Head of Physical Education

Head of Physical Education (Full-time)

Physical Education is a popular and highly successful academic area of study at Denstone. The department currently comprises four full-time teachers, including the incumbent Head of Department, with a number of other members of staff, such as the Directors of major sports, also having an input into the overall PE programme. 

PE lessons exist in the curriculum with the aim of encouraging and challenging pupils to achieve their optimum, physically and mentally, through participation and, where appropriate, competition in a wide range of individual, racket and team sports. The department aims to stimulate and maintains pupil interest and enjoyment in physical activities and plays an important role in the College’s overall strategy to promote health and fitness for current and future lifestyles. Pupils are encouraged to understand the short and long term effects of exercise on the body, and the importance of safe practice in physical activities. Timetabled PE lessons aids young people in developing a range of desirable personal qualities such as, respect, self-discipline, determination, self-confidence, initiative and independent thinking.

Teaching and learning in the department is intended to be fun, with pupils working individually and as part of a team in a variety of activities. All pupils in the Lower School, First Forms to Third Forms, have Physical Education which is taught by full time qualified staff as a double timetabled lesson.

In our Fourth and Fifth Forms (Years 10 and 11), good numbers of pupils opt to study PE at GCSE. The department currently follows the OCR specification (J587 9-1 course). In recent years pupil outcomes have been excellent, with 63% of candidates gaining a grade 7 or better over the past three years. This qualification is weighted 60% on externally assessed examination papers and 40% on non-examination elements (30% practical performance and 10% written coursework).

In the Sixth Form the Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate course is offered and results in recent years have been outstanding, e.g.  26 students gained Distinction* grades in 2021. From September 2022 the department will also be delivering the BTEC National Diploma (equivalent to two A-Levels) to students who opt for this course.

In recent years the department has run a number of visits to promote higher education opportunities in Sports Science, leisure and recreation, sports studies, sports coaching and Physical Education. These have included specialist workshops which build on the GCSE PE and BTEC Sport courses, thus allowing pupils to apply some of the principles and theories of sports science in a practical laboratory setting. Past destinations include Staffordshire University, Leeds Carnegie, Loughborough and Sheffield Hallam Universities, as well as the English Institute of Sport.

We are now looking for a dynamic, well-qualified, inspirational and imaginative Head of Physical Education to build on the existing success and strengths of this key academic department. This position becomes available due to the departure of the current Head of Physical Education after fourteen years at Denstone. The department is a thriving, innovative and forward thinking department with its own well-resourced teaching area, including Smartboards in each classroom, and a culture of high performance and standards across all areas. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain and build upon these standards. Promoting the aims and values of the department across the College will be an important aspect of the role, with the opportunity to contribute to physical education in our Prep (opened in September 2021) as well as all year groups in the main College. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will have good experience alongside a genuine enthusiasm for teaching and organising both of the existing current exam courses, GCSE PE and BTEC Sport in the sixth form, as well as a passion for the promotion of physical education across all year groups.

The successful candidate will lead the department and will teach an appropriate academic timetable. This timetable is likely to involve a significant contribution to the teaching of examination groups as well as potential involvement in some teaching of lower school groups (first to third Form). The arrival onsite of The Prep at Denstone provides further opportunities for involvement in the PE programme for pupils from reception to Year 6. Contributions to the thriving co-curricular sports programme will be expected, alongside involvement in the broader life of the College, for example through house tutoring and the College’s activities programme. Life at Denstone is full and immensely rewarding!