Fencing Coach
- Job title: Fencing Coach
- Job Type: Permenant and Part Time
- Salary: £40 per hour
- Department: Mallinson Sports
- Reporting to: The Director of Sport & Exercise
- Location: Highgate, North London
- Start: ASAP
- Closing Date: 17 February 2023 at 9:00 am
Highgate School is looking for a British Fencing Level 2 qualified or similarly experienced Fencing Coach to join the School’s Sport & Exercise Department.
The position involves the coaching and supervision of Junior and Senior School in all aspects of fencing. The postholder will be responsible for the preparation and delivery of coaching sessions, preparation and selection of squads and managing squads at fixtures – where necessary.
The postholder will also be required to work closely with the teaching staff who manage the curriculum and extra-curricular programme.
The Department
SpEx is a pupil-centred programme which unlocks potential by exposing individuals to experiences and opportunities which guide them towards an outcome that they are invested in. Key to this is the unique way in which Sport and Exercise interact in each part of the programme. Specialist teachers and coaches are used to deliver SpEx at every stage and implement a curriculum which challenges every pupil.
Highgate has a long tradition of sporting success on which we wish to build. Excellent links are already established with local sports clubs, Haringey Borough and Middlesex County, and keenly contested House competitions are held in many sports, providing additional competitive opportunities for a significant number of pupils. A number of Senior School SpEx tours take place annually for all age groups.
Thirty-eight full and part-time SpEx staff are supported by over thirty academic teachers in delivering the SpEx programme. The department is based around the well-equipped Mallinson Sports Centre (MSC). It is adjacent to the playing fields, near the Junior and Pre-Preparatory schools and within a few minutes’ walk of the Senior school. The Centre comprises a large sports hall, cardiovascular training and weights room, swimming pool and mezzanine hall which contains the Fencing Salle. In addition, there is a dance and movement studio, squash and eight Eton fives courts. The Centre manager and staff provide a significant programme of community use; they also support pupils’ activities within the Centre and provide administrative assistance. The school also has twenty acres of playing fields, including an all-weather pitch, which can accommodate ten netball courts, a full-size hockey pitch, or twelve tennis courts. Additionally, there is multi-use games area which provides six cricket nets, three tennis courts, two netball courts, and a hockey training facility
Main Responsibilities
- Coaching as per agreed hours. The successful candidate will be proficient in the skills, techniques and tactics appropriate to the activity, age and experience of the pupils
- Working within curricular time the candidate would be able to: plan and lead session within a framework of a progressive programme; track pupil progress and liaise with the Directors of Sport and Exercise to ensure the highest standard of coaching is met
- A basic grounding in Health and Safety procedures, risk assessments and codes of conduct for pupils while taking part in the activity itself
- Caring for Fencing equipment and kit and organisation of the Fencing store cupboards
- Supervising students during changing and dispersal after the lesson, ensuring good behaviour and safe conduct
- Liaising with the Head of Senior School Sport, Lead Fencing Coach and other Teaching Staff and Coaches
- Contributing to the development of coaching plans appropriate to the activity, age and experience of the pupils
- Participate in and contribute to INSET training for staff as required
- Carry out such other duties within the post holder’s capabilities as may be reasonably requested from time to time
These duties and responsibilities are intended as a guide. They are not exhaustive. The Fencing Coach will be expected to undertake any reasonable task or responsibility as required by the Directors of Sport & Exercise.
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum 5 GCSEs or equivalent including Maths and English
- Minimum of BF Level 2 coaching qualification in Fencing
Desirable
- Additional sport coaching qualifications
- The ability to teach a wider range of sports
- First Aid qualification (successful candidates without a first aid qualification would be expected to successfully complete training during their probationary period)
- Experience
Essential
- Have a proper understanding of current coaching practices and Health and Safety
- Demonstrable experience working with young people between the ages of 11 to 18
- Experience administering the tasks that are required for an efficient and well -run team
Desirable
- Experience working at an independent school
- Personal experience of performing or coaching at a high level in Fencing
- Knowledge and experience of working in the British Fencing System
- Experience in managing teams, leading and running fixtures and umpiring
- Skills / Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to coach at primary or secondary school level
- Enjoy working with young children, be flexible and be quick to learn
- The ability to take direction and work well with others
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
Desirable
- The ability to teach a wider range of sports
- Ability to referee competitive matches up to U/18 level in a minimum of two weapons
- Personal Attributes
Essential
- Be a confident, well-motivated and presentable person who knows (or will quickly learn) how to behave as a member of the academic support staff and set an appropriate example to pupils of all ages
- Energetic and approachable with excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills
- Ability to build and maintain strong relationships
- Flexible with a ‘can-do’ approach and able to work effectively and use initiative without constant supervision
- A proactive approach to work, and meeting targets
- The ability to maintain in strictest confidence any information received concerning School matters
- A sense of humour
Benefits
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 21% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 11% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).
Holidays | Generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods.
Lunch | A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
Help with sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependant leave.
Working at Highgate
A culture of community, kindness and belonging
Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”
Staff wellbeing
Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Charitable work and sustainability
As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.
Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.
As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.
Application procedure
- Closing Date: 17th February 2023
- Timing of interviews: Tbc
Contact: George Neocleous, Head of Sports and Education is happy to answer any questions about this post.
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
Apply hereInclusion
We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
Safeguarding
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.
Please read before you apply
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.
Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview.
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.