Head of Netball in Oswestry

Our sporting mantra is to provide every pupil the opportunity to experience sports & physical activity positively and take ownership of their physical, mental & social well-being through sports and physical activity. We have 5 pathways in our sporting programme:

• The Opportunity to Move
• The Opportunity to Play
• The Opportunity to Compete
• The Opportunity to Excel
• The Opportunity to Lead

With each of these focused pathways, a pupil can flourish to find their FORTE in the sport & physical activity arena. Oswestry School seeks to appoint a highly motivated and inspirational Head of Netball to develop and deliver an exceptional netball programme for both our Prep School & Senior School pupils starting September 2026. This role offers an exciting opportunity for an individual to shape and grow a dynamic netball programme within a high-performing independent school, contributing to local netball development.

The successful candidate will work as part of the sports team under the direction of the Director of Sport and work cohesively with the Sports Department and the wider school community. This is an exciting opportunity to join our coaching team and build on recent sporting successes. In line with Oswestry School’s vision for the future of netball, the appointed leader will play a key role in the implementation of a five-year strategic plan. The macro-level strategy will be set out by senior leadership, while the finer details, including coaching tactics, fixture planning, and team management, will be shaped by the Head of Netball in collaboration with the Director of Sport.

This role presents a unique opportunity to lead a high-profile, strategic initiative within a prestigious independent school. It opens avenues for professional growth, leadership development, and the chance to influence the future of netball at Oswestry School.

Key Responsibilities:

• Netball Programme Leadership: Plan, deliver, and oversee the netball curriculum, including detailed planning and periodisation of the netball season, fixture scheduling, and competition strategy.
• Coaching & Training: Provide high-quality training sessions and match evaluations, ensuring player development across all levels of ability.
• Recruitment & Expansion: Lead the recruitment efforts for both international students and local talent, ensuring Oswestry School continues to attract top netballing prospects.
• Strategic Development: Contribute to the school’s broader philosophy of excellence and competition in sports, ensuring netball is prioritised within the overall school sports programme.
• Netball Academy Oversight: Oversee the management and growth of the Excel Netball Academy, ensuring its integration into the wider school sports budget and development plans.
• Managing Netball Specialists: Coaching and developing other staff members who deliver on our netball programme.

Requirements:

• Qualifications: Level 1 or above coaching award
• Level C Umpiring certification (or willingness to complete this)
• Experience working in a school environment or netball club environment
• Experience of working with youth athletes and netball players across all abilities in an inclusive environment is essential.

Hours & Compensation:

• Part Time: 15 hours per week at £15 - £25 per hour (depending on experience) for 36 weeks a year, totalling between £8,100 - £13,500 annually (depending on experience).
• Self-Employed Contract Opportunities to launch netball camps during school breaks in consultation with the Director of Sport and the Director of Summer School (October, February, May, Easter, and Summer).
• Opportunity to work within Oswestry School’s Summer School, with potential earnings ranging from £500 to £1,200 per week. The Summer School is six weeks long and staffed by the Oswestry School Staff.
• Evenings, Saturdays and the occasional trips/overnight working hours will be expected.

Benefits:

• Free lunch and parking.
• Free Oswestry School sports kit.
• Oswestry School Environment: The school is known for its low staff turnover, high-quality pupils, and supportive leadership team. The culture at Oswestry School is collaborative, with a focus on community and a shared vision for success.
• Work-Life Balance: The role offers flexibility, with limited (if any) Sunday work required. Most netball fixtures are held on Saturday mornings, allowing for Saturday afternoon availability should a coaching opportunity arise in this space.

The Head of Netball will be a key figure in leadership development, working alongside fellow coaches to enhance the overall sports programme at the school. The school benefits from excellent facilities including numerous outdoor football and rugby pitches, an artificial floodlit pitch, newly refurbished high jump and long jump areas, a spin studio, a weights studio, a swimming pool, excellent adventurous education facilities and a large sports hall with two indoor netball size courts used for multiple sports.

For an application form and job description please download this from our website: https://www.oswestryschool.com/about-oswestry/join-our-team or contact HR Administrator, Lesley Ward at recruitment@oswestryschool.com. For informal discussion regarding the post contact Sofie Suckley (Director of Sport) at sofie.suckley@oswestryschool.com.

Closing date: 12:00 noon on Wednesday 3rd June 2026. Provisional interview date: Week of Monday 8th June 2026. The school reserves the right to offer the post at any stage in the appointment process or not to offer the post. The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.