Overview

DIRECTOR OF SPORT/HEAD OF PE

Required for a January 2026 or April 2026 start or earlier. An enthusiastic and inspirational teacher is required to lead the strategic direction of sport at Papplewick and to teach PE to boys aged 6 to 13. An eagerness to contribute to other areas of this flourishing boarding school is vital, as is a sense of humour. Generous remuneration package available including accommodation allowance. Applications should be made by Wednesday 8th October 2025.

Responsibilities

• To lead the strategic direction of sport within the school.
• To draw up the weekly timetable for football, rugby, or cricket provision.
• To draw up the termly fixture list for all sports through liaison with other schools.
• To manage all aspects of match days including transport and liaison with catering.
• To assign staff to teams and then manage them within their roles.
• To set and manage daily sports provision including covering absences.
• To develop and manage potential sports scholars.
• To liaise with the Head Groundsman regarding pitches.
• To make links with the local community.
• To organise tournaments at Papplewick.
• To market sport in the local community and further afield to attract the strongest possible boys to the school, especially in respect of a scholarship field.
• To teach PE to boys in Years 2 to 8.
• To coach the three main sports of football, rugby, and cricket on a daily basis to Year 2–8.
• To lead the PE department and keep an overview of all that is happening in the department.
• To lead curriculum development as required, including awareness of syllabus changes.
• To lead termly departmental meetings and provide consultation and guidance to other department members as required.
• To attend Heads of Department meetings as required.
• To manage all aspects of Health and Safety.
• To manage the departmental budget and order resources as needed.
• To review the departmental policy termly, including future planning.
• To lead and implement the school appraisal system in the department, if required.
• To review boys’ progress at regular intervals in line with the school’s ‘mark reading’ system.
• To attend parent/teacher meetings.
• To write end of term reports each term.

General

• ‘Tutoring’ of a small group of boys in Years 6 to 8 including communication with their parents.
• Supervision of school as a member of the daily duty team (Monday to Saturday) and as part of the ‘Sunday team’ from time to time as required.
• Provision of two evening activities (6.35pm to 7.25pm Monday to Friday) during the Michaelmas and Lent terms, and one evening activity in the Summer term.
• Each member of staff has a whole day off from Tuesday to Friday in compensation for above duties, and 19 weeks holiday a year (8 weeks in summer, 4 weeks at Christmas and Easter, and 3 one-week half-terms).
• Provision of two activities on Thursday afternoon as required.
• Supervision of a prep room on a weekly basis as required.
• Duty to promote and safeguard the welfare of the boys.

Person Specification – January 2026 or April 2026

• Ability to inspire all staff who coach sport.
• Ability to teach PE to boys from Year 5 to Year 8.
• Ability to inspire boys to feel confident and secure in their knowledge of PE and sport in general.
• Ability to inspire boys to apply skills learned in PE and sport.
• A good level of competency in the use of IT.
• Ability to enable boys to enjoy PE and sport.
• Ability to communicate with parents effectively and professionally.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Willingness to contribute to the life of a busy boarding school on a wide variety of fronts.
• A well-developed sense of humour.
• An understanding that prep school life should be fun.
• Willingness to promote and safeguard the welfare of all the boys.

Papplewick is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, which involves regulated activity, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

A copy of Papplewick’s Safeguarding Policy may be found at: https://www.papplewick.org.uk/parent-info/school-policies.html

Papplewick School is also committed to equality and diversity and the value that greater diversity brings to our school community.

Seniority level: Director

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Other

Industries: Book and Periodical Publishing