Lady Margaret School
Development Officer
Salary: £32,974 (or FTE of £58,551)
Pension: 6.5% employee contribution and 23% employer contribution (Local Government Pension Scheme)
Working Hours: 21 hours over 3 days (flexible) for 43 weeks
The role closes Friday 27th February 2026
Interviews are scheduled for Tuesday 17th March 2026
“This is a rare opportunity to build a sustainable fundraising programme in one of London’s highest-performing state schools.”
We are looking for an ambitious, strategic fundraiser to lead our development function. This is a standalone role combining strategy, relationship management, and delivery. You will take ownership of the 2026–2029 Fundraising Strategy and work closely with the Headteacher, Bursar, Governors, PTA, parents, and alumnae.
This role is part-time but as the role develops and the income grows there will be the opportunity for it to be a full-time role.
History & Ethos
Lady Margaret School is a Church of England academy for girls aged 11-18 situated on Parsons Green in West London. Established in September 1917, there are currently 819 students on roll, of whom 221 are in the Sixth Form. It is an outstandingly successful school in welcoming students of all academic abilities and ensuring that they achieve their full potential. Its success is based on a culture of high expectations and aspirations, excellent standards of teaching and a strong commitment to its Christian ethos. However, it remains an inclusive school and girls from other faiths or those who have no religious beliefs at all are welcomed.
Academic Excellence & Culture
Our exam results reflect the hard work of our students and staff. In 2025, 91% of our girls attained GCSE English and Mathematics at grades 9-4. At A Level, our results are consistently outstanding, with high numbers of students progressing to a wide range of Higher Education courses. In 2025, 40% of grades were A*-A, 70% of grades were A*-B and 93% of grades were A*-C. Students at LMS have an excellent record of securing places at top universities.
The culture of Lady Margaret School is based on high expectations and aspirations, excellent standards of teaching and a strong commitment to our Christian ethos as a Church of England Academy. The school offers both strong pastoral support and intellectual challenge at every key stage, enabling our girls to learn, to think independently and creatively and to develop into resilient and confident learners. Our curriculum is supported by a strong programme of extra-curricular activities that helps our girls to develop a wide range of skills and interests.
Lady Margaret School is a community of great energy and enthusiasm. It is also a community-driven by Christian values, and we place great importance on girls behaving with integrity and with kindness.
Why Fundraising Matters
Like many state-funded schools, we are facing a financial reality that is becoming increasingly challenging: government funding is no longer enough to meet the true cost of delivering a well-rounded, high-quality education. While costs rise – our core funding for staffing, facilities, student support, enrichment activities and wellbeing programmes has not kept pace.
Maintaining our standard of excellence on government funding alone is no longer possible and for several years we have successfully used fundraising to bridge the gap between government funding and the cost to run the school.
Unlike independent schools, state schools have not traditionally fundraised, but Lady Margaret School has been a pioneer. Our development programme strengthens engagement, inclusivity, pride and belonging, while providing essential income to bridge the funding gap. This allows us to maintain the exceptional standards and wide-ranging opportunities that make Lady Margaret School so special.
The Rose Fund (introduced in 2012) and the appointment of our first professional fundraiser in 2019 have embedded fundraising across the school. Following the departure of our Head of Fundraising in 2024, we used this moment to reset strategy and lay strong foundations for the incoming Development Officer.
Other important information:
“Our school motto, ‘I have a goodly heritage’, could not be more pertinent in these times. The school encourages outward looking students who will work hard for their communities and general good for all. The area should be proud to have an outstanding school at its heart and we need to work hard to preserve it for future generations.”
