Resident Sport Assistant - Hockey
Downside School
Somerset
- Expired
- Job type:
- Full Time, Fixed Term
- Start date:
- September 2024 to June 2025
- Apply by:
- 21 April 2024
Job overview
Fixed Term Contract September 2024 to June 2025
Are you a recent Graduate or currently seeking an Undergraduate placement and looking for a great opportunity to develop your skills? Are you an experienced Hockey player or coach with an active enthusiasm for all matters pertaining to Hockey in an educational setting? Do you want to work in a collaborative coaching environment? Would you enjoy working within a supportive team which celebrates a culture of reflective practice to support the development of all players and coaching staff? If yes, then we would love to hear from you!
From September 2024, Downside School has an exciting opportunity for a Resident Sport Assistant (Hockey) to join the Sports Department and work alongside three other Resident Sport Assistants, each with different specialisms. You will have the opportunity to be fully involved in all aspects of School life; academic, pastoral and the wider curriculum and will be fully supportive of Downsides Catholic character. In addition to specialist contribution as a Hockey coach, you will ideally also be able to demonstrate skills and experience in development coaching within any one or more of these sports: Netball, Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Athletics/Cross Country, Swimming, Badminton, Basketball or Strength & Conditioning.
Our four Resident Sport Assistants work closely with the Director of Sport and a relevant Development Lead Coach to support the delivery of an extensive weekly programme of Sport and Co-Curricular Activities. Resident Sport Assistants work an average of 35 hours per week, over 6 days including the weekends and some evenings. This is a term-time only role plus inset days and pre-season training.
Our Resident Sport Assistants will be people who:
- Have experience in coaching any one or more of these sports: Rugby, Hockey, Netball, Cricket, Tennis, or Strength and Conditioning.
- Have a relevant University degree or are seeking a placement opportunity as part of an Undergraduate degree course.
- Are passionate about working with children in an educational setting.
- Are able to contribute significantly to the schools wider Co-Curricular programme.
- Are committed to their own professional development.
- Embrace our Catholic, Benedictine ethos.
Pastoral work as a House Assistant:
There may be an opportunity to take on a supported House Assistant role within a boarding house which gives a valuable opportunity to experience the boarding life of the school. This would involve 2 evenings a week. If this is a role that interests you, please express your interest in your application. This role attracts an additional Downside allowance of £2,522 (1.0 point) per annum, pro rata.
What we offer our Resident Sports Assistant - Hockey:
- On site accommodation with all meals provided during term time.
- A pro-rata salary of £13,350 paid across 10 equal monthly instalments.
- Complimentary access to gym, indoor swimming pool and sports facilities.
- A stunning work environment set in beautiful grounds located close to Bath.
- Mentoring and support from a Development Lead Coach for hockey who has significant experience of school, club, county, and international hockey coaching.
- Opportunities to plan and lead 1:1 skills and small group coaching sessions with Downside pupils, many of whom are representing Avon Junior County Hockey programmes.
- A chance to coach age group sides during competitive inter-school fixtures.
- Plenty of CPD opportunities to include lifeguarding and minibus training (subject to age of applicants at time of appointment).
- Opportunities for pastoral and wider-curricular involvement.
- Motivated and hard-working pupils who are keen to improve.
- A supportive, skilled, and innovative staff team.
How to Apply
Please apply through our School website using our online applicant tracking system
CVs are not accepted; applications must be completed in full to include your full employment and education history. Please provide contact details for referees to cover the last 5 years, this must include your current and / or most recent employer if you have worked.
Closing date for applications: 21 April 2024 (Midnight).
Interviews will initially be held online via Teams.
Following this, successful candidates will then be invited to visit Downside School for a tour of the school and our sports facilities. There will also be an opportunity to discuss whether you are interested in a House Assistant role. Successful candidates will also have the opportunity to meet pupils, the sports team, and other colleagues.
NB: We may close the post earlier if sufficient suitable applications are received, therefore an early application is encouraged. Downside School reserves the right to make an appointment prior to the closing date.
Downside is an independent, co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 11 to 18, and one of England's oldest and most distinguished Catholic schools. The school is situated at the foot of the Mendip Hills, twelve miles south of the city of Bath. This is an exciting prospect for someone who is a graduate with an interest in entering the teaching profession or who is looking for professional experience before following a career outside education.
Downside 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 must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the DBS. We are an equal opportunities employer. By car, we are within 40 minutes of Bristol, 30 minutes of Bath and 15 minutes of Wells and there are regular public bus routes between the school and these locations should you not have access to a car.
