Sports Coach in Residence from September 2026

Our preference is for candidates who can offer expertise in Rugby Union but we are also interested in hearing from candidates who offer expertise in some of our other major games, including Cricket, Hockey and Netball.

Welcome to OSH Old Swinford Hospital, one of the country’s leading state boarding schools. A large number of the School’s students are boarders who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and also from the EU and overseas. A third of our pupils are day pupils, who usually go home after lessons, unless they are involved in sport or music, CCF or DofE. The School is now fully co-educational. OSH is a calm place to work. It is inclusive, tolerant and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and orderly, and it is also very relaxed because for many of our pupils their school is also their home. Parents, pupils and staff are all on the same side and our pupils want to learn before going out into the wider world and making their own contribution to it. We have had two very favourable Ofsted visits, one for boarding and one for curriculum. You can see these via our website www.oshsch.com.

We enjoy a very good academic reputation and regularly feature in the lists of the most academically successful maintained schools. We’re not about league tables, however. We pride ourselves on developing in our pupils a balance of academic achievement, character and resilience and we’ve been doing this now for nearly 360 years. Our extensive extra-curricular programme contributes to our pupils becoming happy, healthy and interested young people, for whom sport, music, art, drama, and outdoor pursuits feature in their everyday lives.

The Physical Education Department at Old Swinford Hospital has 4 qualified PE teachers who teach a broad and balanced curriculum at both KS 3 and 4. The department also offers its students the opportunity to pursue their interest further in the subject through GCSE and BTEC courses. In years 7 – 11 all students have a minimum of 3 hours of Physical Education per week while in the sixth form they have 2 hours as a games afternoon. Students who chose examination PE will have considerably more contact time in the subject.

The co-curricular programme plays a huge part in the life of this busy boarding school. The programme is dominated by sport and the pupil participation rates are exceptional. The school employs a number of specialist coaches to assist with running school teams and coaching at all levels in a range of activities. The Sports Coach in residence works closely with the teaching and coaching teams. Old Swinford Hospital has had much success at local, regional and national level in an array of sports and has close links to several elite sports clubs in its major sports.

Person Specification

• Conscientious and reliable.
• A team player.
• Self-Motivated.
• Interested in continuous professional development.
• Experienced in playing and/or coaching a variety of sports.
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Job Specification

The Sports Coach in Residence is responsible to the Deputy Headmaster for both their role within the Sports Department and their role in Boarding.

Main Sport Duties will include:

• Contribute to the development of Sport within the school and enhance the department reputation with parents and visitors.
• Act as classroom instructor as and when required.
• Help in the organisation and delivery of the day-to-day PE Curriculum.
• Help with the organisation and management of fixtures, transport and catering for our major sports.
• Provide supervision and recreational activities in the school sports centre one evening per week.
• Help with the administration and delivery of the wider co-curricular programme of activities.
• Provide supervision as a Residential Boarding Tutor.
• Any other tasks that may from time-to-time be reasonably required by the Headmaster.

The Sports Coach in Residence shall assist the designated Housemaster in the routine operation of the boarding house and be responsible for the good order and discipline of the house at all times when on duty. S/he shall take an interest in the welfare and progress of all the students in the house and support the house as appropriate in house activities, house competitions and the like. S/he shall take responsibility as a pastoral tutor for students in the house. The Sports Coach in Residence shall undertake all duties in accordance with the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools. As a Sports Coach in Residence, you are expected to live in your accommodation when the school is in session. Any individual nights when the Sports Coach in Residence needs to be away from the accommodation must be agreed in advance with the Deputy Headmaster.

Main Boarding Duties will include:

• Attend House Assemblies.
• Undertake weekday House duties at least one day per week as part of a weekly rota. This shall include but not be limited to: Being on duty in the house in time for the formal start of Prep until the end of duty at 11.00 pm unless otherwise agreed.
• Supervising Breakfast and Supper in the Dining Hall on the House Duty Week as part of the Duty Rota.
• Undertake weekend house duties on at least as part of a termly rota. This shall include but not be limited to: Being on duty in the house during the allocated sessions.
• Help cover Outweekend Duties.
• Offer support to the House team at key points in the school calendar.
• Take an interest in the welfare and progress of all the students in the house and support the house as appropriate in supporting house activities and house competitions.
• Provide duty cover in the house in times of staff absence on a short-term basis.
• To assist with the weekend activity programme.
• To assist with Boarding House Open Events.
• To assist Matrons, when requested by the Deputy Headmaster.
• With the other Graduates work to ensure there is a programme of enrichment for our boarders that is appropriate and engaging.

Remuneration