Arabella MacIntyre, Chair of Governors and former parent
“The Parsons Green neighbourhood should feel proud to have a local institution which is producing motivated, kind, ambitious girls and community members, who I truly believe are set-up for success in whatever they choose to do next”
Tom Nelson, Year 8 parent and Governor”
Job Description - Development Officer
Safeguarding
Lady Margaret School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment
Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced DBS check
Purpose
To develop the regular giving programme and new major donor programme to raise a minimum of £275,000 per year for The Rose Fund at Lady Margaret School
To place The Lady Margaret School Rose Fund at the centre of all fundraising activity and to increase philanthropic income into The Rose Fund as the school’s principle giving vehicle
To attend and host key donor cultivation at the school in order to embed a fundraising culture across the entire school community
To develop face to face relationships with key stakeholders, donors and potential major donors
To implement a sustainable long-term fundraising strategy for Lady Margaret School in conjunction with all key stakeholders
To work with the PTA Chair to support the develop of corporate giving through the PTA
To work alongside and support external organisations that fundraise and / or provide support for the school
To develop and maintain a fundraising database ensuring compliance with GDPR
Fundraising
To implement in conjunction with Governors, key stakeholders, the Headteacher and Bursar a sustainable fundraising strategy to raise £1.4 million over five years to support Lady Margaret School
To deliver annual financial targets as agreed with the Bursar
To manage, promote and grow an unrestricted Rose Fund donation income stream from parents and alumnae
To develop a fundraising database of all donor and major donor prospects that supports the school fundraising strategy and enables the running of tailored fundraising campaigns and reports, to ensure all data is current and refreshed
To maximise Gift Aid giving from donors by promoting Gift Aid and ensuring that claims are renewed annually
To develop the portfolio of major donor prospects and develop approach strategies in order to secure gifts in excess of £1,000 from parents and alumnae
To develop the case for support ongoing and to include capital projects
To work with the school alumni and LMX to develop a programme that promotes the impact and importance of legacy giving from alumni
To develop a donor stewardship plan to thank donors and cultivate increased gift levels
To support the Bursar in the long-term financial planning for the school through the production of reports and forecasts
To work alongside the Finance Manager to ensure that appropriate systems are in place for income collection and recording of donations and Gift Aid
Relationship Building
As Head of Fundraising it is necessary to attend relevant out of hours school events and meetings throughout the year which are in line with remit of the role.
There will be approximately 15 - 20 meetings per annum which will take place after school or in the evening. These meetings may also not occur on the usual day of work. Time in lieu will be provided for attendance at these meetings as a preference, or if necessary overtime. Days worked on particular weeks may need to be rearranged in order to accommodate attendance at such events.
To attend Governing Body meetings as and when required and the Finance Committee Meeting termly
To attend relevant school events including the Year 7, Year 12 Welcome Events and PTA events and to identify from the school calendar other events to attend in order to promote and publicise The Rose Fund and to engage with parents and stakeholders
To plan a calendar of major donor cultivation events with the Headteacher
To organise and deliver planned events to develop relationships with current and former pupils, parents and staff, ensuring that they are efficiently organised, cost effective and well attended
To develop a strong and positive working relationship with the PTA attending meetings as and when required
To provide a welcoming, professional and efficient point of contact between external organisations and the school
Communication
To develop and implement a communications strategy for The Rose Fund to target and engage all existing and potential donors
To maintain regular communications with donors
To ensure that all communication is compliant with GDPR
To work and develop in conjunction with the Office Manager the use of the website, social media and print communications in order to deliver cost-effective and creative publications that support the fundraising and communication strategy
To ensure that a school-wide commitment to the impact of fundraising and development is communicated to, and shared amongst, all staff, governors and parents
To work with the PTA to align the communications programme between the school and parents
To respond to contacts from a wide range of external stakeholders about development and fundraising matters
General Duties
To work as an integral member of the school’s administration team
To attend any training sessions and staff meetings as required
To undertake other tasks that may be reasonably requested by the Headteacher and SLT in consultation with the post holder
To be in sympathy with the aims and objectives of a Church of England school and its ethos. Members of staff must support the church ethos of the school, which may involve taking part in religious acts of worship
To wear appropriate business dress
This job description is not necessarily a comprehensive definition of the post. It will be reviewed at least once each year and may be subject to modification or amendment at any time after consultation with the holder of the post.
Key Skills & Competencies
Data & financial literacy (forecasting, reporting, CRM, Gift Aid)
Strong copywriting & communications
Gravitas with senior stakeholders and donors
Ideally some major donor cultivation & support
Event & relationship management
Strategic thinking and income growth
Ability to work autonomously
Commitment to the ethos and values of LMS
Apply here
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