About Reddam House Sydney

Reddam House Sydney is a leading co-educational, non-denominational school in New South Wales, Australia. Known for its innovative, student-centered approach, the school blends traditional teaching methods with modern best practices to prepare students for success in a rapidly evolving world. Its graduates regularly gain admission to prestigious universities around the globe.

The school is part of the Inspired Education Group, one of the largest and most forward-thinking education groups in the world. Educating more than 85,000 students across 120+ schools in over 25 countries, Inspired provides a global platform for educational excellence from early years through to graduation.

In line with Inspired’s initiative to consolidate systems across its global network, driven by Global Director of Operations, James Day, Reddam House Sydney became the first Inspired school in Australia to implement OpenApply in 2022. We spoke with Anna Feller, Head of Admissions at Reddam House, who oversaw the transition and continues to work closely with OpenApply’s solutions.

Why OpenApply?

As the Inspired group integrated OpenApply with their MIS, the benefits quickly became evident. For Anna and the team at Reddam House, the shift from their previous admissions system—especially in terms of waitlist management and applicant tracking—was transformative.

“What’s being captured now with OpenApply is significantly better,” says Anna. “Everything from applicant details to communication history is neatly logged, which helps the whole admissions team stay informed and aligned.”

The intuitive interface and ability to filter by application status makes day-to-day admissions work much smoother. At the group level, Inspired can also access critical insights into application trends, retention, conversion rates, and more—features that were previously unavailable.

A Smooth and Strategic Transition

Reflecting on the implementation, Anna recalls that while system transitions always come with some resistance, her past experience helped her embrace the change.

“It helps when you can clearly see the long-term benefits,” she notes.

Since the initial rollout, the Reddam team has gradually adopted more of OpenApply’s robust features, finding new ways to enhance productivity and communication.

Efficiency Gains and a Personalised Touch

One of the most significant benefits has been a dramatic improvement in operational efficiency. With OpenApply automating routine tasks, Anna and her team have more time to focus on what matters most: personal connection.

“Whether it’s a current parent or a new enquiry, I pride myself on making time for each family,” says Anna.

She shares a powerful example: during one particularly busy admissions period, the Principal and Deputy conducted 14 interviews in a single day. With just a few clicks, the team was able to send offers to all applicants for that year group—something that would have previously taken hours of manual work.

This capability proved essential during the large-scale enrolment for Reddam House North Shore, which opened in January 2025. “Previously, we had to generate and send offer letters one by one. OpenApply’s automation—right through to digital signing—has been a game-changer,” Anna adds.

Seamless Communication and Smart Workflows

The system’s ability to automate communication based on applicant status has also been invaluable.

“At each stage—whether it’s an enquiry, an application, or a move to the waitlist—families receive a tailored email with the next steps. And it only takes a few clicks to set up an interview or send a checklist reminder.”

These thoughtful, timely interactions not only save time but also elevate the applicant experience.

Support That Feels Like Partnership

Anna speaks highly of the ongoing support from the OpenApply team and the wider Faria Education Group, across various departments of the organization.

“You’ve got lovely team members I’ve met both in person and over email. They’ve consistently gone above and beyond.”

She recalls helpful site visits from Faria’s Chief Operating Officer MacKenzie Murray and Implementation Specialist Ranley Kuo, and a recent collaborative meeting with Senior Solutions Consultant Kellie Hammond and School Experience Manager Ellecia Sands at Reddam House North Shore.

When the team encountered a challenge around parent signatures, the support from Customer Support Specialist Nardia Chi was immediate, thorough, and personal.

“Thanks to Nardia and 16 emails later—we won!” Anna laughs.

She also emphasizes the strong collaboration between the Reddam Admissions team and Inspired’s APAC Head of IT, Simon Sutcliffe, who often liaises directly with OpenApply on more complex technical needs.

“They’ve really listened to our feedback and tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of our school.”

Looking Ahead with Confidence

Reddam House Sydney has been fortunate to enjoy strong demand and long waitlists, reducing the need for frequent tours or open days in recent years. However, with the return of campus events in 2025, OpenApply has already proven its value.

“Managing tours with OpenApply has been very straightforward,” Anna says. “We can promote events, track attendance, send reminders, and follow up effortlessly.”

The Admissions team works closely with Marketing, and OpenApply’s event features make that collaboration seamless.

Looking to the future, Anna remains grounded yet proactive.

“We’ve been in a very privileged position, and we’re grateful for that. But we know the landscape is always evolving.”

With OpenApply’s CRM and marketing tools, the school is well positioned to adapt if competition increases.

“At some point, we might need to proactively reach out to specific student groups—and OpenApply will be a fantastic tool to help us do that,” she concludes.

Reddam House Sydney’s adoption of OpenApply is a prime example of how thoughtful digital transformation can empower schools to deliver both operational excellence and a deeply personal admissions experience.