Head of Physical Education (Deputy Director of Learning, Creative Faculty) in Rossendale

Do you have what it takes to nurture today’s young people and inspire tomorrow’s leaders? Do you have the drive, passion and commitment to lead and deliver outstanding learning and teaching to young people succeed? If so, becoming a Star leader might just be the best career move you ever make.

About Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School is a mixed secondary grammar school and sixth form for 11 to 18 year olds in Waterfoot, Lancashire. We joined Star Academies in 2023 and, like all Star schools, we have a leadership specialism. We provide a knowledge-based academic curriculum alongside a rich and diverse leadership programme that grows character and inspires charitable and social action. Our pursuit of educational excellence is based upon our fundamental belief that every pupil has the capacity to become a successful and inspirational leader.

Who we’re looking for

Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, with its long-standing tradition of academic and sporting excellence, is seeking to appoint an inspiring Deputy Director of Learning (Physical Education) within our Creative Faculty. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious leader to build on our strong sporting heritage and further enhance the profile of sport across the school.

Working closely alongside the Director of Learning for the Creative Faculty, who has oversight of Physical Education, Music, Art and Technology, the Deputy Director of Learning will support wider faculty leadership while taking full responsibility for leading Physical Education. This includes shaping vision, curriculum design and securing strong outcomes for all learners.

We are looking for a candidate who will nurture and develop a passion for sport in every student, driving both participation and high performance. The successful applicant will also expand and enhance a rich extra-curricular programme, providing opportunities at local, national and international levels. This role is ideal for a forward-thinking educator committed to developing talent, promoting wellbeing, and ensuring every student can fulfil their potential through sport.

You will have:

• A degree-level qualification and Qualified Teacher Status.
• The ability to teach to GCSE standard.
• The ability to coach and motivate colleagues to achieve individual and collective targets.
• Experience of sustained delivery of outstanding attainment and achievement.
• Experience of innovation and creativity to engage, enthuse and progress learners.

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 30 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our professional development hub, Star Talent Academy. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a large, growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level. We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

Find out more

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please call us on 01706 234500.

Key Dates

Closing Date: Sunday, 20 September 2026 at midnight. Interview Date: Week beginning 28 September 2026. Proposed Start Date: Friday, 1 January 2027.

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks. We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.