Residential Sports Graduates

St. Leonards School is recruiting for proactive, enthusiastic, and dedicated sports graduates to join our friendly team of residential staff and fully engage in the vibrant life of our bustling boarding community. The ideal candidate will excel in facilitating a diverse range of sporting and recreational activities, enjoy the company of young people, possess a pastoral mindset, and thrive in a close and mutually supportive environment. Sport is integral to the life of our school, and we're keen to provide our students with a variety of physical activities to support their well-being.

The successful candidate will collaborate closely with Housemasters/Mistresses, assisting in the day-to-day care of boarders, providing overnight coverage, and proactively responding to the needs and interests of our students. Their role will be pivotal in ensuring that our students feel safe, fulfilled, and healthy.

General Description and Responsibilities:

• Maintain effective communication with the Housemaster/Housemistress to plan for and carry out daily, weekly, termly duties under their direction;
• Supervise boarding students at all times; from early morning routines through to lights out;
• Maintain high expectations and levels of discipline to encourage students to be polite, punctual, diligent and supportive of one another;
• Foster the physical, social, cultural and spiritual development of all students, both boarding and day students;
• Be familiar with the Student Handbook and encourage the high standards of appearance and behaviour, which are required of St Leonards’ students;
• Adopt a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, harassment, alcohol or substance abuse, raising any concerns to the Housemaster/Housemistress or Deputy Head (boarding);
• Undertake house duties which may include general cleaning and tidying, laundry etc. as and when required;
• Accompany students for weekend or evening trips, sporting fixtures etc;
• Help students and colleagues to organise social events for students;
• With other Resident House Tutors, help out with staffing the airport at the start and end of term and half-terms;
• Working closely with boarding colleagues, administer and oversee travel arrangements at the start and end of term/half term for boarding students;
• Ensure that office practice is observed in the duty room areas during office hours; 7.00am to 11.00pm;
• Under the direction of the Housemaster/Housemistress, liaise with the School’s Medical Centre with regards to the general health and welfare of boarding students;
• Monitor the security of the Boarding House and challenge students and/or visitors if that security is deemed to be breached;
• Working in conjunction with Admissions and Marketing departments, welcome visitors and prospective families to the Boarding House and conduct tours of the House, as and when required;
• Raise ICT requests through the Helpdesk for any problems encountered e.g. wi-fi connectivity, printer issues, on behalf of boarding students;
• Maintain awareness of Health & Safety regulations, applying Health and Safety principles within the Boarding House and carrying out spot checks, as and when required;
• Participate in regular fire practices and test the fire alarm on a weekly basis, documenting these on behalf of the Fire Officer.
• Attend house staff meetings and lead student boarder meetings within the house, as required.

Person Specification:

Education, Training and Qualifications:

• Essential: Sports Coach Qualification.
• Desirable: SVQ3 Children and Young People qualification. Educated to HND/Degree level.

Experience:

• Essential: Experience and understanding of pastoral support. Evidenced experience in sports coaching at club or school level.
• Desirable: Experience of working with teenage students in an education setting. Relevant experience of working in a care environment.

Skills:

• Essential: Ability to listen to, understand and support the issues faced by teenage students. Good oral and written communication skills with an excellent telephone manner. Strong ICT skills. Enthusiasm to inspire in students a desire to learn and participate in sports and working as a team.
• Desirable: Skills and experience which can contribute to extra-curricular activities.

Interpersonal skills:

• Essential: Ability to confidently deal with a wide range of people including staff, students and parents. Resilient. An ‘above and beyond’ attitude to work and supporting the team. Approachable and empathetic to the needs of others. Able to handle sensitive, confidential issues with a degree of maturity and professionalism. Ability to work independently and use initiative where appropriate. Well-organised with excellent attention to detail. Ability to work calmly under pressure. Commitment, goodwill and a caring, positive outlook towards life.
• Desirable: Empathy with teenage children and the benefits of secondary education. Comfortable working with people from a variety of backgrounds, countries and cultures.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and duties. It is expected that the post-holder will participate in other reasonable activities which may be required to meet the needs of the School or for better fulfilment of the role.

THE APPLICATION PROCESS:

St Leonards is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture, where all members of the community - colleagues, pupils and families - are seen and valued. Applications should be made via our School Talent/Teacheroo portal. The closing time and date for applications to be received is 12 noon on Friday 29th May 2026. If you have not been contacted by this date, we thank you for your interest in the post; however, your application has not been progressed to an interview on this occasion. Any questions may be directed to the school in the first instance. Early applications are encouraged as St Leonards reserves the right to interview and close the post early. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a Criminal Record check and either hold or be accepted for membership of the Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

About St Leonards:

St Leonards is a friendly and forward-looking independent, coeducational, boarding and day school situated on an historic campus at the heart of the university town of St Andrews. The school enjoys an unrivalled location - there are sandy beaches, world-class Links golf courses, and historic sites on its doorstep. St Leonards delivers the inspiring, globally-recognised International Baccalaureate curriculum for pupils aged five to 18, and was the first school to be accredited as an all-through IB school in Scotland. It is one of just two schools in the UK to actively offer all four IB programmes, ensuring a seamless learner journey.