Graduate Sports Assistant

Graduate Sports Assistant

2-year fixed term contract from 1st September 2025 – 31st July 2027

Are you a graduate and sports enthusiast looking for a rewarding position?

Passionate about supporting young people to achieve their sporting goals?

Downe House is a leading independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18, based in the village of Cold Ash, Berkshire. Our aim is to provide pupils with a wealth of academic, pastoral and Co-Curricular opportunities to allow them to grow into confident young women. We are seeking an energetic Graduate Sports Assistant to join our enthusiastic PE Department from September 2025. This is an exciting route to kickstart your career and gain valuable experience in teaching and sports coaching as well as develop personal skills.

In this role you will assist in teaching PE lessons with pupils from Years 7-13. The role will involve working with pupils of varying abilities, learning to challenge the more able and assisting those who require additional support. As there is a huge variety of sports on offer at the school, there is a need to be adaptable and open to learning how to teach and umpire a variety of sports at school fixtures.

The school offers superb sporting facilities, including extensive playing fields, lacrosse pitches, an all-weather pitch, tennis courts, sports hall, newly renovated gym, dance studio, indoor heated swimming pool, netball courts, squash courts and ample woodland for cross country running.

You will be part of a nurturing and supportive but busy and thriving school, where everyone is encouraged to get fully involved with school life.  We have Graduate roles in other departments, so you will not be alone! Some of our graduates have succeeded to gain permanent employment with us after their 2-year placement, whilst others have benefitted from useful career insight and connections to guide their next steps.

This is a residential post, and the Graduate Sports Assistant will live in on-site accommodation, sharing facilities, usually with other Graduate Assistants.

We offer a range of benefits including:

• Free staff accommodation provided on site

• Provision of delicious and nutritious free meals and on-site parking

• Modern gym and swimming pool facilities

• Regular opportunities for professional development

• A vibrant and supportive staff community

• A variety of social occasions through the year

• Generous pension scheme (9% employer contribution)

• Life Assurance and Death in Service benefit

• A supportive induction programme

• Beautiful working environment in a semi-rural location

How to Apply

Application forms can be downloaded by clicking ‘Apply’ at the bottom of the advert on our website: https://vacancies.downehouse.net/vacancy-info.asp?id=973

Completed application forms should be sent to recruitment@downehouse.net by 22nd February 2025. We reserve the right to interview/appoint before the closing date.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Own transport is essential as the school is in a rural location with no public transport links.

For further details you can contact the HR Department on 01635 204712 or email recruitment@downehouse.net

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and any offer of employment is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Check (DBS), satisfactory references, and social media checks.

At Downe House we promote equality of opportunity for all pupils and staff, both current and prospective, and we actively support an environment and culture that values diversity and inclusion.