AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 7 TO 18 IN THE HEART OF SURREY
Director of Sport
Information for prospective staff
AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 7 TO 18 IN THE HEART OF SURREY
Director of Sport
Information for prospective staff
was founded. We are proudly co-educational and have been since 1854, which was radical at the time, and we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with our forward-thinking, progressive approach.
We believe that if we can motivate pupils and staff to always give their best, the School will continue to grow and thrive. Community engagement and our impact on the world beyond our walls are at the forefront of everything we do at Freemen’s.
The School was founded in Brixton in 1854 to provide an education for the orphaned children of Freemen of the City of London before moving to the present site, Ashtead Park, in 1926. We have a magnificent site with modern buildings alongside the original Main House set in a stunning 57 acres of parkland. This idyllic setting further supports the wellbeing of our students and staff, as being here, in the park, makes coming to work a pleasure. It looks striking in every season and we are lucky to have a vast array of wildlife living in our woods.
Today, Freemen’s is an independent day and boarding school for students aged 7-18, with a strong ethos of community and service in accordance with the values on which the School
You can expect stellar exam results and academic excellence, but that’s not all. The focus within the School is on every individual finding a path which is appropriate for them, be that in the classroom, on a sports pitch or in one of the many co-curricular activities we encourage our young people to throw themselves into. Our mission is built upon four pillars of the Freemen’s education: pastoral support, House activities, academic achievement, and our varied co-curricular programme (including sport) to ensure every student realises their potential to be able to learn, lead and make a difference. Freemen’s is a place where students are keen to learn and eager to engage in the wider aspects of life at our School.
Teachers at Freemen's embody our principles for excellent classroom practice, offering innovative and forward-thinking approaches, enabling us to be a beacon of learning and teaching. We take risks in the pursuit of excellence by being brave and radical, willing to challenge the status quo. Through our 1-1 iPad programme, we aim to create discerning users of technology,
Our mission is to inspire our people to learn, to lead and to make a difference.
so that staff and students can thrive in the modern dynamic world. We do all of this, in an environment where staff feel supported, by investing in life-long learning through research-led enquiry and building learning communities. The emphasis in the Junior School is on Kindness, Honesty and Fun and the Senior School picks up that message with a pastoral programme that emphasizes the importance of a strong, supportive community in which every member, staff and student, feels respected, supported and valued. As a result, we are able to support our young people to successfully navigate the tests of life they face every day.
The School is one of four independent schools managed by the City of London Corporation (The City). The City provides financial support in the form of bursaries and scholarships. Other links with the City of London and the Livery Companies are strong, which presents opportunities for staff to attend events at Guildhall and elsewhere in the City, as well as the possibility of gaining the honour of the Freedom of the City of London.
Transport links are good; the School is a mile from Ashtead station with regular services to Epsom and London and south to Leatherhead and Guildford. The M25 junction 9 is a seven-minute drive from the School.
This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative, enthusiastic and inspirational leader of PE and Sport, to steer this impressive department into its next phase of development.
The Sports Department is thriving and busy, offering a wide range of PE, Games and co-curricular opportunities. We are proud of our broad and varied sports programme that puts pupils first. Our objective is to nurture students into better people through sport, enabling them to learn, lead and make a difference, whilst ensuring that when they leave us, they continue to participate in physical activity for life. We offer a programme that is competitive, but also with a focus on participation, catering for the variety of students under our care. We are extremely proud that 78% of pupils have represented the school in three or more competitive fixtures this academic year alone, which is a result of the breadth of opportunity, choice and student pathways that
we provide for every student. Fixtures take place at the weekend and in Games afternoons, during which the school students compete in County, Regional and National competitions across numerous sports.
Freemen’s is seeking a Director of Sport that is keen to move this vision forward, whilst ensuring that excellence and competitive opportunities continue to be provided at the top end. The Sports Department is growing and as we continue to expand our provision, we are keen that the department works closely with external organisations that will allow us to create stronger partnerships within the local community, allowing Freemen’s to further our sporting reach by creating positive relationships with external coaches, sporting venues and other providers. Part of this growth and development, will involve embedding our Pupil Athlete Support Scheme (P.A.S.S), within which programme our high-performance athletes are supported with the knowledge, understanding, lifestyle experiences and support structures to ensure they can perform and compete, whilst balancing their studies and other commitments.
