Director of Sport
(Prep School)
Full time
Starting in September 2025/ January 2025
Headington Rye Oxford Prep School is a vibrant and welcoming school set in 12 acres of playing fields and grounds. In an environment where individuals come first, Headington Rye is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, pastoral support and an impressive range of extra-curricular opportunities.
Executive Summary
This is an exciting opportunity for the successful candidate to lead on a strategic vision for the future of sport in our recently merged coeducational Prep School. He/she will be a dynamic and enthusiastic individual, able to motivate all those within the Headington Rye Oxford Prep School community to ensure maximum participation in sport and physical activity. The new Director of Sport will be a gifted and experienced teacher, innovative thinker and confident leader who will be able to oversee the continued success of this outstanding department.
The Director of Sport line manages a team of outstanding PE teachers, coaches and volunteers. They are responsible for ensuring that high standards are maintained in the sport and physical activity provision for every individual in the Prep School community. The successful candidate will also work closely with the Senior School Director of Sport.
Our aim is for the pupils to enjoy sport and physical activity and to realise its importance to their performance in every area of their lives. We therefore aim to offer an extensive and varied range of sporting activities that take place before, during and after the school day. The School is looking to further expand its hugely successful sports programme which includes Football, Cricket, Hockey and Netball.
The Director of Sport will support and develop teams and individuals to perform at a highly competitive level, locally, regionally and nationally.
The successful candidate encourages the whole school community to embrace the opportunities provided by the School for physical fitness and wellbeing.
Role Description
The Director of Sport is a full-time permanent position starting in either September 2025/January 2026.
Key responsibilities
Strategy and leadership
- work with the Head and the Senior Management Team to form a strategic programme for the development of sport and physical activity provision at Headington Rye Oxford Prep School
- work with the Deputy Head, Operations to deliver the sport co-curricular strategy across the School
- inspire and lead a small team of PE teachers, graduate coaches, visiting coaches and parent volunteers to strive for excellence in teaching and learning, leading the department to the delivery of a successful and inclusive programme of sport and physical activity
- inspire others within the Headington Rye Oxford Prep School community and develop their ability to contribute to, and enhance, sport and physical activity provision
- maintain, evaluate and develop the effectiveness of Sport and physical activity provision across the School
- write and implement a PE Development Plan
Participation, inclusion and breadth of provision
- develop an effective system for monitoring and managing pupil engagement in sport and physical activity throughout their time at school
- ensure that there is an appropriate balance between elite provision and participation opportunities for all pupils, including access to staff and facilities
- oversee the effective organisation of home and away fixtures to support and enhance our competitive sport programme
- organise matches and house competitions
- organise Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 and oversee Early Years Foundation Stage Sports Days
- ensure that the sporting successes of all pupils are celebrated appropriately
- maintain up-to-date records of team and pupil achievements in and out of school
- forge links with the local community
Teaching and coaching
- maintain high standards of Teaching and Learning within all sport and physical activity sessions by inspiring, motivating, monitoring and developing all staff involved in teaching and coaching pupils
- be responsible for the department’s scheme of work
- continually model good practice by teaching PE and Games lessons to a consistently high standard
- demonstrable awareness of different pupils’ educational needs with the ability adapt teaching and learning appropriately to challenge all pupils
- coach pupils of all abilities and ages across a range of sports
- manage sports teams throughout the academic year across a range of sports, including team practices and fixtures that may sometimes take place at the weekend
Communication and Liaison
- ensure that all staff involved in sport and physical activity provision are aware of both long-term goals and short-term logistics
- organise and lead regular and effective departmental meetings
- work with the Communications Manager and Director of Marketing and Admissions to promote the school and its sporting successes
- work closely with the Director of Sport (Senior School) to develop meaningful links with outside sports clubs with the aim of improving sport and physical activity provision for our pupils
- work closely with the Performance Director regarding potential sport scholars
- organise team photos
Person Specification
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- A good honours degree relevant to the teaching aspects of the role
Desirable
- A recognised teaching qualification
Personal attributes/skills
- passionate about sport
- alongside Football and Cricket, expertise in other sports, for example, Hockey, Swimming and Netball
- excellent communicator (oral and written), good interpersonal and listening skills
- ability to influence and persuade at all levels
- ability to inspire and motivate others through verbal and written communications
- good time management and organisational skills
- ability to use initiative
- patience and a sense of humour
- ability to demonstrate good IT skills and constructive use of other technology
- enthusiastic about PE, flexible and calm under pressure
- a genuine desire to contribute to the wider life of the School, with the ability, skills and experience to contribute to the School’s co-curricular programme
- sympathy with the values and ethos of the School
Terms of Appointment
Type of Contract
Full-time, permanent, starting September 2025 or January 2026
Benefits
Pension
The School will comply with its legal obligations in relation to the provision of access to a pension scheme.
Fee remission
In accordance with the School’s policy, which may be subject to change from time to time, up to 50 per cent fee remission for pupils attending Headington Rye Oxford and up to 20 per cent fee remission for students attending Magdalen College School (under a reciprocal agreement) and subject to the terms of their policy. Fee remission is calculated on the number of weeks and hours worked and is pro rata for part-time staff who work at least 50 per cent of a normal working week.
The remuneration package
Headington Rye Oxford offers an enhanced teaching scale with points that equate to teaching experience and a leadership scale for responsibility. The salary offered will reflect the experience of the successful candidate and be commensurate with the post.
Additional Benefits
All staff have access to a broad programme of wellbeing activities. The programme currently includes access to the School’s gym and swimming pool, weekly Step and Tone and Zumba classes and regular staff social activities such as Book Club and Staff Choir. Staff also benefit from free access to the Employee Assistance Programme, a free, confidential helpline that offers advice on a range of issues. Free restricted parking is available for all staff on site.
Appointment Process and How To Apply
Applicants should submit an application form and a covering letter detailing their skills and experience to recruitment@headingtonschool.com
- Applications will only be accepted from candidates completing the application form in full. CVs will not be accepted in substitution for completed application forms. However, they may be sent in addition to the application form.
- We will seek references on successful candidates and will approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications . References will ask about your suitability to work with children.
- If you are invited to interview you will receive notification outlining the interview process and guidance regarding the documentation you are required to provide.
Closing Date: Please apply immediately
Interviews upon receipt of applications
Please note that applications will be reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to interview, appoint and close adverts early depending on the volume of applications we receive. We therefore encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment.
All appointments are subject to satisfactory completion of all employment checks, ie Disclosure and Barring Service, Right to Work in the UK, references, medical questionnaire. Headington Rye Oxford is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and DBS and barred lists checks. The School expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
