Head of Netball

Reports to: Head of Major Games

Salary: £27,500 - £35,000 per annum depending on experience

Start date: 25th August 2026

Application Deadline: 8th May 2026

Culford School reserves the right to appoint early should a suitable candidate be identified.

Working hours: Be available to work all school hours as directed during the evenings, on Saturdays and before school.

Job purpose: The purpose of this role is to ensure that every pupil at Culford School has a positive netball and sports experience and develops a life-long love of sport. The Head of Netball will also ensure that pathways to excellence are in place to support and stretch higher performing athletes. In addition, the person in this role will enhance the quality of all netball and sports coaching taking place at Culford School (a skill set with hockey and cricket is desirable) to further the reputation of the School and increase recruitment and retention of netball-playing pupils.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide a clear vision for netball at Culford School.
• Develop and deliver strategic short and long-term objectives aligned with the wider sports strategy set by the Director of Sport.
• Lead and develop high-quality netball coaching across the school, including the planning and delivery of performance and participation sessions for individuals, small groups, and teams.
• Design and implement a comprehensive fixture programme, including pre-season preparation and, where appropriate, tours.

Management:

• Direct and liaise with the Administration Assistant in the management of parent and pupil communication, team sheets, fixtures, transport booking and catering requirements.
• Allocate netball staffing in liaison with the Head of Prep and Senior sport and manage staff in relation to training, activities and fixtures.
• Conduct, where appropriate, staff CPD and evaluations to maintain the highest possible coaching standard.
• Support recruitment of specialist full- and part-time netball coaching and support staff.
• Effectively manage the netball budget, including short- and long-term planning for the development of equipment and facilities.
• Ensure all equipment and kit are up to the expected standard.
• Ensure there is a coherent work programme for netball delivery.
• Attend parents’ evenings as required.
• Provide social media information to marketing as needed.
• Liaison with house staff and tutors regarding any pastoral needs of the pupils.
• Reporting any safeguarding issues to the DSL.
• Manage the delivery of the individual netball programme.

Long-Term Athlete Development Programme:

• Develop, implement, and support a Long-Term Athlete Development Programme (LTADP), adopting a holistic approach to athlete development, including multi-sport opportunities and integrated support services such as Strength and Conditioning and Sports Psychology.
• Identify and attract talented players within Prep School netball, fostering their development through a structured pathway to ensure progression into Senior School.
• Create and facilitate year-round netball opportunities for high-performing athletes, including supporting participation in external training programmes and competitions where appropriate.
• Establish and strengthen club links and local partnerships, including relationships with feeder schools, to support player development and recruitment.
• Identify high-performing school players who would benefit from exposure to club and/or county netball, while also recognising potential new pupils within club environments.
• Contribute, where possible, to county netball programmes across Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire, including involvement in player pathway development, reporting, and evaluation.
• Complete individual, team, and match reports as required, and oversee the consistency and quality of reporting across the netball staff team.
• Support high-performing and scholarship athletes through detailed, individualised player evaluations, aligned with club and county assessment frameworks.

Retention and Recruitment:

• Be active in supporting the retention and recruitment of pupils through the School’s scholarship and admission processes.
• Be active in engaging with and recruiting potential pupils within the local netball area, through both Club and County systems.

Fixtures:

• Ensure all fixtures are arranged in accordance with school policy and recorded on the central fixture document in a timely manner.
• Ensure the school teams are named in line with all other major games at the school.
• Source netball umpires and follow the schools recruitment guidelines when doing so.
• Ensure results are posted on SOCS within 24 hours of the fixtures completion.
• Create a fixture card that is relevant to our playing level to ensure an enjoyable competitive experience.

Communication & Reporting:

• Respond in a timely fashion (within 48 hours) to all communications from line managers, staff and parents.
• Meet on a weekly or bi-weekly basis with your assigned line manager.
• Ensure that deadlines are hit for writing of pupil reports for senior and prep school.

Coaching and Trips:

• Deliver coaching in other sports as requested by the Head of Senior of Prep sport during the Autumn and Summer terms particularly.
• Deliver netball academy sessions 1-2 evenings per week, based on the strategic needs of the programme.
• Deliver netball individual programme sessions as directed by the Heads of Sport.
• Deliver curriculum and activity based netball coaching for all age groups.
• Deliver netball pre-season as agreed with the Heads of Sport.
• Offer netball touring opportunities for the senior school pupils and mini tours for prep school pupils as agreed with the heads of sport.
• Staying up to date with research and methodology around teaching and coaching and delivering fun and engaging lessons.

Person specification:

Qualifications - Essential: Experience in coaching and umpiring Netball, Level 2 Netball Coaching.

Desirable: Level 3 Netball Coaching, Qualified Umpire.

Skills - Essential: Ability to build and sustain positive relationships within the department and across the school, Ability to recognise issues and deal with queries, Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, Strong attention to detail, Excellent communication skills, Ability to meet deadlines.

Knowledge and Experience - Essential: Experience working with athletes/players at different skill levels, Strong team player with the ability to work independently and take initiative, Computer literate, Good Club level Netball or better.

Desirable: Experience working in a school environment, High Playing Level.

Personal qualities - Essential: Ability to identify opportunities for improvement within the role, Act with a high degree of integrity and honesty within the team, Focus on accuracy, Calm and composed under pressure, Polite with good telephone manner, Comfortable communicating with parents.

Culford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo a child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This job description outlines the role as it stands at the date shown. Culford School periodically reviews job descriptions to ensure they remain accurate and relevant. Changes may be made following consultation with the post holder. While the aim is to agree on reasonable changes, the School reserves the right to change the job description following consultation.

All appointments are subject to pre-employment checks to meet vetting and barring requirements.

As an equal opportunities employer, Culford School is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

Culford School puts at the centre of its operation the safeguarding of the pupils of the school. There is a commitment to keep safeguarding at the forefront of every employee and volunteer’s mind. We encourage a culture of challenge, not just to act when there is a need, but also in the way we think to ensure the risks of harm to the pupils’ individual welfare are minimised.

Job applicants will undergo appropriate child protection screening and be subject to checks with previous employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Successful applicants must complete mandatory pre-employment training in safeguarding and other key areas before the commencement of employment.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; pre-employment checks will be carried out, references will be sought and successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and other relevant checks with statutory bodies.

We comply with the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) code of practice and have a written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, both of which are available on request.