Head of Rugby

The Sports Department

The Sports Department is the largest in the school and oversees the provision of all sport across the Junior and Senior School. Heads of Sport manage their own programmes in a way that allows pupils to flourish in a number of sports. They are ably supported by highly qualified Sports Professionals and experienced PE & Games teachers. We are fortunate to have a number of Level 3 and 4 qualified coaches, many of whom have played sport to the highest level. The introduction of greater departmental INSET has proved invaluable in sharing technical knowledge across all sports. Sports staff act as mentors to pupils who are aiming to progress through performance pathways, but also have a focus on increasing the numbers of pupils representing the school at all levels.

Please see the Information Pack for more information.

The Role

The school is seeking to appoint a full-time Head of Rugby from 1st September 2024 to lead and develop the School’s highly successful rugby programme and teach PE and Games to talented, bright and enthusiastic pupils from Year 7 to Year 13 (and potentially from Year 3 in the Junior School as well). The role would be suitable for an experienced teacher, or an experienced coach who is an Early Career Teacher (ECT) or interested in gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) through the School’s Waynflete Teaching Certificate.

The Candidate

We are looking for an outstanding sports teacher to lead, manage and administrate rugby in the Senior School. The successful candidate will:

• Be a well-qualified sports teacher or rugby coach who is looking to lead a highly successful rugby programme and work within an outstanding Sports Department at a leading independent school;
• Have experience of either playing or coaching at a high level;
• Be prepared to take a share of the teaching of PE and Games at all levels and, above all, they will be enthusiastic about sport, and rugby especially;
• Be able to coach to A Team level in rugby and at least one of the other focus sports – Cricket, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rugby and Tennis – and this will include midweek and weekend fixtures across several sports;
• Display a high level of organisation and show clear enthusiasm for excellence in sport and widening participation;
• Have the ability to lead and support colleagues from the Sports Department and the rest of the school;
• Communicate effectively with pupils, parents, staff and the local community;
• Plan and teach lessons in an engaging manner with evident enthusiasm for sport;
• Set clear expectations for pupil behaviour;
• Show clear enthusiasm for sport and display an understanding of sport as part of a thriving extra-curricular provision;
• Display a positive, cheerful and caring attitude, a supportive approach to working with colleagues taking sports teams, and a willingness to be involved in all aspects of school life;
• Demonstrate strong organisational skills in an encouraging environment;
• Take a keen interest in the welfare of pupils and act as the pastoral tutor to a senior school houseroom
• Show clear commitment to safeguarding children;
• Ideally, owing to the nature of the role, have a full, clean driving license with the ability and willingness to drive minibuses;
• Have excellent written and spoken communication skills with pupils, parents and staff;
• Have sound IT skills;
• Have the ability to work collaboratively and effectively as part of a wider team;
• Display a high level of attention to detail;
• Work hard to support pupil progress;
• Be willing to take part in continuing professional development;
• Respond positively to feedback;

The Head of Rugby will be responsible to the Director of Sport, and ultimately to the Master, for the proper discharge of his or her duties.

Application Process

Candidates should submit the “MCS Application Form for Teaching and Support Staff” which can be found on the Job Vacancy link of the website (www.mcsoxford.org). To access Click here. To apply for the position please send the following two documents to the Recruitment Officer, Ms Yelena Molcanova (recruitment@mcsoxford.org).

1. “MCS Application Form for Teaching and Support Staff” Form
2. CV (Curriculum Vitae)

All documentation should be sent no later than Monday 22nd April, at midday. The school's preferred method of communication is by email and it will not be necessary to send a hard copy of the documents by post.

References may be taken up in advance. If you do not wish references to be called for at this stage, please make that clear on the reference section of the application form.

We anticipate holding interviews from Friday 26th April, which will include a taught lesson. We will be in contact with shortlisted candidates by telephone. Please be aware that all shortlisted candidates will be requested to complete a “Self-Disclosure” form before attending their interview. We reserve the right to interview and appoint before the above dates.

Safeguarding Policy

Magdalen College School is committed to the safeguarding of pupils, and any offer of employment will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure, the receipt of satisfactory references, the school’s pre-employment medical questionnaire, plus sight of relevant original ID documentation and degree certificate(s). This role will be in regulated activity and will require a children’s barred list check as well as an enhanced DBS check. The enhanced DBS check is due to this role being exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Remuneration and other benefits

MCS currently has its own salary scale, and salaries are more generous than those in the maintained sector; there is also a relocation allowance on a sliding scale, by agreement with the Master and Bursar, and dependent on current location. The school also operates a cycle to work scheme, and travel loans are available. MCS offers teaching staff a choice of pension arrangements; a Defined Contribution scheme with an employer contribution of 23.68% or the Teachers’ Pension Scheme with a salary sacrifice arrangement. Staff may move between the two schemes as suits their needs. The Master will discuss the pension with any offer of appointment.

The school has a fully equipped gym which is available for staff use, and staff may also enjoy access to the University of Oxford’s Rosenblatt Swimming Pool. Tennis courts are available, and there is a comprehensive programme of staff sports clubs, including football, climbing, yoga, Pilates, and badminton. Staff also have the opportunity to join choirs and music groups, and to get involved in drama productions. There is a wide range of benefits on offer to staff, including a free lunch during term time, free private health insurance and complimentary use of school sports facilities.

Head to mcsoxford.org/vacancies to find out more.