Fives Coach
- Job title: Fives Coach
- Job Type: Permanent, Part Time (20 hours per week, Michaelmas and Lent Terms only)
- Salary: Hourly rate dependent on experience and qualifications
- Department: Sport and Exercise (SpEx)
- Reporting to: Director of Sport
- Location: Highgate, North London
- Start: September 2024
- Closing Date: 20 May 2024 at 5:00 pm
Highgate is an academically selective, co-educational North London day school. We are looking to appoint a Fives Coach.
This is an exciting opportunity for a well-qualified practitioner to join our Sport and Exercise Department. The Sport and Exercise (SpEx) Department is vibrant and forward-thinking and has benefitted greatly from significant investment in both staff and facilities. We welcome applicants from a variety of backgrounds and experiences in sport and working with young people.
The position will commence in September 2024. The successful candidate will be expected to fully participate in the development of our fives programme, including midweek and weekend fixtures, training and tournaments.
The closing date for applications is Monday 20th May. Highgate School reserves the right to interview at any point in the process and therefore early applications are welcome.
Director of Sport Mario Noto would be happy to talk to any interested candidates about the role in advance of an application or interview. Please contact mario.noto@highgateschool.org.uk.
We look forward to receiving your application.
The Department
Sport and Exercise (‘SpEx’) at Highgate has a reputation for excellence and innovation in teaching and coaching. The department consists of over 35 colleagues, offering a broad range of activities from participation through to high performance pathways. Pupils are taught an exercise curriculum, planned to support their knowledge and understanding of athletic development, wellbeing and sporting options. Fixtures are organised for a wide range of sports, including a comprehensive Saturday fixture programme. Tours and trips are a regular feature of our offering, alongside showcase events, such as award evenings, conferences and intra-school competitions throughout the year. The department offers a range of opportunities for staff development, and we are keen to see staff grow in their roles and share their expertise with others.
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 newly re-built swimming pool, large sports hall, strength & conditioning suite and mezzanine hall. In addition, there is a dance and movement studio, squash and Eton Fives courts. The MSC managers and staff provide a significant programme of community use; they also support pupils’ activities within the Centre and provide administrative assistance. The school 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. There is also a multi-use games area which provides six cricket nets, three tennis courts, two netball courts and a hockey training facility.
Our vision for Sport and Exercise at Highgate:
- We want pupils to be active throughout their time at school and to develop a passion for sport and exercise that leads to their continued participation beyond school. This objective will be underpinned by a nurturing and safe culture that promotes fun, friendship and wellbeing.
- We want high level teams that perform competitively against our peer schools and a performance programme that supports talented individuals. Nevertheless, this will not be at the expense of an inclusive culture that supports all abilities.
- We want to promote choice and flexibility that lead to successful pathways, whilst also being mindful of the issues relating to affordability and consistency in the quality of provision.
THE ROLE
Highgate School is looking for a suitably experienced Fives Coach to join the School’s Sport & Exercise Department. The position involves the coaching and supervision of pupils across the Junior and Senior Schools in all aspects of Fives and at least one other sport. Part or full-time appointments will be considered, dependent on the sports coaching offering of the successful candidate. Sports coaches are responsible for the preparation and delivery of coaching sessions, as directed by Heads of Sport. You will be expected to prepare, manage and select squads and work closely with those managing curricular and extra-curricular programmes.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Curriculum Delivery
- Plan, coach and deliver lessons, from schemes of work set out by Heads of Section and the Head of Fives and other sports.
- Plan for the groups coached, both in relation to ability and pupil information available regarding individual needs.
- Review and reflect on lessons, reporting and offering feedback on lessons, groups and individuals, to Heads of Section and the Head of Fives.
- Contribute to the development of coaching plans and schemes, supporting the development of a Fives programme with clear objectives in the way Highgate plays.
Pupil Development
- Assist in ensuring through the Head of Fives, that there is clear guidance for pupils and parents/carers in Fives and other sports programmes. Support in developing and fostering a positive environment for all.
- Keep abreast of the latest research within youth development, including how other organisations are currently working to support player pathways.
- Develop opportunities with your lessons and sessions for groups and individuals to be supported, offer feedback and monitor improvement.
Staff Development
- All members of the SpEx team are asked to work in a variety of ways. Be prepared to lead, support and work collaboratively, to aid development for all staff, including yourself.
- Share lesson and session plan design, with other colleagues, alongside any recent literature, evidence or best practice you may come across through other organisations and channels.
- Personally reflect, review and appraise, offering feeback to be considered by your line manager, Heads of Section and the Head of Fives.
- Participate and contribute to INSET training for staff as required.
Competition
- Support the Head of Fives in relation to year-round planning for training, fixtures and tournaments.
- Work closely with the Head of Fives and other colleagues, to prepare and select squads, using school software to communicate selections, fixture and competition details.
- Support the Head of Netball in ensuring effective and positive communication regarding fixtures, across pupils, parents/carers and the teaching body of the School.
- Coach, officiate and manage fixtures and tournaments, as required across our extra-curricular programme, which includes an extensive Saturday fixture programme.
- Support intra school competition, which includes whole year group events in a number of activities.
- Support sports tours as required by the Director of Sport.
These responsibilities are intended as a guide. They are not exhaustive. Sports coaches are required to carry out other duties, within the post holder’s capabilities, as may be reasonably expected by the Director of Sport
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Qualifications and Experience
Essential:
- Level 2 coaching qualification, or currently undertaking/beginning level 2 qualification or equivalent
- Experience of coaching Fives successfully, including an understanding of current coaching practices and health and safety
- Experience of working with young people, between the ages of 11 to 18
- Experience of managing teams and fixtures/competitions, including refereeing
Desirable:
- Entry level officiating qualification
- Performance level coaching qualifications
- Personal experience of coaching or playing at a high standard
- Experience of working with young people, between the ages of 4 to 18
- Knowledge and Skills
Essential:
- Demonstrable experience of applying best practice sports coaching with children
- An up-to-date knowledge of evolving developments in Fives.
- The ability to blend wider SpEx departmental objectives with relevant pedagogical knowledge to design engaging and progressive lessons and sessions.
Desirable:
- Experience working at an independent school
- Experience of teaching/coaching other age-groups
- Personal Attributes
Essential:
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- The ability to foster effective working relationships both across the department and wider School, and with external professional organisations
- Energetic, approachable and personable to reflect an enjoyment of working with young people
- The ability to persuade and influence an organised and methodical approach to tasks
- A willingness to contribute to the future evolution of the SpEx programme
- Awareness and understanding of safeguarding and welfare of children
Benefits
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | The School pays the employer’s contribution to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
Support | A welcoming, comfortable and exceptionally well-resourced environment with significant assistance from a range of support staff.
Holidays | Terms are shorter than in the maintained sector.
Facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and new swimming pool. Staff can borrow from 1,700 books held in the Sir Martin Gilbert Library.
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: 20th May 2024
- Video Interviews: w/c 20th May
- In Person Interviews: w/c 3rd June
Contact: The Recruitment Team are 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. DBS Privacy Policies
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. DBS Code of Practice
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.