Teacher of PE

Summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Teacher of PE to join the PE Department at St Helen and St Katharine. The starting date for this role will be January 2027 or April 2027.

Detail

This is an exciting opportunity for a talented and committed teacher to join a vibrant and successful department on a full-time basis from April 2027 (or January 2027 if available). This post would suit early career teachers (ECT). The School has outstanding sports facilities, having opened a Sports Centre in 2016.

The successful applicant must have the ability to coach one of the School’s major winter and one of the summer sports. A strength in Cricket would be beneficial. They will also be able to motivate students of all abilities and be thoroughly committed to a full and inclusive extracurricular programme. The post involves teaching across the age range from Year 3 to Year 13, as well as pastoral responsibilities within their allocated year group. The department offers GCSE and A Level PE.

All teaching staff are expected to contribute to the pastoral and enrichment programmes of the School. All staff share the responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the students, in accordance with the School’s safeguarding policies.

The department

There is a Director of Sport and five specialist PE Teachers in the department, whose mixture of experience and strengths complement each other well. In addition, the department includes a Head of Performance and Athletic Wellbeing, a Dance Teacher, numerous visiting sports coaches and a Sports Administrator. Co-curricular sport is supported extensively by the department and the external sports coaches. We provide an extensive fixtures and events programme across the range of sports with fixtures taking place after school and at the weekends. All members of the Department work together effectively as a team, supporting each other in achieving common goals and sharing expertise, resources and skills.

Facilities

The PE Department is based in our impressive Sports Centre, housing a six badminton court sports hall and indoor cricket net facility, fully equipped fitness suite, gymnasium, dance studio, ergo suite and group cycle studio. Outdoor space is extensive, including newly refurbished netball/tennis courts, football pitches and six lacrosse pitches.

Subject details/curriculum

PE and sport are integral to School life at St Helen’s. The department is busy, happy and vibrant, with large numbers of students participating daily. We strive to ensure that every student has the opportunity to find an activity that inspires her to achieve her potential, at whatever level that may be, developing a lifelong passion for sport and physical activity.

The core PE curriculum includes a range of options from traditional team games, gymnastics, swimming, dance, tennis, athletics, cricket, football, rugby and fitness, to climbing, bouncercise, yoga and group cycle. Students in Key Stages 2 and 3 follow a set curriculum in the major sports; in Key Stages 4 and 5, students access a broader curriculum via elective pathways. Events, courses, sports tours and other opportunities to develop leadership, friendship, resilience and wellbeing are extremely popular.

GCSE (AQA) and A Level PE (OCR) are both established subjects, taught by a range of staff within the Department.

All students have opportunities to compete in House competitions, inter-school fixtures and events, and in county and national events. In addition, students are encouraged to compete for county and national teams. Over 140 students compete at county level or above.

The Department has been ranked in the top 20 schools for sport in the country in 2026.

Key Responsibilities

St Helen and St Katharine values the highest level of professionalism in its teachers. It is expected that all teachers will display a high level of knowledge and understanding of their subject area and communicate this enthusiastically to students. Teachers should have high expectations of their students and be able to display evidence of planning, preparation and monitoring of progress. It is the responsibility of all teachers to create a stimulating and positive learning environment, and to employ a range of teaching strategies, thus enabling all students to fulfil their academic potential. They should inspire trust and confidence.

Specific responsibilities include:

Curriculum delivery

Planning, preparing and teaching the classes assigned to him/her, using a range of strategies for teaching and classroom management to ensure that individual learning needs are met.

Ensuring that marking of students’ work is both regular and thorough and that full records are kept.

To regularly monitor the progress of all students in their teaching groups, taking account of individual learning needs to have a positive impact on student progress.

Liaising with the Learning Support Coordinator on strategies to support the progress of students on the Learning Support register.

Keeping abreast of current thinking and development in the subject area(s).

Assisting the Director of Sport with the development of appropriate syllabuses, schemes of work and teaching styles.

