Dunottar School - Head of Academic PE

The Department

This is an exciting opportunity for an aspirational teacher to join the Dunottar PE Team as Head of Academic PE.  The PE Department at Dunottar is a developing, forward thinking and dynamic department which focuses on promoting a love, passion and enjoyment of sport and physical activity through enthusiastic, outstanding and innovative delivery. Pupils enjoy over three hours of timetabled physical activity each week, with a broad co-curricular programme to support this. The majority of sporting fixtures take place on Saturday mornings, and a healthy fixtures calendar is established in all major sports (netball, cricket, rugby and football). AQA GCSE PE is offered to our students, as well as the provision to study A-Level PE.   

The Role

We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic Head of Academic PE on a full-time basis for September 2025. Part time applications will be considered depending on the level of flexibility offered. The desired candidate should also be able to teach up to A-Level with the ability to teach all aspects of the GCSE and A Level specifications but a specialism in anatomy and physiology would be an advantage. An ability to teach BTEC Sport would also be advantageous.

This role will suit an Early Career Teacher or an experienced practitioner with an ability to stimulate curiosity and interest in PE and Academic PE. The successful candidate must be prepared to give full commitment to the aims and ethos of the department and to Dunottar School and to contribute to a full programme of PE and Games. We seek a Head of Academic PE with a specialism in netball, cricket, rugby or football. In return we can offer all the benefits of working in a thriving and collegiate school environment.

 Main Responsibilities

The applicant will be expected to fulfil the usual professional responsibilities of a teacher at Dunottar including:

•  Have high expectations of pupils
• Create a stimulating and positive learning environment
• Show a good understanding of the aptitudes, needs and prior attainment of the pupils, and that these have been taken into account when planning lessons
• Attend staff and departmental meetings
• Maintain up-to-date records of attendance, assessment, planning, reports and communication with parents
• Contribute to curriculum planning, including the development of schemes of work
• Contribute to the departmental extra-curricular programme
• Participate in ongoing professional development related to new developments in Academic PE and PE

Person Specification

 Professional Qualifications and Skills:

• A record of excellent academic achievement including a relevant honours degree 
• PGCE/QTS or the ability to obtain ITT at Dunottar via United Teaching 

 Personal Qualities:

• High levels of personal and professional integrity 
• Self-confidence, personal energy and dynamism 
• Personal warmth, good rapport with pupils, colleagues and parents 
• Excellent organisational skills 
• Excellent oral and written English skills 
• Appropriate levels of personal presentation 

 Teaching and Learning:

• Enthusiasm for, and an excellent knowledge of, the relevant curriculum 
• Evidence of creative and innovative approaches to teaching and learning including the appropriate use of ICT 
• Commitment to improving, monitoring and evaluating teaching and learning 
• The ability to teach PE and Academic PE up to GCSE and A Level and the ability to teach and lead BTEC would be desirable
• An ability to make all pupils feel valued and involved in your lessons 
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• To keep abreast of educational research and pedagogy so that lessons enable all pupils to make progress

 Philosophy & Ethos:

• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people 
• High expectations for pupil attainment, personal development and conduct 
• Commitment to best practice in pastoral support and student welfare 
• Commitment to helping with extra-curricular activities and curriculum enrichment