THE ROLE

The Head of Hockey will be responsible for implementing the hockey programme across the whole school, acting as a pedagogical expert in coaching and developing youth hockey.  The development plan for hockey will include supporting colleagues, improving their knowledge and coaching. The Head of Hockey will liaise with the Deputy Director of SpEx (Sport) and SpEx leadership team to review the current offering at Highgate and create a long-term strategy to take hockey at Highgate to the next level in terms of participation, enjoyment and performance.

Curriculum Development

• Lead on the review, development, delivery and management of the Senior School curricular and extra-curricular hockey 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 hockey and invasion games.
• Maintain a knowledge of relevant curricular developments in youth sport and apply these appropriately to the evolution of the hockey programme.
• Design the hockey framework to ensure clear pupil development, progression, outcomes and parity of experience across the foundation.
• Produce a curricular overview from which staff can design individual lessons and sessions.

Pupil Development

• Develop a culture and passion for hockey through the foundation phase, building on this in the Senior School to ensure growth of the programme.
• Ensure clear guidance for pupils and parents in hockey, 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 hockey including how other organisations are currently working and player pathways.
• Build on the progress made with both girls’ and boys’ hockey programme, with particular focus on developing skills, participation and embedded programme into our overall fixture and facility planning.
• Support the long-term athlete development of those involved in the hockey programme and identify key athletic development areas required in hockey at Highgate.

Staff Development

• Develop and present to colleagues a clear vision of the way hockey should be played at Highgate.
• Ensure all colleagues understand the agreed aims and objectives for the development of hockey and work to promote our ethos and values to pupils, parents and fellow colleagues.
• Work with the Deputy Director of SpEx (Sport) to oversee hockey 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 hockey 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 hockey. 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 hockey performance during the Michaelmas and Lent term.
• Manage the hockey 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 hockey.
• Foster effective relationships with key organisations to ensure Highgate’s representation in competitive youth sport.
• Maintain oversight of all logistics associated with hockey, working closely with the Head Groundsman, the Old Cholmeleians and staff leaders in hockey 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 planning lessons, training sessions and preparing appropriately for fixture, including attaining important pupil information, for groups in their care.
• Co-ordinate risk assessments with the Deputy Director of Sport & Exercise (Sport) and ensure lessons and sessions are taught/coached in a safe environment, taking into account the individual needs of pupils.

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

  • Minimum Level 2 coaching qualification or equivalent relevant experience
  • Experience of coaching Hockey 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 leading a Hockey programme, including managing teams, fixtures and competitions.

  Desirable

  • Entry level officiating qualification
  • Performance level coaching qualifications
  • Personal experience of coaching or playing at a high standard
  • Knowledge and experience of working within Hockey player pathways
  • Experience of working with young people, between the ages of 4 to 11
• Knowledge and Skills

• Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of applying best practice sports coaching with children
  • An up-to-date knowledge of evolving developments in Hockey
  • The ability to blend wider SpEx departmental objectives with relevant pedagogical knowledge to design engaging and progressive lessons and sessions
  • Awareness and understanding of safeguarding and welfare of children

  Desirable

  • Experience working at an independent school
  • The ability to support the school coaching/managing teams in one of our Summer sports
• 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
• Personal Qualities

• Highgate School seeks to appoint employees who will have, in addition to the professional qualities outlined below, the following proven personal qualities, or the potential to develop them. At interview, candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate or give an account of these attributes.

  • Profound and continuing interest in the sport to be coached.
  • The depth of knowledge and agility of mind to allow flexibility in lessons, adapting delivery as appropriate in the light of pupils’ responses.
  • Empathy with pupils across the age and ability spectrum at Highgate and the ability to implement a range of coaching strategies to cater for each individual pupil.
  • Capacity to deal sensitively with problems raised by pupils, in line with Highgate’s pastoral policies and sanctions system, working in partnership with Highgate’s designated staff i/c pastoral care.
  • Ability to create effective rapport and a sound relationship with pupils, earning their respect and trust but maintaining proper professional boundaries by not deliberately courting popularity or friendship.
  • Dynamism and enthusiasm to contribute broadly to the life of a busy a SpEx Department.
  • Capacity for industry and initiative in both independent work and as part of teams of colleagues.
  • Awareness and understanding of matters relating to the personal, social, health and emotional development of pupils.
  • Willingness and ability to liaise effectively and professionally between pupils, staff and parents when required, making accurate records of these exchanges.
  • Patience and thoughtfulness to see any issues that may arise with pupils, parents or colleagues from a variety of perspectives.
  • The ability to defuse difficult situations using different strategies such as careful listening, sensitive use of humour, praise and recognition where due, utilising the School’s reward system.
  • Retention of a sense of perspective and, on occasion, the invaluable ability to laugh at oneself.