Head of Physical Education TLR £6,947

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the further development of physical education in this high achieving school following the promotion of the current post holder. We are now seeking an excellent teacher of physical education with successful 11-18 teaching experience across the ability range, to lead a dedicated team of teachers. Physical education is a popular subject to A level, so the successful candidate will play a critical role in leading teaching here. Alongside this we offer a L3 Technical Diploma in Sport. The school places a very high value on co-curricular sport, with ambitious programmes for competitive sport, particularly in netball, football and rugby. This has led to the development of facilities which will include a state of the art 3G pitch. Outstanding communication skills, a strong commitment to the subject, good qualifications and leadership potential are essential.

A Church of England co-educational school with independent academy status:

• 1,735 on roll including 355 in the Sixth Form

• Judged Outstanding in every area by Ofsted in 2012   

• World Class School Quality Mark in 2017 and reaccredited in 2020   

• Outstanding GCSE and A Level results

• Excellent reputation; oversubscribed

Bennett students are highly motivated and enthusiastic about learning and taking part in the huge range of enrichment activities that we offer.  

Priority places at the school are available for children of staff.

We welcome pre-application visits to the school.

Our staff are highly committed and we have a strong and positive school ethos. 

Thank you for your interest. Should you wish to visit the school informally or to discuss any aspect of the advertised post before applying, please email: recruitment@bennett.kent.sch.uk

Completed Application Forms should be emailed to recruitment@bennett.kent.sch.uk or posted to the school by the closing date. CVs will not be accepted.

CLOSING DATE: 9:00am on Thursday 13 May 2021 

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  All posts are subject to a satisfactory DBS enhanced check.

Physical Education Curriculum Area – Head of Physical Education

The PE team currently consists of five full-time and three part-time specialised, experienced teachers. In addition, we work with coaches in our elite areas of netball, football and rugby. 

PE plays a crucial role in developing students’ character, grit and perseverance and is therefore a core subject for all students in key stages 3, 4 and 5.  Students in years 7and 8 have two hour-long PE lessons a week, year 9 students have three hours over the two-week timetable, year 10 and 12 have one hour-long lesson a week and year 11 currently have one hour over two weeks.   Students are predominantly taught in mixed ability but single sex classes.  

A mastery curriculum is taught in key stage 3 and students are taught in blocks.   Boys have covered rugby, football, basketball netball, badminton, cricket and athletics.  Girls have covered netball, football, gymnastics, badminton, cricket, rounders and athletics.   The mastery units ensure students are given time and opportunity to secure strong skills in preparation for GCSE PE. Recently the necessity to provide outdoor sports and in tutor group bubbles has meant a co-ed. approach and crossover in sports that might not previously have been sampled by both boys and girls.

At GCSE and A level the OCR specifications are taught.   Currently there are two classes in year 10 and two classes in year 11. GCSE PE has always had strong take-up and profile in the school.   There are good numbers of students currently studying the new linear A level and again in year 13 completing the legacy course.   In addition, a Sports Technical qualification is offered and take-up for this is also strong.    Results in all three qualifications have been consistently high and above national averages. 

The school offers an extensive co-curricular programme, to which all members of the PE team contribute.   The school’s co-curricular programme includes in particular rugby, football and netball academies that are developed in lesson time as well as lunchtimes and after school coaching sessions.   The academies are now well established and the standard of performance is high. We are looking to build on this to compete at the highest level possible as the lifting of Covid-restrictions will hopefully allow.

The subject team has a strong track record of enriching sport and PE through a programme of overseas visits including netball, rugby and football tours at home and abroad and an annual ski trip to Austria.

We are now seeking to appoint an energetic and focused leader to contribute to the further success of this curriculum area.  

As the designated Teaching School Hub for West and East Kent Bennett is strongly committed to developing teachers professionally, and believes that all staff should have an active and positive role to play in the development of policy and practice.  This generates great enthusiasm and a strong sense of teamwork.  As a school we invest strongly in teacher professional development.