 100 campuses in 12 different countries, this campus opened in January 2018 with a capacity for 1000 students from KG - 18. The pre-school follows the school's own inquiry-Think-Learn programme. The primary programme follows the Key Stages (UK Curriculum) for English and is inspired by Singapore MOE Mathematics, Science and Humanities. The programme is delivered in the context of the units of the International Primary Curriculum (IPC).IGCSE and A level programme are offered in the Secondary school. Children at the school are encouraged to be independent thinkers and take responsibility of their learning. The curriculum aims to develop 21st century skills and develop successful and happy individuals who are compassionate, responsible and active global citizens.
Living and Working in Singapore
Mixing together a mass of different cultures, cuisines and architectural styles, Singapore is studded with vast showpiece constructions to complement its colonial-era hotels and buildings. Cutting-edge tourist developments continue to spring up. Shopping avenues and underground malls throb with life, as do the food courts, the riverside bars and the temple-dotted outlying neighbourhoods. Singapore is a very safe, clean, friendly place and ideal for a first time expat and being so close to other countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia means it's cheap and easy to travel overseas.
Role and Responsibilities
The University Guidance Counsellor role is aimed at supporting students at all grades in preparing for tertiary education. For students in key-stage 5, that would involve, for example, working with different stake-holders to identify desirable courses and helping to prepare UCAS, Common App and similar applications. The counsellor would also be working to support students at Key Stages 3 and 4 in identifying and developing desirable skills and attributes in preparation for their applications later in their academic careers.
In addition to working with students, the role requires the ability to work with stakeholders from across the educational spectrum, including parents, teachers, and university admissions officers.
The university guidance counsellor will be able to advise the leadership team on changes and trends in admissions. They should have a broad knowledge of the larger university systems and their admissions processes. Similarly, they should have a strong understanding of the attributes desired by top universities and a desire to work with leadership and teachers to implement activities through the school that support the development of those attributes.
In addition, they will be able to build productive relationships with parents, students, and teachers in order to bring these groups together to attain these goals.
Responsibilities
- Process student applications in relevant application portals (e.g., UCAS or BridgeU).
- Provide quality assurance on reference letters, statements, and essays.
Requirements - (In liaison with the Head of Secondary and Heads of Department), collate and submit predicted grades.
- Track and monitor the status of applications to ensure external deadlines are met.
- (In liaison with the Head of Secondary and Heads of Department), identify and advise on alternative pathways for academically underachieving students.
- (In liaison with the leadership team), provide training / guidance for staff in writing UCAS comments, letters of recommendation, etc.
- Collect teacher references for students and ensure they are kept up-to-date.
- (In liaison with teaching staff), arrange interview practice for Oxbridge, Ivy-League, Russell Group, etc candidates.
- Work with students to guide and instruct on completing their applications in a timely manner.
- Provide guidance to students in writing personal statements and essays for US entries, for example.
- Maintain detailed and accurate records of applications data, including:
- a. Course and institution preferences.
- b. Applications made.
- c. Progress made towards applications.
- d. Offers received (as well as required grades).
- e. predicted and current-working grades.
- f. Offers accepted.
- (in liaison with heads of department), report to the Head of Secondary and the Principal on the progress of students towards their required offer-grades.
- Contribute towards improving the school's success rate in admitting students to top universities by seeking feedback from admissions officers on current trends and specific student applications.
- Advise heads of department on desirable student competitions in support of applications to top universities.
- Help review the school reference and application policies.
- Hold regular sessions with groups of KS5 students to guide them in the applications process.
- Contribute to and present at parent events for University Admissions and Student Options choices.
- Provide regular and timely information for parents in written communications.
- Meet with students on a scheduled, individual basis to advise on and monitor progress in applications.
- Meet with parents on an ad-hoc basis to get advice on relevant concerns.
- Hold regular sessions with groups of KS3 and 4 students to support the development of desirable attributes (e.g. interview skills, academic reading, current affairs)
- Support the development of promotional material and handbooks.
- Additionally, the candidate will be responsible for any other duties relevant to the school, as discussed with the Senior Leadership team.
Requirements
- The ideal candidate would have either a qualification in university or academic counselling or secondary or high school-School level teaching credentials (e.g. a PGCE) but also with experience in University Counselling.
- The candidate would have at least 2 years of experience in the role (or similar role) and be highly familiar with either the UK or US admissions system.
- Good communication and presentation skills
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to work as part of a team and with a wide network of teachers and families.
- Good cross-cultural skills and understandings
- Confident in using a variety of ICT packages.
- Good organisational skills and the ability to maintain key dates and monitor progress within fixed time frames.
- Be passionate about achieving the best outcomes for our students.
- Be able to work accurately and calmly and show resilience when under pressure
Salary and Benefits
- Salary from approx. $4200 - $6300 SGD per month
- Flights
- Accommodation
- Medical Insurance
- 2 year contract