The department consists of nine PE teachers and is led by a Director of Sport, Assistant Director of Sport, Head of Senior School Sport and Head of Junior School Sport. This strategic team
work closely to support all colleagues in the department to ensure that the quality of each sport remains competitive, and is performing in line with the School’s vision and aims. The department is well supported by an excellent number of coaching staff and members of the wider common room, all of whom make a significant contribution to sport at Freemen’s. Freemen’s boasts state of the art sports facilities with a large sports hall, a swimming pool (opened 2018), a modern strength and conditioning gym, a new all-weather pitch, two squash courts, a multi-activity room, four hard courts, a PE classroom and a large number of on-site sports fields accommodating for rugby, football, athletics and cricket.
The PE curriculum is diverse and progressive. At key stage 2 students focus on fundamental movement skills, physical literacy and swimming. In key stage 3 and above, pupils take part in a broad range of sports and activities that typically change every four weeks. Through the delivery of these activities, the department also focuses on developing students’ character traits such as resilience, empathy, creativity, ambition, cooperation and many more. The department consistently achieves excellent academic results at both GCSE and A level. Currently, fifty students study academic PE across both key stages.
Each year group enjoys one Games afternoon a week. Boys’ main sports are football, rugby and cricket, whereas the girls enjoy hockey, netball and cricket. The provision for many other sports has increased in recent years, with boys being able to try hockey, with the girls competing in rugby/football. One of our passions is to break tradition and be forward looking with our approach to sport and the choice provided. This has led to the school playing fixtures in thirteen different sports across the school year.
Reporting to: Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation
Main Duties and Responsibilities
• Awareness of and compliance with all aspects of the School’s safeguarding policy. Staff will undergo initial and ongoing training and be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the students for whom they are responsible.
• Preparation and planning of lessons in accordance with departmental schemes of work.
• Demonstrating a range of teaching methods and keeping abreast of developments in their subject area; employing a range of teaching resources including the display of pupils’ work.
• Carrying out summative and formative assessment according to departmental and School policies. Recording assessment grades/reports etc. within deadlines set and keeping clear records.
• Setting and marking of class work, homework, examinations and coursework according to relevant School and departmental policies.
• Reporting to parents on progress at parents’ evenings or on reasonable request from parents.
• Recognition of the specific needs of each pupil and of classes. Setting an appropriately
challenging pace for lessons and adapting teaching methods to the needs of pupils.
• Establishing a structured learning environment conducive to learning and where pupils know that high standards are always required.
• Managing the classroom effectively with appropriate use of sanctions and rewards in accordance with departmental and School policies.
• Motivating pupils to learn and establishing a rapport with pupils conducive to learning.
• Attending departmental meetings and sharing departmental responsibility, including co-curricular support; attending staff meetings.
• Seek and undertake professional development to support individual, department and School development including School or departmental INSET, participation in the School Professional Review scheme; participation in induction arrangements.
• Commit to maintaining a good working knowledge of the School’s IT systems and practising excellent information security habits.
• Contributions to the wider life of the School including the duty and cover roster and a significant commitment to the co-curricular programme.
• Teaching staff are expected to support school events, such as assemblies; and attend those events as required by the Headmaster, including: Open Day, Prize-giving Ceremonies, Parents’ Evenings, INSET Days and the Entrance Examination days.
• Staff are expected to play a full role in the pastoral life of the school, including taking a Tutor Group.
• Staff should ensure prompt attendance within school contracted business hours.
• Staff should ensure they wear appropriate business dress or, where appropriate, co-curricular clothing.
• To develop and lead an integrated sports strategy, encompassing Senior School and Junior School PE and Games for boys and girls, curricular and co-curricular sport;
• To develop strategically, to lead and to inspire
the team of teaching staff (specialist and non-specialist) and coaches to embody and model those qualities required to promote excellence and maximise participation;
• To oversee a competitive and balanced sports fixtures programme;
• To work closely with the Director of External Relations to ensure that Sport is promoted as a primary asset for the School in developing and maintaining a positive image for the School amongst Prep schools and the wider community.
• To line manage all members of Senior and Junior School sports staff (including those responsible for delivering the academic curriculum) and assist them in their personal and professional development through the CLDP process and CPL programmes;
• To establish, monitor and maintain coaching best practice for each sport;
• In conjunction with the HR Department, to recruit and develop specialist coaching staff, ensuring appropriate training and professional development is in place;
• To encourage and nurture non-Games staff to support and contribute to the co-curricular sports programme of the School;
• To ensure that sports staff are efficiently deployed across the School;
• To implement effective communication and teamwork across the Senior School PE and Games Department and the Junior School.
• To co-ordinate a balanced programme of Sports Tours (domestic and overseas), taking account of wider School commitments and the financial expectations placed on parents.
