Teacher of PE and Games (Netball Specialism)

The Portsmouth Grammar School is a leading co-educational school located in the historic heart of Portsmouth. It values the development of the whole person, placing emphasis on both academic achievement and co-curricular involvement. The school aims to support every pupil in order that they might achieve their potential.

The school seeks a dynamic and well-qualified teacher of PE & Games, with a specialism in Netball, from September 2021 to teach throughout the senior school from Year 7 to Year 13. 

The ability to offer an additional specialism within girls’ games would be an advantage.  Applications are welcomed from well qualified candidates, whether they are newly qualified, or more experienced teachers or have yet to commence teacher training.  

This is a full time vacancy but applications from candidates who can offer a part-time role of at least 0.4 FTE are also welcomed. Please indicate clearly in your application whether you are interested in a full or part-time position and the .FTE you could offer in a part-time role.

All teachers in the Department coach a Senior School team and the successful candidate will be expected to lead Saturday Netball fixtures during the Spring Term and attend other Saturday fixtures throughout the academic year. Every year group has one games afternoon that is supplemented by an after school practice and a lunch time or before school skills clinic. There may also be an opportunity to teach some Years 3 - 6 Games in our Junior School.  

There are an additional eleven teachers with the Physical Education and Games department.

The Physical Education programme for Years 7–11 broadly follows the National Curriculum with all pupils having one lesson per week in addition to their games afternoon.  Physical Education A Level is a popular option and the department has a good track record in public examinations with many pupils continuing to study Sports related courses at university.

Netball is well developed at PGS.  We have an impressive fixture list to challenge our girls, including Epsom, Caterham School and Cranleigh. All of our age groups aim to reach the regional finals regularly, in 2013 and 2014 we qualified for the national finals; in 2012 and 2016 we were runners up in the U19 Independent Schools Cup.  We are particularly proud of the progress we have made in the last three years with our younger teams; we regularly have 30-40 girls at after school training in each year group which has resulted in some impressive performances in matches.  We have a well developed Athletic Development programme for our older girls.  We also have a Senior Netball tour to Australia and Hong Kong in 2017 and South Africa 2019. We plan to revisit South Africa in the summer of 2022.

Outstanding teaching and learning at PGS are achieved by inspirational and creative teachers with excellent subject knowledge and the ability to use ICT and interactive resources to enhance learning.  Teachers’ planning is informed by assessment for learning, ensuring all pupils make very good progress in each lesson.  Our pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their learning and understand how they can improve using constructive feedback provided by their teachers. 

The school offers excellent training and support to teachers at all stages of their career. PGS teachers convey passion for their subject and seek to maximise progress by knowing their pupils well and adapting their teaching accordingly. We are always looking to develop new ideas and approaches to teaching and are keen to incorporate the particular interests of new members of staff into the overall curriculum scheme.

The successful applicant will be expected to contribute fully to the pastoral and co-curricular life of the school. The school provides excellent professional development opportunities and has an outstanding reputation for induction of newly qualified teachers.

Our Facilities

The Sports Department has excellent facilities; on the main school site in Portsmouth there is a Sports Hall with climbing wall and 5 indoor cricket nets, three squash courts, an athletic development gym, a fitness suite comprising over twenty cardiovascular stations, and a dance studio. Our excellent facilities at Hilsea include the Fawcett Pavilion, four rugby pitches, two cricket pitches, a water-based Astroturf plus a training area, eight artificial and six grass cricket nets and a hard court area of four netball courts or five tennis courts. 

We also enjoy a growing partnership with Portsmouth University and their plans for the development of sports facilities near our school site offer further exciting potential for PGS.  There is a vast array of co-curricular opportunities led from within the department including morning, afternoon and after school activities every day of the week. 

Benefits

The Portsmouth Grammar School prides itself on being a caring employer and all staff are encouraged to discuss any aspects of their terms and conditions of employment initially with their line manager and, as necessary, with the Bursar who signs all contracts of employment on behalf of the Governing Body.

The school is a strong supporter of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and its INSET programme of Professional Development Days provides staff with many personal development opportunities. Examples of school support include financial support for further education such as Masters Degrees.

Key financial benefits of employment at PGS include a generous salary structure supplemented by payment of an additional PGS Allowance.  There are many opportunities to take on additional paid responsibilities to assist in the management and operation of the school.  The school participates in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

The school also has a generous fee concession for the children of teaching staff.  The school supports the Cycle to Work scheme and all members of staff have free use of the school’s sports facilities which include a well-equipped Fitness Centre. The school provides a two course lunch during term, with a full evening meal provided before all parents evenings. 

For candidates who would relocate to take up this position, the school may be able to offer subsidised rental accommodation in Old Portsmouth on a temporary basis. Please state in your application if this is of interest to you. 

The school is always looking for innovative ways to improve the working conditions and remuneration of its employees and welcomes suggestions from all staff.

How to Apply

PGS is committed to safeguarding children and the successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure DBS check. 

Further information is available on the website at www.pgs.org.uk under the ‘About Us’ section and any queries regarding the vacancy should be emailed to HR@pgs.org.uk. 

An electronic application would be preferable, submitted to HR@pgs.org.uk.  All applicants should complete an application form, and send a covering letter and full curriculum vitae.  All applications should be accompanied by the names, addresses, email and telephone numbers of three referees. 

Candidates are also welcome to apply through the TES website using the application form linked to our PGS advert.

The closing date is noon 18th March 2021 and early applications are encouraged. Interviews will be held w/c 22nd March 2021, with shortlisted candidates invited to teach an observed lesson as part of the interview day. 

We look forward to hearing from you.