Director Of Hockey

Teacheroo; St Andrews; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Potential residential duties

Job summary

St Leonards School in Scotland seeks a Director of Hockey to lead and develop the school’s hockey programme, cultivating an inclusive, ambitious environment for pupils of all abilities to participate, improve and represent the school.

The Director of Hockey sets the programme direction, leads coaching and works with the Director of Sport and staff to raise standards and participation, with both resident and non-resident arrangements possible.

Qualifications

• Experience coaching hockey with children or young people and the ability to develop players of different abilities.
• A relevant hockey coaching qualification, or equivalent coaching experience appropriate to the role.
• Sound technical and tactical knowledge, with the ability to plan purposeful sessions and develop a school hockey programme.
• The ability to lead and encourage colleagues, communicate clearly with pupils and parents, and work as part of a school sports team.
• Good organisation, reliability and a positive approach to pupil participation, development and wellbeing.
• Commitment to safeguarding and to meeting the School’s required recruitment checks and training requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead hockey programme within the School’s sporting priorities, agreeing achievable development objectives with the Director of Sport.
• Develop a coherent approach to hockey across age groups, with a clear progression from introductory participation to school team performance.
• Review the programme each season, using pupil participation, player progress, team development and feedback to identify practical improvements.
• Encourage enthusiasm for hockey and create a positive team culture based on effort, respect and sportsmanship.
• Plan and deliver engaging coaching sessions appropriate to pupils’ ages, experience and abilities.
• Set clear coaching principles and work with colleagues to ensure a consistent approach to technical skills, tactical understanding and player development.
• Guide and encourage staff involved in hockey, sharing session ideas and constructive coaching feedback.
• Identify pupils with potential and help them access suitable club or development opportunities, while maintaining opportunities for pupils who play for enjoyment.
• Lead team selection and preparation, applying a fair and transparent approach and communicating expectations clearly to pupils.
• Coach and attend agreed fixtures and competitions, reviewing performances to inform future training.
• Work with the Director of Sport and relevant staff on a suitable training and fixture programme, providing the hockey information needed for school administrative and transport arrangements.
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Sport, PE staff and other coaches to deliver the programme within agreed resources.
• Communicate constructively with pupils and parents about hockey participation, progress and team expectations, referring wider pastoral matters to the appropriate school staff.
• Maintain useful links with local clubs and relevant hockey organisations to improve playing and development opportunities.
• Follow school safeguarding and health and safety procedures, ensure sessions are appropriately supervised and report welfare, injury or equipment concerns promptly.

Skills

Coaching hockey

Coaching qualification

Technical knowledge

Team leadership

Organisational skills

Safeguarding commitment

Education

Hockey coaching qualification

Tools

First aid qualification

Job description

Package Description

Director of Hockey

Responsible to: Director of Sports.

Salary: Competitive

Appointment: Resident or non-resident

Hours of work: Full time - As agreed on appointment, including attendance at scheduled training and fixtures, with some evenings and weekends. Fixed Term until end of academic term 26/27.

About St Leonards Hockey.

Lead and develop the School’s hockey programme, creating an enjoyable and ambitious environment in which pupils of different abilities can participate, improve and represent the School.

The Director of Hockey sets the direction for the programme, leads coaching and works with the Director of Sport and coaching staff to raise standards and strengthen participation.

Resident and non resident arrangements

The role may be held on a resident or non-resident basis. The core hockey responsibilities apply to both arrangements. For a resident appointment, any accommodation arrangements and additional boarding or pastoral duties will be agreed separately and set out in the appointment terms.

For a non-resident appointment, attendance will follow the agreed coaching and fixture commitments.

Key Responsibilities

Programme leadership and development

• Lead the hockey programme within the School’s wider sporting priorities, agreeing achievable development objectives with the Director of Sport.
• Develop a coherent approach to hockey across age groups, with a clear progression from introductory participation to school team performance.
• Review the programme each season, using pupil participation, player progress, team development and feedback to identify practical improvements.
• Encourage enthusiasm for hockey and create a positive team culture based on effort, respect and sportsmanship.