• Work closely with the External Relations Department in all aspects of digital and non-digital media, to ensure the positive promotion of sport at Freemen’s;
• Oversee and monitor the relevant sections of the Freemen’s website and the use of Freemen’s sports-related Twitter accounts;
• Manage and oversee all necessary administration and ensure that relevant written polices and codes of practice are kept up-to-date and that staff are properly trained, informed and operating to these;
• Oversee Sports Reports in Assemblies, inter-House sports competitions, Sports Days and those events which celebrate student sporting achievement;
• Pay subscriptions to professional bodies, journals and for affiliations;
• Plan and manage the departmental budget within agreed limits;
• Liaise with other areas of the School administration including the Bursary, HR, catering and estates management as needed;
• Co-ordinate the awarding of Colours across all sports, in line with whole school policy.
• To ensure that a suitable programme of Games is provided for students in each age group;
• Each team has a full fixture list, including Saturdays and mid-week fixtures – playing other independent schools and local maintained schools, to ensure the highest calibre of fixtures throughout the age range;
• The fixture lists for each sport is produced by the required deadline and that the appropriate actions are taken when there are any changes;
• Appropriate transport is booked as required;
• All students wear the correct kit for each sporting activity;
• In conjunction with coaches/teachers, absences from games/training are monitored and followed up as appropriate.
• To oversee and support the PASS sports programme for students of all disciplines and encourage identified elite players at county, regional and national level;
• To facilitate knowledge of all staff involved in teaching sport of current practice in individual sports;
• To ensure a uniform approach to sports kit, match day clothing and the overall presentation of students and staff involved in sporting activities;
• To guarantee consistency of approach in all aspects of sport and match preparation in both coaching staff and students;
• To promote and act as a role model for fair play, good sportsmanship, good conduct and good appearance throughout School sport.
• On behalf of the Senior and Junior School, to provide a timetable of the facility usage for the School;
• To ensure that there is a programme in place to ensure that all sports equipment is properly maintained and regularly serviced;
• To liaise with the Head of Operations over maintenance of Sports facilities and liaise with the Head Grounds to ensure professional preparation of playing areas;
• To oversee the hiring of facilities as required and within agreed guidelines;
• To take responsibility for the management of sports clothing as required and authorise the purchase of new stock.
• To ensure all aspects of Health and Safety are fully understood and all procedures followed by staff and students;
• To liaise with First Aid to ensure correct processes are in place such that relevant sports staff are aware of student medical issues;
• To ensure that staff have undertaken relevant risk assessments and are aware of their obligations with regard to School polices.
• To liaise with the Director of External Relations to promote the achievements of individuals or teams and act as the main point of contact for press releases, the website and newsletters;
• To co-ordinate and oversee fixture, team and result information on the website in a timely fashion;
• To work with the School’s Partnership Officer to identify opportunities for community engagement;
• To engage with and support the City of London Corporation’s education strategy and to support across-School/Academy initiatives;
• To maintain strong links with the Old Freemen’s Association, organising sporting events as identified to further enhance and foster good relationships;
• To represent the School at relevant external conferences/meetings on sporting matters;
• To foster and maintain links with local clubs, universities and national bodies as appropriate to provide access to elite coaching and training opportunities.
• Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out their duties.
• Reporting all accidents to the City’s Incident Report Helpline, details of which are on Common Room noticeboards.
• Informing the COO of any concerns regarding Health & Safety and safe working practices.
• Teaching staff will read and act upon, or in accordance with, all the relevant school and departmental policies.
• Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Equal Opportunity Policy and the objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post.
• To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested appropriate to the grade.
• Carrying out the normal supervision duties as laid down in School policies
• Staff will uphold public trust in the profession and the reputation of the school by maintaining the highest standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school. They will show tolerance of and respect for the rights of others and not undermine Fundamental British Values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. They will ensure that their personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.
• Staff should demonstrate a passion for, and expertise in, their subject and use that to inspire the students whom them teach. They should hold a good honours degree in a relevant subject, ideally a 2.1 or higher.
• To either, hold QTS and demonstrate a track record of success, or possess the willingness and ability become a qualified teacher.
• Someone with an awareness of, and a commitment to, the needs of young people in a school setting; someone who shares the School’s commitment to promoting the welfare of and safeguarding children.
• An enthusiastic and dynamic teacher and leader, able to motivate and inspire pupils
and staff to achieve the highest standards.
• Someone who can build and maintain professional relationships, striking the right balance between formal and informal channels.
• Someone with good time management skills, able to cope with the demands and life of a busy leading independent school.
• An effective communicator.