Registered Charity Number: 1158507
Attached documents
About Downside School
A clear and positive attitude to learning permeates the whole school, enabled by excellent relationships between staff and pupils’ and that our pupils are ‘enthusiastic and highly motivated learners, able to work independently’. Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)
At Downside, we are committed to working in partnership with families and to providing an environment which nurtures young people of integrity who can think for themselves, stand up for their beliefs, and act to make a positive difference in the world.
Founded in 1606 and based just 25 minutes from the famous World Heritage City of Bath, we are a forward-thinking independent school and one of England's oldest and most distinguished Catholic schools. Our vision is to be a bright light in the world of education, illuminating the lives of young people and inspiring service in the world through experience of Benedictine culture. It enables pupils and staff to develop their own identity through experience of a community with Christ as its centre.
The School is set in 500 acres of beautiful English countryside with extensive facilities including an indoor swimming pool, a Mac Suite dedicated to music, a 24/7 Health Centre, and a Performing Arts Centre housing a 400-seat Theatre, a Recording Studio, a print screen room and a Mac suite for art.
We are uncompromising in the pursuit of academic excellence. We aim for the highest standards in our extensive and exciting co-curricular programme with over 100 activities, and we provide plentiful and varied opportunities for service and leadership.
The School endeavours, in addition, to provide our pupils with what may be referred to as a sense of ‘the poetry of life’, a sense of its beauty, form, mystery and joy. Everyone who comes here remarks on the happy atmosphere. It is truly a remarkable, inspiring place.
Please visit our website to find out more about our School: www.downside.co.uk/working-with-us
TEACHING AT DOWNSIDE
We are committed to high academic standards and constant development of the quality of teaching and learning. We have a Quality Assurance cycle, which allows us to monitor the quality of teaching and learning through lesson observations, learning walks and pupil feedback. Our tracking and monitoring systems are rigorous so that all pupils are supported in their learning, and colleagues are supported in their teaching.
Working at Downside is a truly rewarding experience. In keeping with our Benedictine ethos, Downside is a welcoming, caring community where each person is valued. Pupils are highly motivated, keen to learn and respectful of staff and their peers.
Our Induction Programme is comprehensive and fully supportive of all new staff, including the provision of training, where necessary. We are keen to support ambitious teachers, and CPD opportunities for individuals are identified in Faculty Development Plans and prioritised. Downside School is a member of the Canford Group, which includes most of the main independent schools in the South West. We are also closely linked with the other Benedictine Schools in England and Ireland. We expect all teachers to engage fully in co-curricular activities and the boarding life of the school.
At Downside, staff enjoy teaching polite and well-educated pupils, unique surroundings, and benefit from a generous salary scale, complimentary lunch and extended School holidays. Although it is difficult to quantify the hours which any individual Teacher may devote to their work in order to carry out their professional duties in a boarding school, the following guidance may be helpful:
The School timetable is taught Monday-Friday, and two periods on a Saturday morning, plus a 35 minute period of SMSC, followed by matches and activities in the afternoon. Games and activities, tutor periods, and hymn practice are incorporated into the weekly timetable. Department meetings can occur at the discretion of the Head of Faculty.
Academic timetable allocation:
Full time Teacher 15 double periods
Head of Faculty 13 double periods
Pastoral responsibilities: to provide support and guidance for a tutor group (typically 12 pupils), including one period (35 minutes) of PSHEE (Physical, Social, Health and Economic Education) and three tutor sessions, PSHEE has a specific programme and is treated the same as an academic lesson. All tutors attend Hymn Practice on Friday at 16.00 and School Mass on special occasions during the working week. Tutor periods are normally 12.35pm – 12.40pm Monday to Saturday and two afternoons a week, on Monday from 5.00pm to 5.35pm and Friday from 3.30-3.55.
6th Form Tutors deliver their PSHEE on Wednesday P5 rather than Monday 5pm. There is an additional tutor period on a Saturday from 11.25am -12.00pm. Tutors are also required to undertake one evening duty a week in House from 7.00pm – 9.00pm. There may be a requirement for flexibility around tutor timings to meet the needs of the school and timings are reviewed annually in line with timetabling. Tutors also have house duties such as managing the refectory on one day a week, as agreed with the HsM.
Co-curricular responsibilities: As a full time Teacher, there is a requirement to be involved in two co-curricular activities a week during term time e.g. CCF, service activities, games, music and academic societies. Additionally, you will participate in supporting the Saturday afternoon games programme. This may include activities and/or sport, and Teachers may be asked to support a specialist coach in games lessons and be responsible for the team when they play matches.
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