Teacher of PE - Netball Specialist

The school

St Paul’s Girls’ School is one of the country’s leading independent schools for girls aged 11-18, with approximately 840 students. It is an extraordinary school, offering a classical yet forward-thinking education, rooted in a love of academic discovery and enriched by a broad co-curricular programme, nurturing wellbeing provision and a strong commitment to partnerships and community initiatives. Aspirations and achievements go well beyond what one would normally expect from a school, making St Paul’s a very exciting, lively and stimulating place in which to work.

Full details of the school, including our curriculum and public exam results, are available on our website at http://www.spgs.org.

The department

The department currently consists of eleven members of staff, including five PE teachers, three rowing specialists, two Deputy Directors of Sport and the Director of Sport. We offer a broad, balanced and challenging sports curriculum for all age groups and opportunities to take up additional activities in the extensive co-curricular programme. With a superb range of facilities, we enable students to try out a variety of sports and to learn the importance of health and fitness within a safe, congenial and relaxing environment, regardless of individual abilities. We also aim to pursue excellence and girls compete at a high level in a variety of sports.

In the lower age groups during the autumn and spring terms we teach netball, lacrosse, strength and conditioning, swimming, basketball, dance, gymnastics, sports hall athletics, wellbeing, football, indoor cricket, adventure-based learning and volleyball.  In the summer term we teach athletics, swimming, rounders, cricket and tennis. In the upper year groups girls are offered a wider choice and have the opportunity to take part in additional activities such as rowing, spinning and yoga. There are team fixtures in lacrosse, netball, rowing, tennis, swimming, rounders, basketball, football, cricket, athletics, volleyball and cross country.  Lacrosse matches plus some netball take place on Saturdays as well as during the week throughout the year. We have an excellent reputation for team and individual success in all the main sports. In addition, students have the chance to take part in recreational activities during lunchtimes and after school every day of the week. Girls may be offered the opportunity to complete their youth netball umpiring award, first aid and the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification.

Our indoor facilities on site are a sports hall, dance studio, multi-gym and a 25-metre swimming pool. Our off site facilities comprise of a new pavilion with a weights rooms and activity space and outdoors several netball and tennis courts (four for netball or seven for tennis), and a playing field which can be used as two lacrosse pitches or a 200-metre running track with field athletic areas.

The post and candidate profile

You will be joining a hard-working and thriving department and must be able to contribute to all areas of the curriculum as well as the extensive co-curricular programme. A high level of subject knowledge, teaching qualification and a desire to develop professionally are essential. A specialism in netball including experience of teaching and coaching netball to students at all levels of ability is vital. Please state in the space provided on the application form what particular sports and activities you are qualified to teach.

The school places great importance on the pastoral care of its pupils and each girl has a personal tutor with whom she meets on a daily basis. You will be expected to become a tutor and to keep an interested, but unobtrusive, eye on the progress and well-being of your tutees and work closely with other tutors, the heads of year and the director of pastoral care to create a supportive and encouraging environment in which our girls are able to flourish.

A flexible, enthusiastic and energetic attitude is required as you will need to play a full part in the co-curricular life of the school, which will include umpiring matches, at home and away, a number of Saturdays and on weeknights throughout the year and some activities during the holidays. The role holder will be expected to accompany and eventually lead at least one residential trip a year.