• Someone with good digital skills and the ability to deal with the administrative routines.
• Someone who can demonstrate a love of learning and who seeks to develop their professional practice.
"This friendly, grounded and well-run school takes the pressure off getting academically bright young things into senior schools and seems to a knack of making challenging work seem fun."
The Good Schools Guide
Safeguarding
Staff will be kind, fair and respectful to students and each other, challenge others when they are unkind, unfair or disrespectful and have the highest regard for the students’ safety and their safeguarding duties, whether on or off the school premises.
Appearance
Smart professional dress, or appropriate co-curricular clothing, at all times.
Availability
Prompt attendance during the School’s operating hours and a commitment to completing School business is expected.
Awareness and use of Freemen’s policies
Staff will be able to access and use policies as necessary, and read and act upon them appropriately.
Behaviour
Staff will establish Freemen’s as a place of learning and will determine clear boundaries of behaviour, based on mutual respect and trust. Staff will have high expectations of students and will manage their behaviour effectively.
Collective responsibility
Staff share collective responsibility for Freemen’s standards, reputation and property, should treat them with respect and care, and insist others do likewise.
Communication
Staff will expect high standards of communication from students and will, in turn, demonstrate accurate, timely and appropriate communication when dealing with students, parents and colleagues.
Staff will uphold public trust in the profession and the reputation of Freemen’s by maintaining high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside School. They will be respectful and tolerant of the rights of others, including colleagues, and not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. They will ensure that their personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.
Staff will be leaders in the School, exercising good judgement and modelling the behaviour and habits that are expected of the students.
Staff will show and share a passion for their subject or discipline(s). They will seek to develop as professionals and as specialists, will be open to feedback and will seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and engage with relevant research.
Teaching staff will have a sense of where the lesson fits within the scheme of work and plan well-structured lessons using an appropriate range of pedagogies.
Staff will seek to use feedback for themselves and if appropriate, their students and will complete assessments and reports in a timely fashion in the appropriate manner and style.
Applicants should send a letter of application and a completed application form to the Headmaster via CLFS-Recruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk, by 4pm on Friday 19 May.
Shortlisted candidates will be called for interviews that will take place on Thursday 25 May, though candidates are asked to note that Freemen’s retains the right to interview and appoint at any time during the application process.
Candidates can expect to be interviewed by members of the Senior Leadership Team, meet members of the department and students, tour the school, teach a lesson, and discuss how they will help Freemen’s achieve its mission and aims. Depending on the post other tasks may also be required.
Freemen’s acknowledges receipt of all applications, if you have not received confirmation of the safe receipt of your application within two working days please call the School or email CLFS-Recruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk to check on its status.
The successful candidate must be able to satisfy the City of London’s health requirements and a confidential medical assessment by the City of London’s Medical Officer is required.
The City of London Freemen’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (Enhanced Disclosure).
The Good Schools Guide
"Friendly was the single most uttered word used to describe the school by students, while parents report that their offspring are happy. ‘Kind’ and ‘non-judgemental,’ we also heard, with support on tap."
City of London benefits:
Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS)
Contributory defined benefit
• CityBenefits - discounts and cashback.
• Wellbeing resources.
• Sponsorship to become a Freeman of the City of London.
Sports and Leisure:
Family friendly
Significantly enhanced maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement
• Discounted gym membership.
• Free use of the fitness suite.
• Staff social and sporting opportunities including pilates, yoga and five-a-side football.
Free lunch and refreshments
The option to join Supper Club at a subsidised rate
• Free staff swimming and weekend family swimming for staff.
Learning and Development:
Fee remission
Up to 50% fee remission subject to the normal entry requirements.
Cycle to work scheme
Up to £3,000 salary sacrifice
• Funding to obtain QTS/PGCE.
• Tailored CPD for all colleagues that includes a thriving internal CPD programme, as well as a range of external opportunities such as Masters and PhD support, Enquiring Teachers Programme and Chartered College qualifications.
Season Ticket Loan
Free parking on site
Access to on-site facilities
Wellbeing:
• Up to 2 days’ paid leave for volunteering.
• Cash back on private health care treatment.
• Access to on-site Medical Centre.
• Staff Wellbeing Committee.
• Confidential Employee Assistance for staff and their families.
• Emergencies-only approach to out of hours email.
"A down-to-earth, friendly school that’s comfortable in its own skin rather than relentlessly trying to show off its most polished side – and is all the better for it. Just the ticket for parents after a high-quality, stress-free route for their academically bright sons and daughters from age 7 right through to 18. Almost unique around here."
The Good Schools Guide