Director of Sport

The Role

The Director of Sport at King Edward’s School will lead and inspire an outstanding team of staff and pupils in one of the country’s most academic day schools in which the rich co-curricular life is prized. Working closely with the Deputy Head (Co-curriculum) the Director of Sport will ensure that outstanding sports provision remains a central pillar of the co-curriculum and wider life of the school.

The appointed person will be the strategic leader of all aspects of sport and exercise in the school, working closely with the Heads of Sports and PE to ensure that all pupils have a positive and rewarding experience of sport that will last their whole lives. Capable of operating at a high level, s/he will be expected to deliver a vision to strengthen the existing sports culture and also to identify opportunities to enhance and build on our provision – and for different types of positive outcomes: the combination of excellence and strong participation. Regional, national and international distinction for teams and individuals is combined with enjoyment in participation for all our pupils.

The Director of Sport will provide the vision and oversight of all sport and exercise in the school. S/he will be the manager of all staff involved in the delivery of sports coaching. This will involve working closely with the Heads of Sports and PE to support the overall strategy, and to ensure the induction, development and appraisal of all staff contributing to the programme. 

With the Heads of Sports and PE, the Director of Sport will control the sports budgets, and will maintain oversight of the fixtures and competition programme, to ensure that the work of the department is aligned with the school’s strategic goals.

The Department

King Edward’s School maintains a level of sporting involvement and success far beyond what might be expected of a traditionally highly academic boys’ day school. The department’s traditional “big three” team sports (Rugby, Hockey, Cricket) continue to thrive and are increasingly combined with a range of alternative provisions in response to pupil interest: athletics, fencing, racket-sports, football, water-polo etc. The school – through teams and individuals – achieves regional and national success in a range of sports, was named in the top 26 Sporting Schools in the country by School Sport Magazine and is always included in the lists of top Cricketing schools by The Cricketer magazine.

The Department is staffed by a variety of committed full-time teaching and coaching staff with a traditional collection of teacher-coaches whose contribution has always been invaluable to provision at the school.

Direct reports to the Director of Sport include the Heads of Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, PE and Swimming and Water Polo (full-time Games teachers), the Heads of Tennis and Table-Tennis (members of teaching staff).

How to apply 

To apply for this role, please forward a completed application form (available for download at https://kes.org.uk/about-us/work-with-us/) and a covering letter addressed to the Chief Master & Principal (Mrs Kirsty von Malaisé) by email to: kesrecruitment@keschools.org.uk.

The deadline for applications is 8am Friday 15th November; however, applications will be reviewed on receipt and so early applications are encouraged. We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date and interview date if sufficient applications have been received.

Interviews will provisionally take place in week commencing 25th November.

If you have any queries about the role or would like to discuss it in more detail, please contact HR on kesrecruitment@keschools.org.uk