Take a break with Fran Wicksteed

Hi there! What is your name and role at Ravensbourne?

“Hi, my name is Fran Wicksteed and I am the Admissions Manager.”

It’s time for a coffee break! What’s your go-to drink or snack?

“Earl Grey tea is my favourite and I have it most days, but if I’m out and about on a break I love a bubble tea!”

What do you do in your role at Ravensbourne?

“I manage the day-to-day operational delivery of the admissions service, overseeing the processing of applications and reviewing our processes with a focus on the applicant experience.

“I currently line manage a dedicated team of six admissions officers who each have a caseload of courses to look after. As a team we support the complete applicant journey of all Further Education, undergraduate, postgraduate, and franchise partner applications to Ravensbourne across September, January, and May intakes.

“Our service includes responding to prospective and current applicant enquiries, organising interviews, gathering portfolios, making offers, and preparing students for visa applications. The variety is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the role for me, alongside working with an incredible team – there are a lot of different things to look after, and the cyclical nature of admissions means that every year we can reflect and improve on the last one.

“I’ve also been involved with the integration of the new CRM system (Reach) over the last few months, testing each field of data that is imported from SITS, and feeding back on the overall user experience as well as the accuracy of the data. I love having opportunities to get involved with bigger projects.”

What are you most looking forward to right now?

“I’m planning to visit Norway this winter and I can’t wait. I love anywhere with snow and saunas and know I’ll have an amazing time regardless, but if I were fortunate enough to see the northern lights and orcas that would really be incredible!”

What is something that people may not know about you?

“I spent three years in South Korea teaching conversational English and I still practice Korean on Duolingo every day. I juggled several jobs aside from my main middle school teaching role while I was there, including debate coach (my team won gold for our city!), elementary science teacher, private tutor, and summer camp leader.”

How do you like to unwind and destress?

“I swim as often as possible. Being in the water makes me feel so calm, and I just zone out and start to organise my thoughts from the day. As a bonus, it’s a way of exercising without even really noticing I’m doing it because I’m always completely lost in thought.

“Also, one of my housemates runs her own dog walking business from home, so most days we have four or five gorgeous dogs in the house. When I’m working from home and need a break, all I need to do is go downstairs and I’ll be excitedly greeted by a pack of them, eager to play with me or sit on me for cuddles. That never fails to cheer me up!”

I can’t stop listening to… ‘Narcisc0’ by Rina Mushonga

A book I recently loved is… ‘Legends and Lattes’ by Travis Baldree. It’s about a battle-weary orc who decides to retire from the warrior lifestyle and open up a small coffee shop and bakery. Adorable and cosy read.

People should watch… ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ (all 7 seasons of it!)

My favourite video game is… ‘Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2’. I’ll never not love this game, and I’ll never stop listening to the soundtrack.