Head of Outdoor Education and CCF SSI

Rugby School is a diverse and inclusive community, committed to using collaboration, curiosity, and expertise to uncover the best in every student and member of staff. Equity and service are fundamental to our practice.

We are seeking an ambitious and dynamic colleague who shares our vision of outdoor education as a vocation, which provides students with a lifelong love of the outdoors, a colleague who will seize this exciting opportunity to work at Rugby School.

The successful candidate will join and support a large forward-thinking CCF contingent (210+ cadets) as their SSI and lead an equally large Duke of Edinburgh Team (270+ student enrolments in 2022-23 academic year across Bronze, Silver, and Gold). They will also lead on outdoor education initiatives as part of the wider school’s commitment to outdoor education through the games programme.

For wider context, alongside A-Levels, the School is delighted to offer all students the chance to study the IB, a programme closely aligned with Rugby’s ethos of developing the whole person. Rugby is renowned for its highly successful and innovative approach to education. As a coaching school we are looking for staff who are committed to a professional obligation to improve as teachers and who value personal growth. In this co-curricular role, the candidate will help to contribute to the whole person philosophy.

The school is a boarding and day school in full operation seven days per week including evenings during term time. Pastoral, co-curricular, cultural and sports activities take place outside normal day-school hours. Full-time staff are expected to make a full contribution.

The school is seeking to appoint an individual who will combine the roles of CCF SSI and Head of Outdoor Education. This job specification deals with each aspect of the role separately. This is a new position that is being created for September 2023, and as such there is flexibility for the role to be shaped for the right candidate. This can be discussed at interview.

Head of Outdoor Education

Alongside the role of CCF SSI, we are looking for someone with the vision, drive and flexibility required to develop our current provision of outdoor education, including leading the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award Scheme as the Centre Manager for Rugby School.

The Bronze Award is compulsory for all students in the F-Block (year 9 at Rugby School). Silver and Gold are optional for older students. We regularly have 60+ enrolments per year at both Silver and Gold Level. We run a variety of expeditions each year across the UK, and these are preceded by weekly training sessions as part of the school’s wider scheme of hours.

CCF School Staff Instructor (SSI)

The School Staff Instructor (SSI) is a vital member of the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) who, under the direction of the Contingent Commander, is responsible for the effective running of the CCF. The postholder will be an excellent role model for the school, as well an ambassador for the armed forces.

Rugby School CCF

Founded in 1860, Rugby School’s CCF is one of the country’s original six contingents. Former cadets include the war poet Rupert Brooke, as well as nine recipients of the Victoria and George Crosses. The first SSI was appointed in 1868 and only 12 individuals have held the position since.

The overall aim of the cadet movement is to deliver leadership and adventurous training opportunities for young people. The Rugby School CCF currently consists of 217 cadets, supported by 22 staff.

In addition to a salary from Rugby School, the postholder is currently eligible for the standard SSI funding grant via the Secretary of State for Education.

For more information and to apply: Please register and complete an application via our recruitment portal which can be found at www.rugbyschool.co.uk/about/employment-opportunities

Closing date: Friday 19th May

Applications will be considered upon receipt and we reserve the right to make an appointment before the closing date. 

Please Note

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). 

It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are key facets of our core ethos that ‘the Whole Person is the Whole point’. Find out more here: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Rugby School

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or age.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a team of internal recruiters and advertise our vacancies to attract candidates and not agency suppliers. If we need agency assistance, we will reach out to our trusted partners. Any speculative CVs we receive will not be accepted as an introduction.

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