Graduate Sports Assistant

Christ’s Hospital is looking to appoint graduates or undergraduates to join its Sports Department. The successful candidates will be able to coach one or more of the following sports - rugby, hockey, football, netball, cricket or athletics to a high level and be able to assist with the administration of a busy Sports Department; experience in Strength & Conditioning would be an advantage.

This is a temporary position, initially for a period of one academic year, commencing 31 August 2025, but could be extended for a further year by competitive process for the right candidates. Successful Graduate Assistants recently have gone on to take on further teaching roles recently including starting PGCE training.

THE DEPARTMENT

The department currently comprises 7 members of staff, incorporates nearly 30 external coaches, 2 Graduate Sports Assistants as well as a high percentage of the full-time academic staff. The Director of Sport oversees the Activity for Life programme, which aims to provide all students with an enjoyable, challenging, and balanced range of physical activities. The programme empowers every student with the knowledge and skills needed to make responsible lifestyle choices, that positively impact on their health and well-being. The Head of Sport Science oversees the Foundation for Movement programme and the academic PE course.

Both departments encourage the continuous sharing of ideas and resources, ensuring the best teaching and learning occurs in lessons. Students are encouraged to focus on individual progression, in a stimulating, varied and creative environment, which includes the opportunity to participate in competitive sport at their appropriate ability level.

Sport at Christ’s Hospital is an important and vibrant part of the Activity for Life programme. The various sports are run by members of the P.E. department or other academic staff, and significant investment has been made in order to employ outside coaches where necessary to provide the best possible coaching across a variety of sports. The main sports are Rugby, Football, Netball, Hockey, Cricket and Athletics.

In addition to these sports, Christ’s Hospital is very proud of its achievements in areassuch as Badminton, Cross-Country, Fives, and Squash and continually looks to promote these sports along with many others such as Basketball and Swimming.

Facilities are excellent and include twenty-one grass pitches, two floodlit all weather pitches, seven netball courts, fifteen tennis courts, eight cricket squares, a swimming pool, a double sports hall, gymnasium, squash courts, fives courts, fitness suite and dance studio. Within this safe and pleasant environment our students can develop their skill base and to learn the lifelong benefits of physical activity.

JOB DESCRIPTION - SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

The successful candidates will assist with the delivery of the Activity for Life, Foundation for Movement and Academic PE programmes, working with professional sports coaches and PE staff across all age groups, from Second Form (Year 7) to Grecians (Year 13). The applicants should be able to coach at a high level in one or more of the following sports – Rugby, Hockey, Football, Netball, Cricket or Athletics and to be responsible for looking after the kit and equipment and to ensure it is ready for training and matches.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Planning and coaching Sports sessions and assisting with Activity for Life and Foundation for Movement lessons
• Covering lessons, up to 8 per week
• Looking to develop individual sporting needs, as well as team strategies.
• Selecting and managing teams throughout the week and on a Saturday.
• Close liaison with the Director of Sport, Assistant Director of Sport and Head of Sport Science
• Promoting professional standards of punctuality and discipline with all the students, taking appropriate action where necessary
• Reinforcing the School’s key values of Kindness, Inclusion, Responsibility, Individuality and Perseverance.
• Organising the distribution of the weekly sports schedule and the match day programmes
• Taking a full and engaging role as part of a Boarding House Tutor Team and covering for absent colleagues, up to two nights per week. This will also include work on some Sundays during the term (for which a day off will apply elsewhere in the week)
• Supporting the Leave Weekend programme, in consultation with the Assistant Head Pastoral

THE SCHOOL

King Edward VI founded Christ’s Hospital in 1552 to take the poor children from the streets of London and provide shelter and education for them. Throughout over 460 years of social and economic change, Christ’s Hospital has remained true to its founding principles. It now provides high quality boarding education for children who, but for Christ's Hospital, would not have the chances in life that their potential deserves.

When Christ’s Hospital was founded, boys and girls were based in what had been the Grey Friars’ Priory in Newgate Street, but the girls and some of the younger boys were relocated to Hertford in the 17th Century. The boys at the Newgate campus were moved to the Horsham site in 1902 and were joined here by the girls in 1985. Christ's Hospital retains solid links with the City of London and many City Livery Companies provide financial support to students at the School. The School retains many of its ancient traditions, including the everyday use of its unique Tudor uniform, known as ‘Housey’ and Band Parade three days a week.

Nearly 900 students are enrolled at Christ’s Hospital for the 2023-24 academic year with a 50/50 mix of boys and girls. All are boarders apart from a small number of staff children and day students. The main intake each year is at Year 7 (11 years of age) with a small number joining at Year 9 (13+) and 40 to 45 new students joining in the Sixth Form. A balanced student population is a feature of the School, and we admit children from a wide range of backgrounds. Our selection is based on academic ability, talent in some combination of music, art, drama and sport and the potential to benefit from a first-class boarding education. However, the over-riding principle of the admissions process is to help those with need, whether that need be financial, familial or educational.

The School offers a traditional academic education and our expectations of students are high. We achieve excellent standards, with 90% of students gaining places at Oxbridge, Russell Group universities, art colleges or music conservatoires.

Currently, over 60% of the cost of running the School is funded by Christ’s Hospital’s charitable Foundation, with the balance coming from grants from a variety of sources and from fees. Around 75% of students receive bursary support; 13% pay no fees at all and just over 20% pay full fees. The resultant mix of students is refreshingly down to earth and there is a deep desire to make the most of the opportunities on offer at Christ’s Hospital.

The school has a proud tradition of sporting achievement and runs an engaging and successful broader curricular programme which includes CCF and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Music is outstanding and in addition to the Marching Band, there is a large and impressive Chapel Choir, plus various orchestras, classical ensembles and jazz groups. Drama flourishes with regular productions in the purposebuilt 600 seat theatre and the Art School produces work of unusual quality.

The lesson timetable is spread across six days, with four lessons on Saturday morning. Students have three Activity for Life sessions each week including Saturday. The schoolworks on a three-weekly cycle, with a leave weekend or longer break at the end of every three-week period. All staff are expected to contribute to the busy broader curricular programme throughout the year and day staff are required to help out in a boarding house for one evening each week. Graduates may also be expected to cover in other boarding houses to cover for staff absence and support in boarding houses during leaving weekends (max 2 per year) for groups of international students for which
additional pay will be given.

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT

The successful applicants will be well-qualified and capable graduates / undergraduates on a placement year with an enthusiasm for coaching Sport within the framework of an independent co-educational boarding school.

All new staff appointments are subject to a clear medical check, receipt of satisfactory references including one from the current employer and a cleared Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check at Enhanced Level.

Equal Opportunities: Christ’s Hospital is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

SAFEGUARDING, PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

All staff are required to follow published statutory guidance and the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy at all times and to share in the corporate commitment to promoting the safety and welfare of students.

In addition to a thorough understanding of safeguarding procedures, staff are expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct. We will require evidence of your:

• Eligibility to work in the UK from your start date
• Full understanding of safeguarding requirements and how teachers promote the welfare of children
• Commitment to implementing whole school/staff policies relating to the safeguarding of children

We must be able to obtain satisfactory:

• Enhanced DBS
• Validated references
• Fitness for work
• Overseas police checks (where applicable)

REMUNERATION

This is a one-year placement, commencing at the end of August 2025. The salary is c. £15,300 per annum, paid in monthly instalments over that period. The successful applicant will be provided with accommodation in either a one room flat or with their own room in a shared dwelling free of charge and including utilities. Laundry and, while on duty, meals in the Dining Hall or Common Room will be provided free of charge during term time only.