Director of Sport

As Director of Sport, you will be responsible for providing strategic leadership across all areas of sporting activity at the College; delivering a sports programme that allows Eton to compete with similar schools at all levels, whilst maintaining our core values of participation and enjoyment for all.

Due to the needs of the school and the department, we may interview suitable candidates before the closing date. This job may also close early if a large number of applications are received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid missing your chance to apply.

Benefits

Our staff are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

Working at Eton College comes with a wide range of benefits that recognise and reward our staff. These include a generous pension scheme with a 16% employer contribution (4.9% employee contribution), salary exchange for pensions and private healthcare, a confidential Employee Assistance Programme, and enhanced family‑friendly pay. Colleagues also benefit from a cycle to work scheme, subsidised lunches during term time, free or significantly discounted access to the College’s excellent sport and leisure facilities, and discounts with local retailers and businesses.

Main Duties

A VISION FOR ETON SPORT

You will

• work collaboratively to forge a clear vision for the future of all sporting activities at Eton;
• articulate that vision both internally and externally with clarity, vigour and enthusiasm;
• ensure that Eton sport is inclusive and provides opportunities for every boy at the right level;
• create the conditions for the top teams to thrive whilst remaining true to the school’s goal of providing opportunities for boys of all abilities to engage with the sports programme;
• act as an ambassador for Eton sport both locally and nationally, with a view to widening collaboration and partnership;
• promote our plans with potential donors and build enthusiasm for the future of Eton sport.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

You will

• oversee the school’s sporting programme;
• ensure that our safeguarding responsibilities are front and centre of all we do;
• manage risk in the school’s sporting programme, ensuring that risk assessments are carried out and updated in conjunction with the College’s health and safety officers;
• model excellence in coaching by coaching a school team in every term;
• lead the team of professional coaches and sports staff, both employed directly and as contractors;
• manage the school’s sporting facilities and directly line-manage the team responsible for staffing the facilities;
• line-manage and work closely with the Deputy Director of Sport to support the school’s programme of sport.

WIDER RESPONSIBILITIES

You will

• manage boys behaviour to ensure a positive and safe learning environment;
• treat boys with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect and observing boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position;
• tutor a group of boys, overseeing their academic progress and taking an interest in their wellbeing;
• accompany boys on visits away from the school as required;
• assist on a regular basis in a boarding house, supporting the House Master and getting to know the boys;
• take on a teaching timetable as appropriate to your experience;
• contribute to the staff duty rota and the school’s wider social programme.

CO-CURRICULAR

• contribute to the co-curricular life of the school;
• accompany students on visits away from the School, subject to risk assessment;
• actively contribute to the staff duty rota, such as supervising meal times and exam invigilating;
• contribute to the wider school social programme, including workshops, seminars, chapel services, competitions, trips, open days, and so on.

PASTORAL

• be committed to the safeguarding of all young people;
• manage behaviour effectively to ensure a positive and safe learning environment;
• treat pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position;
• tutor up to twelve pupils, (typically in groups of six) taking an interest in their academic progress and well-being;
• assist on a regular basis in a boarding house, supporting the House Master and getting to know all the students.

LOOKING OUTWARDS

You will

• advise on a sporting outreach programme that makes Eton’s facilities available to the local and the national sporting community, in accordance with the College’s charitable goals;
• liaise with the Admissions Department to organise and run events involving feeder prep-schools;
• develop opportunities for joint sports activities with girls’ schools;
• liaise with the Deputy Head (Partnerships) to ensure that Eton’s sporting facilities are used in accordance with our policies and charitable aims;
• advise on the design and delivery of a programme of sporting opportunities using the College’s resources to partner schools;
• liaise with local partners and play a role in developing sporting opportunities in the local area and ensuring that Eton has a voice in the deliberations of the local council and other organisations when these issues are discussed;
• assess the impact of our outreach activity in sport.

The Ideal Candidate

ABOUT YOU

You will

• be passionate about the role of sport in education, understanding how it can positively affect all pupils;
• have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with a wide range of people;
• be able to communicate with, enthuse and motivate both young people and a team of colleagues and have the credibility, through your own experience in sport, to speak with authority and confidence;
• be well organised and capable of managing a broad portfolio of tasks, giving due weight to each;
• be able to be both flexible and firm, and the judgement to know when each is required;
• be a positive, forward-looking and collaborative colleague;
• be excited to contribute whole-heartedly to all aspects of boarding school life;
• be committed to working within the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion;
• be committed to the safeguarding, welfare and wellbeing of young people;
• have a strong sense of ownership and professional accountability, with an understanding of when to consult and when to act;
• have sound judgement in managing sensitive and complex situations, and understand the value of clarity, care and flexibility when doing so.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

You will have

• an outstanding record of engagement and achievement in sports provision/ coaching at school and/or professional level;
• experience of leading and managing sports provision at a school level;
• experience of directly line-managing a team;
• an honours degree (2:1 or above) and the ability to teach a curriculum subject;
• prior experience of managing a budget and working to agreed deadlines;
• a demonstrable understanding of Safeguarding and Health and Safety requirements as they relate to school sport;
• a demonstrable commitment to your own professional development.
• A teaching qualification is desirable but not essential.

About The College

LIVING IN ETON

All members of our community are encouraged to participate fully in the life of the school and to enjoy the beautiful grounds and facilities. The school is part of the picturesque village of Eton with plenty of restaurants, pubs and coffee shops and is just over the bridge from the beautiful town of Windsor. Eton is a short walk from Windsor Riverside Station, with regular trains to Waterloo. Eton is only a short drive from Slough station with 17 minute train services to Paddington, along with the Elizabeth Line offering a direct line into central London. This makes it very commutable for those living in Eton. Proximity to Heathrow and the M4 and M25 mean that it is incredibly well connected and easy to get to.

THE ETON COMMUNITY

There is enormous collegiality at the school.

As one new teacher said

“This is my fourth school and I’ve never been made to feel so welcome”. Colleagues are also genuinely interested in the scholarship of their subject and enjoy a level of autonomy in their teaching that allows them to develop their own effective style.

We are an equal opportunities employer and are seeking applications from suitable candidates from all backgrounds. We are dedicated to creating and sustaining an environment that values individuality and difference and celebrates the diversity of both staff and pupils by fostering perseverance, tolerance and integrity. We believe in equal opportunity for everyone, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or socio-economic background.

DISCLOSURE CHECKS

Eton College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to, reference checks with past employers, an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (including Barred List information), an online search and, where applicable, Prohibition checks. If you are successful in your application, you will be required to complete a DBS Disclosure Application Form. Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with any guidance and/or Code of Practice published by the DBS. The College is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (including those which would normally be considered as “spent” under the Act) must be declared, subject to the DBS filtering rules. It is a criminal offence for any person who is barred from working with children to attempt to apply for a position at the College.

If you have any queries about the application process or any problem with submitting your application online, the Recruitment Team will be happy to help. Should you require any reasonable adjustments to be made or facilities provided to enable you to apply online, please do not hesitate to contact us on recruitment@etoncollege.org.uk so we can make adjustments accordingly.