Director of Sport

Cumnor House Sussex is inviting exceptional candidates to apply for the position of Director of Sport. We are seeking an inspiring leader with strong management skills and a clear vision; a talented sports player who motivates both coaches and pupils to aim high. The successful candidate will be a role model who cultivates a culture of kindness, respect, and sportsmanship, both on and off the pitch, and a natural competitor who embraces innovative approaches to coaching and strives for excellence in sport at Cumnor.

A supportive and inclusive attitude towards all ages and abilities is crucial, ensuring that every child at Cumnor not only achieves their best but also finds joy and pride in both individual and team efforts.

The Director of Sport will be responsible for delivering a high-quality sports programme that meets the expectations of parents and pupils while enhancing the school’s reputation. With all pupils participating daily in PE, swimming, or games, it is essential to offer a relevant and engaging programme that promotes health and fitness across all year groups. A commitment to inclusivity, broad participation, and high performance is key.

Clear communication with parents and staff, marked by empathy, openness, and good humour, even under pressure, is essential. The Director is expected to model high standards of conduct, punctuality, and appearance, while ensuring that coaches deliver top-tier coaching.

This role demands a dynamic and encouraging management style, alongside excellent organisational and delegation skills. The successful candidate will maintain strategic oversight of all department activities, logistics, objectives, and needs.

Principal Duties

Management:

• Manage Sports staff, ensuring efficient use of their time, and providing appropriate training and guidance regularly;
• Promote an inclusive and balanced programme for pupils of all abilities;
• Develop a strategy for the future of Cumnor Sport, ensuring clear communication to SMT and the Sports department;
• Develop and maintain methods of evaluating pupil progress for the purpose of informing teaching, guiding pupils and communicating with parents;
• Organise staffing of games sessions and matches;
• Ensure team selections are made according to school policy;
• Promote fair play, good sportsmanship, good conduct and smart appearance throughout sport;
• Communicate as necessary regarding administration and logistics, including transport, catering, and facilities management;
• Assist the Head in the recruitment, appraisal and retention of Sports Staff.

Administration:

• Produce and annually update a Departmental Handbook and Development plan;
• Attend Heads of Department meetings;
• Produce and maintain, with the assistance of the Head of P.E. and others in the department, a scheme of work for the teaching of games and P.E. to children from Nursery to 13 years.
• Keep a central record of results and share them promptly with the Head and the editors of the School’s website and social media; ensure coaches put their team’s results on the Results board in a timely manner.
• Organise photography of matches and other Sports events, and share the photographs promptly with editors of the School’s website and social media; organise end-of-season team photos;

Promotion of Excellence:

• Encourage an interest in and love of Sport in all children in the school;
• Promote and encourage excellence in team and individual sports, thereby developing confidence through improvement and success;
• Encourage and promote talented players;
• Foster and maintain links with local clubs as appropriate to provide access to elite coaching and training opportunities;
• Develop age-appropriate and curriculum-linked plans for Early Years and Pre-Prep children;
• Encourage and facilitate pupils’ participation in external team events and individual competitions;
• Oversee the allocation of internal sports awards, colours and prizes;
• Prepare children for Sports scholarships, liaising with Senior School Directors of Sport;
• Support the coaches and assist them in their personal and professional development through the appraisal and INSET programmes;
• Ensure a uniform approach to sports kit, match-day clothing, team shirts and the overall presentation of pupils and coaches;
• Ensure consistency of approach in all aspects of sport and match preparation, in both coaches and pupils, in line with the Cumnor Sports policy and philosophy.

Facilities:

• Maintain a timetable of usage for the sports hall, courts, all-weather and grass pitches;
• Keep the Facilities Calendar updated to reflect off-timetable, weekend and holiday use of all the sports facilities except the swimming pool which will be done by the Pool Manager;
• Ensure that all sports equipment is properly maintained and regularly serviced, keeping appropriate records of servicing;
• Liaise with Grounds Team to ensure preparation of playing areas;
• Liaise with the Bursar over maintenance of Sports facilities as necessary.

Health and Safety:

• Communicate with Medical team over medical issues;
• Ensure the Sports Department staff are informed about pupils’ relevant medical information;
• Ensure that staff have undertaken risk assessments and are aware of their obligations and school polices regarding the discharge of those obligations;
• Ensure the appropriate training/professional development for coaches of contact sports in particular and all sports in general.

Hours of work:

Prep School Teachers are expected to work from 8am to 6pm during term time, which includes 3 days before and after the start and end of each term, and to be available for evenings (e.g. Parent Evenings) and some weekends (3 to 4 Saturday Activity mornings per term). There are also other whole-school events, which may occur at the weekend or at other times out of the normal School day. In addition, Heads of Department and Senior Management should expect to work beyond the school day when required.

Application Process and Safeguarding

To apply, please complete our application form (which can be found on our website) and submit it with a covering letter by 7th October to hr@cumnor.co.uk

Interviews of selected applicants will be held the following week, with a view to a decision being made by Friday 18th October, and would involve a visit to the School. We reserve the right to make an appointment at any time prior to the closing date. If you would like to make enquiries, please call Karen German, Head of HR on 01825 790347.

Cumnor House Sussex is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. An offer of employment will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure, satisfactory safeguarding interview and pre-employment references, verification of ID, medical fitness and relevant qualifications, and other security checks including Overseas and Teachers Barred lists.