* Job title: Teacher of Sport and Exercise
* Job Type: Full-time, permanent
* Department: Sport and Exercise
* Reporting to: Director of Sport and Exercise
Highgate is an academically selective, co-educational North London day school. We are looking to appoint a Teacher of Sport and Exercise, and dependent on the strength of the field, we may look to appoint more than one applicant.
This is an exciting opportunity for a well-qualified practitioner to join our Sport and Exercise Department as a Teacher of Sport and Exercise. The Sport and Exercise (SpEx) Department is vibrant and forward-thinking and has benefitted greatly from significant investment in both staff and facilities. Applicants should ideally have experience of coaching Netball or sports focusing on Hand Eye Coordination; however, we will consider applicants with experience coaching at least one of our core sports: Netball, Football, Hockey, Fives, Athletics, or Cricket. The role will involve teaching and supporting the development of an innovative curriculum at Highgate, supporting pupils' progress across all three schools.
The position will commence in September 2025. The successful candidate will be expected to fully participate in the Sports programme, including midweek and weekend fixtures, training (including pre-season training), competitions, and tours. The closing date for applications is Monday 3rd March at 5pm. Highgate School reserves the right to interview at any point in the process and therefore early applications are welcome. Director of Sport Mario Noto would be happy to talk to any interested candidates about the role in advance of an application or interview.
Sport and Exercise (‘SpEx’) at Highgate has a reputation for excellence and innovation in teaching and coaching. The department consists of over 35 colleagues, offering a broad range of activities from participation through to high-performance pathways. Pupils are taught an exercise curriculum, planned to support their knowledge and understanding of athletic development, wellbeing, and sporting options. Fixtures are organised for a wide range of sports, including a comprehensive Saturday fixture programme. Tours and trips are a regular feature of our offering, alongside showcase events, such as award evenings, conferences, and intra-school competitions throughout the year. The department offers a range of opportunities for staff development, and we are keen to see staff grow in their roles and share their expertise with others.
The Department is based around the well-equipped Mallinson Sports Centre (MSC). It is adjacent to the playing fields, near the Junior and Pre-Preparatory Schools and within a few minutes’ walk of the Senior School. The Centre comprises a newly rebuilt swimming pool, large sports hall, strength & conditioning suite, and mezzanine hall. In addition, there is a dance and movement studio, squash, and Eton Fives courts. The MSC managers and staff provide a significant programme of community use; they also support pupils’ activities within the Centre and provide administrative assistance. The school has twenty acres of playing fields, including an all-weather pitch, which can accommodate ten netball courts, a full-size hockey pitch, or twelve tennis courts. There is also a multi-use games area which provides six cricket nets, three tennis courts, two netball courts, and a hockey training facility.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Curriculum Delivery
* Plan and deliver lessons and sessions, from schemes of work set out by Heads of Section and Heads of Individual Sports.
* Plan for groups taught, both in relation to ability and pupil information available regarding individual needs.
* Review and reflect on lessons, reporting and offering feedback on lessons, groups, and individuals, to Heads of Section and the Heads of Individual Sports.
* Contribute to the development of lesson/coaching plans and schemes, supporting the development of our programmes with clear objectives and expectations.
Pupil Development
* Assist in ensuring through Heads of Section, that there is clear guidance for pupils and parents/carers at Highgate. Support in developing and fostering a positive environment for all.
* Keep abreast of the latest research within youth development, including how other organisations are currently working to support pupil development and player pathways.
* Develop opportunities with your lessons and sessions for groups and individuals to be supported, offer feedback and monitor improvement.
Staff Development
* All members of the SpEx team are asked to work in a variety of ways. Be prepared to lead, support and work collaboratively, to aid development for all staff, including yourself.
* Share lesson and session plan design with other colleagues, alongside any recent literature, evidence, or best practice you may come across through other organisations and channels.
* Personally reflect, review and appraise, offering feedback to be considered by your line manager, Heads of Section, and the Individual Heads of Sport.
* Participate and contribute to INSET training for staff as required.
Competition
* Support the sports programme in relation to year-round planning for training, fixtures, and tournaments.
* Work closely with relevant Heads of Sport and other colleagues, to prepare and select squads, using school software to communicate selections, fixture, and competition details.
* Support relevant Heads of Sport in ensuring effective and positive communication regarding fixtures, across pupils, parents/carers, and the teaching body of the School.
* Coach, officiate, and manage fixtures and tournaments, as required across our extra-curricular programme, which includes an extensive Saturday fixture programme.
* Support intra-school competition, which includes whole year group events in a number of activities.
* Support sports tours as required by the Director of Sport.
These responsibilities are intended as a guide. They are not exhaustive. Sports coaches are required to carry out other duties, within the post holder’s capabilities, as may be reasonably expected by the Director of Sport.
Criteria
How will these be tested or verified?
* A good honours degree in a related subject
* Original degree certificate(s)
* Questions about subject specialisation (and course content for more recent graduates)
* Opportunities at interview to discuss techniques for teaching set topics
* A taught lesson
* Experience of teaching Sport and Exercise successfully, including an understanding of current teaching practices, health and safety, and effective assessment
* Lesson planning and resources
* Opportunities to recount experience and expertise at interview
* The ability to establish good relations with colleagues and pupils.
* Opportunities at interview to recount experiences where these skills have been demonstrated
* Questions which referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request
* Sympathy with and knowledge of fundamental British values
* Questions at interview to test this
* Awareness and understanding of safeguarding and welfare of children
* Questions at interview to test attitudes towards and knowledge of children’s safeguarding and welfare
* Questions which referees will be asked as part of the confidential reference request
* Experience of coaching one of our core sports: Netball, Football, Hockey, Fives, Athletics, or Cricket
* Opportunities to recount experience and expertise at interview
* Experience of teaching Sport and Exercise successfully, including an understanding of current teaching practices, health and safety, and effective assessment
* Opportunities at interview to recount experiences where these skills have been demonstrated
* Experience of teaching academic lessons, either as an employed teacher or during a teaching placement, and an understanding of effective assessment.
* A taught lesson with a lesson plan and resources
* Questions at interview
* A confidential reference request
* Verification of a candidate’s employment history
* A teaching qualification (eg PGCE, GTP)
* Original certificate
* Coaching qualifications in our major sports. Experience of playing or coaching at a performance level.
* Coaching qualifications certificates. Opportunities at interview to recount
* A willingness to be involved in the wider life of the department and school.
* Opportunities at interview to recount experience of running or participating in such activities or to give ideas for these
Support | A welcoming, comfortable and exceptionally well-resourced environment with significant assistance from a range of support staff.
Pension | The School pays the employer’s contribution to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
Professional development | Comprehensive induction. Focus on continued learning and development for all employees.
Holidays | Terms are shorter than in the maintained sector.
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and new swimming pool. Staff can borrow from 1,700 books held in the Sir Martin Gilbert Library.
Lunch | Free tea and coffee, a complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit, and dessert.
Sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Flexible working | Flexibility for parents, enhanced maternity pay, and paid dependant leave.
Working at Highgate
A culture of community, kindness, and belonging
Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy, and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work, and our commitment to equality, inclusion, and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”
Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees, and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
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