Head of Cricket
- Job title: Head of Cricket
- Job Type: Full-time, permanent
- Salary: Highgate School has it's own competitive salary scale
- Department: Sports and Exercise
- Reporting to: Director of Sport
- Location: Highgate, North London
- Start: January or April 2024
- Closing Date: 4 December 2023 at 8:00 am
This is an exciting opportunity to join our Sport and Exercise Department as Head of Cricket across Highgate School, from either January or April 2024. The successful candidate will lead on the management and development of the cricket programme for boys and girls, from participation to elite level. The role will involve designing an innovative programme, which will require liaison with local clubs, county programmes and Old Cholmeleians. The remit will also include input into future facility development, supporting our overall cricket provision.
Cricket is an extremely popular sports choice at Highgate. The Head of Cricket will be expected to design and implement a long-term strategy, that has whole school oversight and inspires our pupils and staff. We are seeking an experienced and well qualified professional, with the desire to have a real impact. The Head of Cricket will also be expected to coach and manage teams in other sports through the Michaelmas and Lent terms.
Highgate school is anticipating interest in the role both from teachers and from cricket coaches. Please note that the terms of employment will vary depending on whether you are appointed as a Full time teacher and Head of Cricket or as a Sports Coach and Head of Cricket.
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 ROLE
The Head of Cricket will be responsible for implementing the cricket programme across the whole school, acting as a pedagogical expert in coaching and developing youth cricket. The development plan for cricket will include supporting colleagues, improving their knowledge and coaching. Liaising with the SpEx Management Team, the Head of Cricket will review the current offering at Highgate and create a long-term strategy to take cricket at Highgate to the next level in terms of participation, performance and enjoyment.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Curriculum Development
- Lead on the review, development, delivery and management of the Senior School curricular and extra-curricular cricket programmes (Year 7 to Year 13), promoting the vision and aims of Sport and Exercise at Highgate.
- Support Pre-Prep and Junior School Heads of Sport and Exercise in curriculum development. This will be in relation to cricket, hand-eye skills and striking and fielding games.
- Maintain a knowledge of relevant curricular developments in youth sport and apply these appropriately to the evolution of the cricket programme.
- Design the cricket curriculum ensuring clear pupil outcomes, progression and parity of experience.
- Produce a curricular overview from which staff can design individual lessons and sessions.
Pupil Development
- Ensure clear guidance for pupils and parents in cricket, regarding fixtures, lessons, training and selection. Develop and foster a culture of willingness to support each other, officials and the school.
- Keep abreast of developments within youth cricket including how other organisations are currently working and player pathways.
- Develop opportunities for small group sessions, for the improvement of high-performance players and school teams.
- Build on the progress made with the girls’ cricket programme, with particular focus on how the girls’ programme is embedded into our overall fixture and facility planning.
- Support the long-term athlete development of those involved in the cricket programme and identify key athletic development areas required in cricket at Highgate.
Staff Development
- Develop and present to colleagues a clear vision of the way cricket should be played at Highgate.
- Ensure all colleagues understand the agreed aims and objectives for the development of cricket and work to promote our ethos and values to pupils, parents and fellow colleagues.
- Work with the Head of Senior School Sport to oversee cricket staffing for teams, sports afternoons, fixtures and practices to ensure the smooth operation of curricular and extra-curricular programmes.
- Oversee session plan design, supporting colleagues with recent developments in coaching and officiating.
- Review, appraise and consider the needs of colleagues, supporting with internal professional development and suggestions for external courses.
- Plan and lead regular cricket staff meetings to update colleagues and receive feedback, which will, in turn, support the development of the programme.
Competition
- Liaise with the Head of Senior School Sport to develop a progressive and challenging fixture programme for boys and girls which will form a major pillar of the long-term strategy for cricket. Provide appropriate and competitive opportunities for midweek and weekend fixtures for boys and girls at a range of ability levels, as outlined by the Director of Sport and Exercise.
- Plan for and implement effective pre-season training and coaching, to support cricket performance during a busy summer term.
- Manage the cricket sport pathway, ensuring parity of experience and access for all pupils.
- Retain oversight of pupil opportunities, at all levels of ability for both inter and intra-school cricket.
- Foster effective relationships with key organisations to ensure Highgate’s representation in competitive youth sport.
- Maintain oversight of all logistics associated with cricket, working closely with the Head Groundsman, the Old Cholmeleians and staff leaders in cricket at opposition schools.
- Organise Inter-House/Inter-Form Competitions and Highgate tournaments, where deemed appropriate.
- Support the Head of Senior School Sport in attending, reviewing and implementing sports tours.
Management
- Ensure all colleagues are keeping lesson, training and fixture registers, including attaining important pupil information, for groups in their care.
- Co-ordinate risk assessments with the Head of Senior School Sport and ensure lessons and sessions are taught/coached in a safe environment, taking into account the individual needs of pupils.
The role will be carried out in addition to the post holder’s existing teaching/coaching position, with the appropriate timetable reductions. If the post holder is employed as a teacher they will be required to meet any additional expectations required for a full-time member of staff in the Senior School.
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum 5 GCSEs or equivalent including Maths and English
- Level 2 coaching qualification or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Additional coaching qualifications
- 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
- Demonstrable experience coaching pupils from ages 4 to 18, managing teams, leading and running fixtures
- Have a proper understanding of current coaching practices and Health and Safety
Desirable
- Experience working at an independent school
- Knowledge of safeguarding procedures
- Ability / Skills
Essential
- Have a proper understanding of current coaching practices and Health and Safety
- Demonstrable experience working with young people between the ages of 4 to 18
- Experience in managing teams, leading and running fixtures and umpiring
- 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
- Knowledge and experience of working in the England Hockey Single System
- 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
Support | A welcoming, comfortable and exceptionally well-resourced environment with significant assistance from a range of support staff.
Pension | If employed as a teacher the School pays the employer’s contribution to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. If employed as a coach (support staff) an 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%.
Professional development | Comprehensive induction. Focus on continued learning and development for all employees.
Holidays | If employed as a teacher, terms are shorter than in the maintained sector. If employed as a coach, (support staff) generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods. (if employed as a coach)
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
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 | Free tea and coffee A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
Sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Flexible working | Flexibility for parents, enhanced maternity 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: 4th December 2023
- Interview date : To be confirmed
Contact: For further information about the role, please email Mr Mario Noto (Director of SpEx) or Paul Bolton (Deputy Director of SpEx) on mario.noto@highgateschool.org.uk or paul.bolton@highgateschool.org.uk. For further information about the terms of employment, please email recruitment@highgateschool.org.uk
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
Inclusion
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 KCSIE 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 Policy
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.