Coaching and player development

• Plan and deliver engaging coaching sessions appropriate to pupils’ ages, experience and abilities.
• Set clear coaching principles and work with colleagues to ensure a consistent approach to technical skills, tactical understanding and player development.
• Guide and encourage staff involved in hockey, sharing session ideas and constructive coaching feedback.
• Identify pupils with potential and help them access suitable club or development opportunities, while maintaining opportunities for pupils who play for enjoyment.

Teams and fixtures

• Lead team selection and preparation, applying a fair and transparent approach and communicating expectations clearly to pupils.
• Coach and attend agreed fixtures and competitions, reviewing performances to inform future training.
• Work with the Director of Sport and relevant staff on a suitable training and fixture programme, providing the hockey information needed for school administrative and transport arrangements.

Working relationships and pupil welfare

• Work collaboratively with the Director of Sport, PE staff and other coaches to deliver the programme within agreed resources.
• Communicate constructively with pupils and parents about hockey participation, progress and team expectations, referring wider pastoral matters to the appropriate school staff.
• Maintain useful links with local clubs and relevant hockey organisations to improve playing and development opportunities.
• Follow school safeguarding and health and safety procedures, ensure sessions are appropriately supervised and report welfare, injury or equipment concerns promptly.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to shape and lead hockey programming at both St Leonards School
• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• Potential residential duties within school boarding house
• A supportive, passionate team environment with a shared focus on player development and club success.
• Access to resources and facilities at St Leonards School.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and duties. It is expected that the post-holder will participate in other reasonable activities which may be required to meet the needs of the School or for better fulfilment of the role.

All post holders will be required to be accepted for membership of the Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

All successful applicants will be required to undertake a Criminal Record check and either hold or be accepted for membership of the Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

Person specification

Essential

• Experience coaching hockey with children or young people and the ability to develop players of different abilities.
• A relevant hockey coaching qualification, or equivalent coaching experience appropriate to the role.
• Sound technical and tactical knowledge, with the ability to plan purposeful sessions and develop a school hockey programme.
• The ability to lead and encourage colleagues, communicate clearly with pupils and parents, and work as part of a school sports team.
• Good organisation, reliability and a positive approach to pupil participation, development and wellbeing.
• Commitment to safeguarding and to meeting the School’s required recruitment checks and training requirements.

Desirable

• Experience leading a school, junior or club hockey programme.
• Experience supporting other coaches and developing links with clubs or player pathways.
• A current first aid qualification.
• For a resident appointment, experience of boarding or pastoral work with young people.

About St Leonards

St Leonards is a friendly and forward-looking independent, coeducational, boarding and day school situated on an historic campus at the heart of the university town of St Andrews. The school enjoys an unrivalled location - there are sandy beaches, world-class Links golf courses, and historic sites on its doorstep.

St Leonards delivers the inspiring, globally-recognised International Baccalaureate curriculum (which has been praised by university admissions officers for its focus on deepening learning learning, offering wider subject options, and enriching minds) for pupils aged five to 18, and was the first school to be accredited as an all-through IB school in Scotland. It is one of just two schools in the UK to actively offer all four IB programmes, ensuring a seamless learner journey. The youngest pupils follow the Primary Years Programme, which goes hand-in-hand with the vibrant Outdoor Learning programme at St Leonards. This is followed by the Middle Years Programme and (I)GCSEs. In the Sixth Form, pupils choose between the Career-related Programme and the Diploma Programme.

St Leonards enjoys a rich sporting heritage, and continues to boast a strong record of achievement with pupils representing the school nationally in golf, rugby, lacrosse, hockey, horse riding, and small-bore rifle shooting. The leading five-tier Golf Programme continues to go from strength to strength, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is the fastest growing of all Scottish independent schools, and an exciting calendar of trips and activities ensures pupils leave St Leonards equipped with the skills required to succeed in today’s ever-changing world. Truly an education ‘Ad Vitam’ (for life).