Head of Physical and Outdoor Education
Commencing: 01 August 2025
Reporting to the Director of Innovation and Educational Programs, this position oversees key school-wide educational programs. It requires a visionary leader with the flexibility to enhance our physical and outdoor education offerings, inspiring students and staff to engage and develop these areas. The role involves creating a structured, age-appropriate physical curriculum and outdoor activities program for students aged 4 to 18, fostering teamwork, leadership, and activity-specific skills. Responsibilities include overseeing the implementation of sporting competitions and outdoor activities, managing the program's budget, and ensuring proper control and maintenance of equipment. Additionally, the role involves expanding the portfolio of day and residential trips, supporting trip leaders, and leading expeditions during term time and holidays. This position also involves coordinating all physical education teachers and managing the utilization of PE and outdoor facilities. Collaboration between core academic departments and broader school programs is integral to the role.
Responsibilities
Leading and Managing Staff
· Leading the Physical and Outdoor Education department strategically, creating a learning community with high standards, high expectations and a culture of collaboration and learning.
· Leading and managing the development of learning and teaching strategies within the department, ensuring staff develop innovative and effective pedagogical expertise, facilitating appropriate development opportunities for all department colleagues as necessary.
· Functionally line-managing Physical and Outdoor Education teachers and sports coaches within the department, to facilitate high achievement and efficiency across all facets of the department.
· Maintaining a learning climate that is inclusive and safe, yet challenging and innovative, ensuring appropriate differentiation to meet the needs of students with all learning profiles.
· Lead and contribute to a comprehensive program of fixtures, competitions and outdoor educational experiences.
· Ensure full risk assessments for PE and Outdoor Education are in place, including keeping up to date records from third party providers.
· Create a positive and safe environment where all students are respected, encouraged to participate, and supported in their well-being and high achievement.
· Provide training opportunities for PE and Outdoor Education teachers and sports coaches within.
· Foster excellent communication with parents, students, and staff.
Leading Teaching and Learning
· Ensure effective teaching and learning strategies are in place across the department, supporting the school’s strategic implementation plan.
· Monitor and evaluate standards of teaching, student progress, and classroom management within the department.
· Plan and oversee educational visits and events relevant to the PE and Outdoor Education curriculum.
· Support teachers in identifying the most effective teaching approaches.
· Monitor teaching and learning activities to ensure they meet the needs of all students.
· Ensure successful organisation, communication and running of sporting events, including but not limited to sports days and swim galas.
Recording and Assessment
· Develop understanding of learning needs and the importance of raising achievement for all students.
· Lead the PE and Outdoor Education team to set targets for raising achievement for all students.
· Maintain and enhance systems for identifying, assessing and reviewing PE and Outdoor Education teaching staff and Sports coaches.
· Keep parents informed about their child's progress through regular reports, parents’ meetings and appropriate communication.
Budgets and Resources
· Identify resources needed to meet the needs of all PE and Outdoor Education students.
· Advise the SLT and the Line Manager of priorities for expenditure and manage the PE and Outdoor Education department budget.
· To have the day-to-day responsibility for all PE and Outdoor Education resources in the school.
Additional responsibilities
· Teach lessons for PE and Outdoor Education as assigned by line manager.
· Contribute by regularly communicating with the marketing and BeyondClassroom teams to celebrate and inform the community about developments and achievements in PE and Outdoor Education.
· All other responsibilities and tasks as deemed appropriate by SLT and the Line Manager.
Knowledge and Experience
An experienced leader with the following key areas of knowledge and expertise:
· Educated to Degree Level, Masters (or equivalent) preferred.
· Qualified Teacher status with previous experience of teaching and leadership in Physical and Outdoor Education.
· Proven leadership experience in a senior educational leadership role.
· Proven ability to develop opportunities for parental involvement.
· Good understanding of educational quality management and its role in relevance for the quality of performance in international schools.
· Proven understanding of effective teaching and learning theory and practice.
· A good understanding of the curriculum.
· An excellent understanding of contemporary international educational policies and best practices.
· Certification in First Aid and other relevant courses.
Technical and Soft Skills
With a demonstrable ability to communicate professionally, to work collaboratively and build relationships at all levels and across diverse cultures and generations, will also be:
· Positive and enthusiastic personality.
· Patient, resourceful and observant.
· Someone of high personal standing and integrity.
· An excellent communicator, both verbal and written.
· Results driven, able to evaluate performance, provide necessary support, take tough decisions, and hold people to account.
· A team player paired with leadership skills and intellectual capacity to improve whole-school standards and student achievement/outcomes.
· Someone who drives excellence through valuing and developing others.
· An innovative thinker with an informed and critical awareness of the prevailing and evolving global trends in education.
· Able to work under pressure, with excellent organisational and time-management skills and high attention to detail with a willingness to take on multiple tasks.
· Proactive and able to prompt others to ensure deadlines are achieved.
· Adaptable with a flexible mind-set and openness to innovative ideas.