Sharing resources and training materials with colleagues.

Contributing to departmental activities, e.g. enrichment work, clubs, societies and trips.

Taking responsibility for professional development and using the outcomes to improve teaching and learning.

Attending whole school INSET sessions.

Physical resources and safety

Meeting the health and safety requirements of the school.

Working with the other members of the department to ensure that all resources are well looked after and that departmental areas provide a stimulating environment for teaching.

Communication

Providing or contributing to oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual students.

Attending Parents’ Meetings.

Attending regular departmental meetings and full staff meetings.

Attending Open Day.

Pastoral and whole school support

Being a form tutor if required.

Contributing to the pastoral care and personal development of students.

Carrying out a share of supervisory duties in accordance with published schedules.

Ensuring that a register of attendance in lessons is kept and taking appropriate action in cases of student absence.

Supporting the ethos of the School through maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.

Attending assembly or chapel and whole school services.

Contributing to whole school activities, e.g. clubs, trips and tours.

The Person

Skills/abilities

Ability to motivate and inspire students across the age and ability range.

Ability to coach a major winter sport to a high level (Netball, Lacrosse, Football, Hockey).

Ability to coach a major summer sport to a high level (Athletics, Cricket or Tennis).

Ability to relate well to young people.

Ability to work well on a day to day basis in a supportive and collaborative manner as part of a departmental team.

Ability to contribute to the development and implementation of departmental policies and goals

Effective communication skills – oral and written.

Strong organisational skills.

Excellent teaching and classroom management skills.

Effective IT skills.

Experience, knowledge and qualifications

Excellent subject and curriculum knowledge up to and ideally including A level.

An awareness and understanding of the issues and current developments in teaching PE and Sport in schools.

An awareness and understanding of the issues and current developments in PE public examinations.

Qualifications and experience

A good honours or higher degree in a relevant discipline.

Ideally, qualified teaching status (QTS) or working towards QTS.

Personal attributes

Enthusiasm and passion for PE and Sport and the ability to convey this to students.

A willingness to take an appropriate share of departmental responsibilities and participate in trips and tours.

High levels of personal and professional integrity.

High degree of self-confidence, dynamism and personal warmth, to develop a good rapport with students, colleagues and parents.

High expectations for student attainment, personal development and conduct.

A full commitment to involvement in a co-curricular programme which meets the needs of all students, including Saturday fixtures.

A reflective practitioner; ability to self-appraise and manage continuous professional self-development.

A commitment to safeguarding our students in line with the School’s Safeguarding policies.

What we offer

Teachers are paid a salary that reflects their knowledge and experience. St Helen’s offers competitive salary levels and has its own salary scale which offers scope for pay progression.

This is a permanent, full-time Teacher of PE position to start in April 2027 (or January 2027 if available).

St Helen’s offers fee remission of up to 50% on tuition fees for children of staff members at the School from September 2026 (pro-rated for part-time staff).

Teachers may join a staff Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of 23.6% and default employee contribution of 7% of gross pensionable pay. Salary sacrifice is also available for pension contributions. Members of the Scheme will also receive Income Protection cover should they be unable to work due to long-term sickness or injury.

All staff are covered by a life assurance scheme, paying out three times annual salary in the event of their death whilst employed by the School.

A range of other staff benefits are available via external providers such as an Employee Assistance Programme, access to GP and dental advice lines amongst other services.

Teachers are entitled to take the normal School holidays.

The School currently operates a cycle to work scheme.

Employees are entitled to free lunches when the kitchens are operating.

There is free car parking on site.

Employees may use the fully equipped gymnasium/sports facility on site.

• How to apply

To apply for this position, please read the full job details in the candidate pack and submit a completed application. Applications should be submitted through MyNewTerm (via the 'Apply Now' tab) with a brief supporting letter addressed to Mrs Sarah Rollings, Head.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents

• Teacher of PE candidate pack PDF Document