Papplewick - Director of Sport/Head of PE

Berkshire
Papplewick
Full-time

Summary

An enthusiastic and inspirational teacher is required to lead the strategic direction of sport at Papplewick and teach PE to boys aged 6 to 13. Eagerness to contribute to other areas of a flourishing boarding school vital, as is a sense of humour.

Detail

Director of Sport/Head of PE – Job Description – January 2026

Required for January 2026 or earlier

An enthusiastic and inspirational teacher is required to lead the strategic direction of sport at Papplewick and to teach PE to boys aged 6 to 13.

An eagerness to contribute to other areas of this flourishing boarding school is vital, as is a sense of humour.

Generous remuneration package available including accommodation allowance.

Applications should be made by Wednesday 8th October 2025

Responsibilities

• To lead the strategic direction of sport within the school.

• To draw up the weekly timetable for football, rugby, or cricket provision.

• To draw up the termly fixture list for all sports through liaison with other schools.

• To manage all aspects of match days including transport and liaison with catering.

• To assign staff to teams and then manage them within their roles.

• To set and manage daily sports provision includes covering absences.

• To develop and manage potential sports scholars.

• To liaise with the Head Groundsman regarding pitches.

• To make links with the local community.

• To organise tournaments at Papplewick.

• To market sport both in the local community and further afield to attract the strongest possible boys to the school, especially in respect of a scholarship field.

• To teach PE to boys in Years 2 to 8.

• To coach the three main sports of football, rugby, and cricket on daily basis to Year 2-8.

• To lead the PE department and keep an overview of all that is happening in the department.

• To lead curriculum development as and when required, including being aware of any changes to the syllabus.

• To lead termly departmental meetings, as well as offering consultation and guidance to other members of the department as and when required.

• To attend Heads of Department meetings as and when required.

• To manage all aspects of Health and Safety.

• To manage the departmental budget and order resources as and when necessary.

• To review the departmental policy on a termly basis, including any future planning.

• To lead and implement the school appraisal system in the department, if required.

• To review boys’ progress at regular intervals in line with the school’s ‘mark reading’ system.

• To attend parent/teacher meetings.

• To write end of term reports each term.

General

• ‘Tutoring’ of a small group of boys in Years 6 to 8 including communication with their parents.

• Supervision of school as member of daily duty team (Monday to Saturday) and as part of ‘Sunday team’ from time to time as required.

• Provision of two evening activities (6.35pm to 7.25pm Monday to Friday) during the Michaelmas and Lent terms, and one evening activity in the Summer term.

• Each member of staff has a whole day off from Tuesday to Friday in compensation for above duties…and 19 weeks holiday a year! 8 weeks in the summer, 4 weeks at each of Christmas and Easter, and 3 one week half-terms.

• Provision of two activities on Thursday afternoon as required.

• Supervision of a prep room on a weekly basis as required.

• Duty to promote and safeguard the welfare of the boys.

Director of Sport/Head of PE – Person Specification – January 2026

The successful applicant will have the following qualities:

• Ability to inspire all staff who coach sport.

• Ability to teach PE to boys from Year 5 to Year 8.

• Ability to inspire boys to feel confident and secure in their knowledge of PE and of sport in general.

• Ability to inspire boys to feel confident to apply skills learned in PE and in sport in general.

• A good level of competency in the use of IT.

• Ability to enable boys to enjoy the subject of PE and sport in general.

• Ability to communicate with parents effectively and professionally.

• Ability to work as part of a team.

• Willingness to contribute to the life of a busy boarding school on a wide variety of fronts.

• A well-developed sense of humour!

• An understanding that, at its heart, prep school life should be fun.

• Willingness to promote and safeguard the welfare of all the boys.

Papplewick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post which involves regulated activity, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

A copy of the Papplewick’s Safeguarding Policy may be found at: https://www.papplewick.org.uk/parent-info/school-policies.html

Papplewick School is also committed to equality and diversity and the value that greater diversity brings to our school community.