Senior Activity Leader, Whitgift Summer School

Whitgift; Croydon; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent school in Croydon seeks Senior Activity Leaders for its Summer School. Successful candidates will organize and lead activities, teach courses, and ensure the smooth operation of the program. Ideal applicants must have a degree, prior experience in activity leadership, and a passion for sport and performing arts. The role requires excellent teamwork, communication skills, and a commitment to safeguarding children, ensuring a safe environment during activities. Availability for the entire six-week period is preferred.

Qualifications

• Must have previous experience in organizing and supervising activities.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential.
• Ability to manage a team of activity staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead groups of students on trips.
• Teach academic courses and host social activities.
• Assist with student arrivals and departures.

Skills

Team management

Leadership

Communication

Motivation skills

Education

Degree level education

Job description

Whitgift is a leading independent day and boarding school for boys with approximately 1500 pupils including over 100 boarding pupils and flexi boarding pupils. It is set in an attractive 48-acre parkland site in South Croydon enjoying excellent links to London, Surrey and the south coast.

During the summer holidays Whitgift runs its own summer school for international students utilising all its fantastic facilities and modern boarding house. Whitgift Summer School with its innovative and exciting English language and academic courses along with activities that involve English‑speaking students is designed to appeal to girls and boys aged 11-17 from all over the world.

We are seeking to appoint a team of four Senior Activity Leaders who report to the Activity Manager to ensure the delivery of the full co‑curricular programme and assist with the daily organisation and running of the programme. Senior Activity Leaders will lead groups of students on trips, teach academies and host social activities with the assistance of Activity Leaders. Each Senior Activity Leader will be allocated one of the following areas of responsibility to coordinate throughout the summer:

• Creative Activities
• Sports
• Student Hosts & Day Students

Senior Activity Leaders will also be required to assist with student arrivals and departures, accompanying students to and from the airport.

Applicants must be educated to degree level and have previous experience in organising, supervising and leading activities within a summer camp or activity camp context. Applicants must be passionate about sport, performing arts, creative activities and/or outdoor education and be willing to work hard, lead by example and have the ability to manage a team of activity staff. Applicants with Sports Teaching or coaching qualifications (e.g. QTS in Sports or PE), equivalent in Music or Performing Arts, or a CELTA qualification (or equivalent) are particularly welcome to apply. The ability to motivate, lead, supervise and engage with staff and plan and deliver exciting activities for young learners is essential. Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential. The ability to work as part of a team is necessary.

Applicants must be able to present evidence of their right to work in the UK for the duration of the contract.

We welcome applications from all sectors of our community as we aspire to attract staff that match the social and cultural diversity of our student intake.

For further information and an online application form please visit the advert on the Schools vacancy page. Further information about the role and the skills required is available by selecting the Documents button at the top right of the advertisement. Click the green Apply button on the top right for the online application form.

The Summer School will run for six weeks and although applicants who have full availability throughout this period are prioritised, applications for shorter periods may be considered. Therefore, if you are unable to work for the entire 6 weeks please state this clearly within the additional information section of the application form and provide reasons.

We invite interested candidates to apply as soon as possible; applications will be reviewed on a daily basis and interviews may take place at any time. The vacancy may close earlier than the stated deadline if sufficient applications are received, so early submission is encouraged.

Closing Date

7 January 2026

Whitgift School (part of the John Whitgift Foundation) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening including checks with past employers, the Disclosure & Barring Service and online media checks (including personal professional and other online activities).

All roles within the school involve contact with children and are therefore classed as regulated activity. Child protection and safeguarding are the responsibility of everyone who works or volunteers in our school. All staff must be committed to providing a safe environment for children and supporting the school's safeguarding ethos.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants are required to declare all convictions and cautions even those that are spent unless they are protected under the DBS filtering rules to assess suitability to work with children. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to disclose information relevant to safeguarding prior to the interview.