Graduate Assistant Hockey - Fixed Term

Job Description

The Senior School is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, kind, and highly motivated Graduate Assistant (Hockey) to join the School’s co-curricular and wellbeing team. Working under the supervision of the Director of Sport and working closely with PE teachers, sports coaches, and pastoral leaders, the Graduate Assistant will support the physical development, performance, and wellbeing of all students. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate individual to contribute directly to the School’s mission of developing well-rounded individuals by fostering resilience, confidence, and healthy habits for life. Under the supervision of the Director of Sport, the Graduate Assistant will support the delivery of the hockey programme, particularly focused on girls’ hockey, including engaging coaching sessions and assisting with fixtures. The successful candidate will also support the strategic growth of the School’s sport and wellbeing offering, ensuring it is inclusive, progressive, and aligned with the School’s broader educational aims.

This role is fixed term from 1 September 2026 to 2 July 2026.

Bedales School is a unique educational establishment, set in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. Our aim is to create an environment where questioning, divergent thinking and freedom to learn from mistakes are all encouraged. Central to our success is the sense that each person is a member of our community whose voice is entitled to be heard and treated with respect. Both our staff and students expect of each other the best kind of relationships - co-operative, authentic and trustful.

Experience & Background

The successful candidate will be a reliable and capable individual, with a degree in Sports Science, or equivalent and ideally an accomplished hockey player and/or coach. You will be prepared to work flexibly with one evening activity or boarding duty each week.

Duties

You will be responsible for:

• Planning and delivering engaging, inclusive hockey coaching sessions for girls of varying abilities and experience
• Supporting the development of individual and team skills, fostering enjoyment, confidence, and sportsmanship
• Assisting with fixture administration, selecting, publishing and checking teams
• Assisting with coaching other sports as required by the department

This post is Regulated Activity.

Hours of Work

This fixed term post works term time only for 33 weeks of the year and you will be required to work 37.5 hours each week, Monday to Friday. The work pattern will be discussed at interview but is likely to include some late evenings and early mornings because of the nature of a boarding school day. In addition, the post will be required to work an additional 30 annualised hours to be worked during the year by mutual agreement.

Salary

£18,204 based on the above hours and weeks of work, which is pro-rata of the full-time equivalent salary of £24,772 per annum.

Benefits

• Free on-site parking
• Funded Healthcare Cash Plan
• Pension with Royal London
• Personal Accident Cover
• Life Assurance
• Salary Extras Benefits Platform
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free meals are provided during term time

Pre-Appointment Checks

All candidates will undergo a Safeguarding Suitability Interview and application for an Enhanced DBS and Barred List check and be asked to provide evidence they are eligible to work in the UK, on an on-going basis, at the shortlist stage of the selection process.

Closing Date

09:00am Monday 2 February 2026

Interview Date

Week commencing 9 February 2026

Early application is advised as Bedales reserve the right to make an appointment at any stage of the application process.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this post please read the Job Description which includes full details regarding the post. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines, CVs cannot be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application form.

Safeguarding Statement

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Candidates will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Prohibition from Teaching Checks, Prohibition from Management Checks.

The safeguarding responsibilities of the post include:

• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children;
• Fostering a culture of openness, safety, equality and protection;
• Providing a safe and welcoming environment where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to;
• Playing a key role in prevention of harm and an equal responsibility to act on any suspicion or disclosure that may indicate a child is at risk of harm;
• When concerned about the welfare of a student, acting in the best interests of the student.

All staff have a key role to play in identifying concerns early and in providing help for children and are expected to act in accordance with the school Safeguarding & Child Protection Policies.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job candidates to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.