Head of Physical Education

St James Exeter; Exeter; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

St James Exeter is seeking a senior PE leader to drive curriculum design and standards across the department. The role includes coaching, line managing PE teachers, and aligning teaching with our Great Teaching model to raise attainment for all students.

You will collaborate with trust leaders, deliver CPD, and ensure rigorous assessment practices while safeguarding SEND and pupil premium outcomes. This is a senior school leadership position within our Exeter trust.

Skills

Curriculum leadership

Teacher coaching

Line management

Stakeholder collaboration

Data-driven assessment

Job description

Line Manager: Senior Assistant Headteacher

Key responsibilities

1. 1. Lead the enactment of our ambitious curriculum so that it meets the needs of all students.
2. 2. Support the delivery of great teaching within the department through coaching and supporting the team with lesson preparation.
3. 3. Raise student attainment and progress in PE (sports studies and health and social care vocational qualifications) and ensure all students achieve excellent outcomes (P8 and A8), especially children with SEND and those entitled to the pupil premium.
4. 4. Line manage PE teachers.
5. 5. Collaborate and network with trust leaders to raise standards at St James and across the trust.
6. 6. Deliver lessons in line with your lesson preparation and our model for Great Teaching at St James.
7. 7. Regularly assess your students to improve progress.
8. 8. Meet all elements of our St James teacher job description.
9. 1. Lead the enactment of our ambitious curriculum so that it meets the needs of all students.
   • a. Articulate and promote a clear vision for the PE curriculum’s design and its enactment.
   • b. Quality-assure curriculum enactment across all teachers of PE.
   • c. Create consistency in the way teachers articulate our curriculum rationale.
   • d. Support teachers of PE in their lesson preparation so all students make great progress.
   • e. Be outward facing to find schools who are doing it better so that we can do it better.
   • f. Ensure our curriculum embodies our four pillars.
   • g. Ensure that our common curriculum and shared resources support the reduction of teacher workload.
10. 2. Support the delivery of great teaching within the department through coaching and supporting the team with lesson preparation.
    • a. Coach PE teachers supported by The St James Standard.
    • b. Log coaching on Step-Lab.
    • c. Carry out lesson drop-ins and shout‑outs to support and celebrate great teaching.
    • d. Support teachers with lesson preparation so that lessons are equitable whilst meeting the needs of all students, especially those with SEND and those entitled to the pupil premium.
    • e. Arrange and delivery CPD for PE teachers and all school staff.
11. 3. Raise student attainment and progress in PE.
    • a. Evaluate the PE department’s performance to identify areas of high leverage improvement.
    • b. Create a culture where students and staff know the areas for development that will take students to the next grade.
    • c. Identify and remove (or overcome) the barriers facing children with SEND and those entitled to the pupil premium.
    • d. Curate a culture where we help students keep their ambition and aspirations high, especially in the face of adversity.
12. 4. Line manage PE teachers.
    • a. Understand the roles and responsibilities of your direct reports.
    • b. Care personally for and challenge directly the staff who you line manage.
    • c. Delegate tasks.
    • d. Follow the rhythm of the year and timeline key communication.
    • e. Lead appraisal across the PE department.
    • f. Provide CPD opportunities for your direct reports.
13. 5. Collaborate and network with other trust leaders to raise standards at St James and across the trust.
    • a. Narrate the successes of our children and our staff.
    • b. Be ambitious, kind and curious in your work with trust colleagues.
    • c. Be generous in sharing great practice and humble in receiving the same from colleagues.
    • d. Attend trust network meetings, collaborating positively.
14. 6. Deliver lessons in line with your lesson preparation and our model for Great Teaching at St James.
    • a. Model great teaching in your classroom using the strategies in our St James Standard
    • b. Articulate and promote our St James Standard so that all students thrive through its implementation.
    • c. Engage with deliberate practice of our St James Standard
15. 7. Regularly assess your students to improve progress.
    • a. Prepare for assessment in the checking for understanding section of your lesson preparation.
    • b. Utilise a range of formative assessment methods in class and practise these.
    • c. Engage with our cycle structure, ensuring all assessments are completed in line with the long‑term plan and marked against the agreed mark scheme.
    • d. Ensure all assessment marking and data entry is completed on time.e. Identify areas for development for all children and create personalised plans for KS4 students