Head of Academic PE

JOB TITLE: Head of Academic PE

LOCATION: Giggleswick School

RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Studies

FTE: 1.0 FTE

CLOSING DATE: Friday 2 May 2025

INTERVIEW DATE: TBC

START DATE: 1 September 2025

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Giggleswick is seeking to appoint a Head of Academic PE to deliver GCSE and BTEC Sport. The successful applicant will ideally be an experienced classroom teacher with a successful track record as well as having the ability to deliver coaching in a range of sports. As Head of Academic PE, the successful applicant will lead the delivery and administration of the subject to ensure every pupil achieves their best. This will involve managing coursework, creating assessment plans for BTEC, marking assignments and internal verification as required by the exam boards. The successful applicant will make a significant contribution to the games programme and actively promote sport related pathways and careers.

JOB PURPOSE

The main aim of Giggleswick School is to ensure that sport is enjoyable, whether played at elite or recreational level. All round participation and promotion of excellence helps to engender a culture of integrity, respect and teamwork in our pupils.

The major team sports are rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, cross country and tennis; however, the School also offers facilities and expertise in a range of other sports from swimming, climbing and mountain biking to basketball, athletics and golf. Giggleswick’ s stunning location in the Yorkshire Dales, first class facilities and the qualified and committed coaching staff provide an environment where ability can be nurtured and potential fulfilled.

Giggleswick runs an Elite Sports Programme which covers a range of sports. Here, talented athletes are mentored in a range of areas to ensure they excel in their chosen sport. This encompasses our values in the learner profile and looks at setting the right programmes to balance within their academic commitments.

The school has been highly successful in recent years in a range of sports and often reaches the North/North East finals in boys’ and girls’ hockey, combined with winning major Sevens tournaments in the North. Our cross-country runners perform on the national stage and have represented England in recent years.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Main duties

• Leading the academic teaching of GCSE and BTEC Level 3 PE.

Curriculum

• Select the most appropriate examination specifications
• Draw up, co-ordinate and monitor Schemes of Work, including setting of preps or independent study and regular testing

Administration

• Organise and co-ordinate assessments for public examinations, including moderation, assessment plans, marking and internal verification for BTEC.
• Organise and monitor the setting and marking of internal examinations, external examinations and scholarship examinations
• Ensure that classes are covered, and work is set when staff are unexpectedly absent
• Direct any non-teaching staff within the subject Issue and oversee returns of books and other
• specific materials required by students
• Order and maintain any equipment, textbooks and materials
• Ensure that the subject handbook is kept up to date
• Have input into the Governors’ Report and Subject Development Plan

Staff

• Observe staff and assist in work scrutiny as directed by the Director of Studies
• Provide the relevant information for the Performance Review of staff within the subject for the Assistant Head (Staff)
• Deliver the strategic aims of the School through effective leadership and development of the team

Enrichment

• Assist in the provision of subject enrichment programmes, such as clubs, field trips, visiting speakers and off-campus visits to Higher Education institutions

Teaching Duties

• The successful applicant will teach a mixture of classroom lessons and Games periods equating to a full time post across a six day week. All teachers are expected to make a regular contribution to department clubs, workshops and the CASE programme. A weekly emergency cover period and, where possible, a weekly departmental meeting is also timetabled.
• All members of staff are expected to attend, as required, regular staff meetings, INSET, parents’ conferences and the monthly tutor meetings that are held to discuss pupil progress
• The school day begins with a regular pattern of Assemblies, Chapel and Tutor/Form periods which teachers attend. Teachers are also invited to support students at major school functions such as drama productions, the Spring Concert or Sports Day

Pastoral

• All full-time teachers are expected to undertake a weekly evening duty in a boarding house.
• The School has a strong personal tutorial system and teachers provide additional pastoral care and academic advice and support for up to 8 tutees
• Teachers are expected to support all aspects of the boarding life of the school. This can include making a contribution to the weekend activity programme for boarders on Saturday evenings or Sundays; supervising events or activities; attending Sunday Chapel services; by organising and leading trips; or sharing a pastime

Other Duties

• Teachers are assigned to a duty team which supervises school duties such as meals and weekend duties (e.g., detention) approximately every five weeks
• Once a year, teachers take part in an Exeat duty team to provide cover for the boarders who remain at School
• All teaching staff are expected to follow the Staff Code of Conduct and to follow the guidance laid out in the staff handbook

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

The successful candidate should:

• Degree in a PE related subject PGCE
• Proven track record of successful A level and GCSE teaching results
• Experience of working with children and young people
• A secure knowledge of your subject
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop positive relationships with young people
• Effective management of difficult conversations with pupils, parents and staff
• Have strong organisational and IT skills
• Able to engage pupils in learning through active teaching strategies
• Able to communicate effectively orally and in writing Able to demonstrate effective planning and teaching
• skills
• Able to present confidently to a large group of students

Personal qualities

• Commitment to and flexible with the demands of the role
• Demonstrates fairness and consistency in all dealings with pupils
• Energy and enthusiasm
• Able to demonstrate the positive values, attitudes and behaviour we expect from our pupils
• Reliability and integrity
• Willingness to contribute to the co-curricular life of the school
• A commitment to personal professional development and taking responsibility for it
• A positive motivation to work with children and young people
• Emotional resilience

Safeguarding

• Evidence of a commitment to promoting the health, welfare and safeguarding of children.