Assistant Head of Sport (Secondary)

Job Title: Assistant Head of Sport (Secondary)

Department: Sport

Our Purpose at The Alice Smith School

According to the words of our school song: ‘Soon there were two, who were joined by a few’. Alice Smith started a movement with just two people. That single brave act sparked a positive chain reaction. She inspired other families to join her on her journey, creating a nurturing environment for generations of learners and a home away from home for thousands of families.

In that same vein, we keep the Alice Smith spirit alive by building a nurturing community that encourages our students to explore the world with courage, curiosity and compassion. 

To build a better world together.

Our purpose is embedded through our three strategic pillars:

Our People

We are a diverse collective of experts and curious minds, working together to push the boundaries of education to lead learning for an ever-changing world.

Our Students

We encourage students to explore different paths with courage and curiosity, in an environment that empowers them to make an impact as their best self.

Our World

We are a supportive, connected community that innovates, explores and learns together.

The Opportunity (Overview of the role)

The Assistant Head of Sport plays a leading role in supporting the Director of Sport (DoS) to create a strong professional culture based on interdisciplinary teamwork and lively professional dialogue. The Assistant Head of Sport provides professional leadership and management in areas delegated by the Director of Sport to ensure that programme staff work effectively as a team, that provision in the programme is of excellent quality, that resources are used effectively, that standards of learning and achievement are very high, that the team and programme are continually seeking to improve these standards, that creativity and innovation figure prominently in the team’s approach to learning and teaching, and a wide range of competitive local and regional fixtures are planned to take place throughout the school year.

Responsibilities/duties:

As a leading professional in education, the Assistant Head of Sport should be able to demonstrate that they are an effective leader and manager who challenges and supports all staff and students to do their best through:

•  Inspiring trust and confidence

•  Building team commitment with colleagues and students

•  Engaging and motivating staff and students

•  Analytical thinking

•  Positive action to improve the quality of students' experience

•  Adhere to the school's policies and procedures

Line Management Responsibilities:

The Assistant Head of Sport is responsible to a the Director of Sport and will support with designated areas of responsibility which may include:

• Leadership of delegated programme leads and sports coaches 

• Leadership of excellence in the sports programme 

• Leadership in celebration, achievement and progression 

• Leadership in the wider community 

Main Tasks:

• Inspire trust and confidence through their own practice and a positive, solution-focused approach to improve the quality of session delivery and sport provision

• The Assistant Head of Sport is proactive in their communication, supporting the Director of Sport to ensure communication around sports programmes, events and fixtures is conducted in a clear and timely manner

• Support a climate of high-quality professional dialogue, nurturing professional relationships, collaboration and supporting the professional growth of individuals and the team in general

• Assist the DoS in setting the professional learning direction to the team, identifying and accessing school-based and external Professional Learning opportunities and incorporating the learning from these into training and support

• Support internal and external staff working within the sports programme by ensuring they are provided with clear expectations, appropriate safeguarding training, channels of communication, resources and feedback

• Be proactive in monitoring performance and addressing concerns as and when they arise; in liaison with the DoS they clarify expectations, put support in place and set clear targets for improvement

• Support the DoS to Maintain an active overview of the health and safety of the physical learning environment and facilities, communicating with Maintenance and SLT where appropriate and risk assessing all events, fixtures and tournaments

• Models excellence in their own teaching and attitude towards professional growth, actively seeking out opportunities for pedagogical innovation, collaboration and the sharing of best practices within their team

• Support the DoS in ensuring the programme is well-resourced to meet the needs of all students. This includes preparing, presenting and negotiating the sports programme’s annual budget

• Work in partnership with the DoS and the Primary Head of Sport to support the arrangements for all SEASAC, FOBISIA and AIMS entries. This includes ensuring that teams are selected by fair and open criteria and that each team has a dedicated coach

• Support the organisation of local fixtures and tournaments

• Support the House Leader with the organisation of inter-house sports events as delegated by the DoS 

• Support the DoS to ensure that notice boards and SOCS are regularly updated for students for all sports fixtures (up-to-date team sheets, results and awards from fixtures; photographs any other relevant information regarding fixtures)

• Support the DoS in monitoring and improving students' engagement and performance within the Sport programme

• Celebrate student success through the school’s celebration and achievement structures

• Support the DoS to ensure the appropriate communication of all relevant information to parents regarding school sports fixtures and competitions including (selection letters, newsletter, match reports, future news, whole or part school presentations, phone calls and problem-solving) and that the parent code of conduct is in place

• Support school events and initiatives through attendance, active involvement and collaboration

• Uphold the reputation of the school and its standing in the community at all times

• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety regulations, reporting any concerns and taking appropriate action to maintain a safe environment

• Demonstrate professionalism, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous development.

• Adhere to the school's policies and procedures

All staff are responsible for ensuring that safeguarding is central to everything we do, adopting a whole-school approach. Please refer to the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy available on our website. 

Review 

Please read this job description in conjunction with the WS Teacher JD on which it builds and the KLASS Teachers’ Code of Professional Practice.

All staff are responsible for ensuring that safeguarding is central to everything we do, adopting a whole-school approach. Please refer to the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy for more information.

Safe Recruitment Practices:

As a school with a diverse collective of experts, we uphold recruitment protocols that adhere to the highest possible international standards. We conduct thorough pre-employment checks on candidate references and verify qualifications. If you require further information regarding the School's 'Pre-Appointment Checks,' please liaise with our People and Culture representative, as the process may vary for individuals of different nationalities.

We prioritise the careful scrutiny of checks as they are essential in ensuring a safe and secure environment for our students. By maintaining stringent recruitment practices, we aim to provide a nurturing and protected learning environment for all our students.

The duties and responsibilities of this post may vary from time to time according to the changing demands of the school. This job description may be reviewed at the reasonable discretion of the Head of School and school leadership in the light of those changing requirements and in consultation with the post holder.