TL;DR
I am Maria Fernandez, the new Head of Independent Schools - Customer Success at Applicaa. I bring several years of experience in independent school admissions, enrolment, and international student management, and I am here to help your school get the most from the Applicaa platform. I am launching a regular online Independent Schools focus group and would love for you to join - or if you would prefer, book a 1-2-1 with me directly.
I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Head of Independent Schools - Customer Success at Applicaa. It is a role I have been looking forward to, and I wanted to take a moment to share a little about who I am and what I hope we can achieve together.
Over the past several years, I have worked closely with independent schools across the admissions and enrolment spectrum. From supporting registrars managing complex international enquiries, to working alongside admissions departments navigating the pressures of 11+, 13+, and sixth-form entry, I have seen first-hand the operational challenges that come with running admissions in a fee-paying school environment. Families have high expectations - and rightly so. Getting the admissions process right is not just an administrative task; it shapes the first impression a family has of your school.
Throughout my career, I have worked with school leadership teams and registrars to find smarter ways of working - reducing manual effort, improving communication with families, and making sure that no enquiry falls through the cracks. I understand the reality of juggling multiple systems, chasing paperwork, and trying to give every prospective family the personal attention they deserve.
At Applicaa, I will be working closely with our independent school customers to help you maximise the value of the platform. Whether that means streamlining your admissions workflow, improving how you communicate with prospective families, or simply making sure you are using all the features available to you, I am here to help.
Over the coming months, I am looking forward to visiting schools, joining calls, and getting to know the teams behind the systems. Every school is different - different entry points, different structures, different challenges - and I want to understand yours.
One of the first things I am putting in place is an online Independent Schools focus group. This is a space for registrars, admissions managers, and anyone involved in the admissions process to come together, share what is working, raise what is not, and help shape how Applicaa continues to develop for independent schools. If you have ever wanted a direct line into the product and a community of peers who understand your world, this is it. Sign up using the link below - I will be in touch after the Easter holidays with the first date.
If you would prefer a conversation one-to-one, I would love that too. Whether you want to introduce yourself, ask a specific question, or simply talk through how Applicaa can better support your school, please book a 1-2-1 meeting with me here.