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- Tasks: Lead and inspire a high-performing PE department, shaping curriculum and culture.
- Company: Join Harris City Academy Crystal Palace, an Outstanding Academy with a strong sporting culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, professional development, and a supportive community.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' lives while advancing your career in education.
- Qualifications: Qualified Teacher Status and a relevant Honours degree required.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you a passionate leader, trained Teacher of PE ready for your next step? We are seeking an experienced and ambitious Teacher to lead Physical Education at Harris City Academy Crystal Palace – a high-performing, Ofsted Outstanding Academy with a strong sporting culture and a large, thriving Sixth Form.
In this pivotal role, you will:
- Lead and develop a high-performing PE department
- Inspire students to achieve their best, in and beyond the classroom
- Shape curriculum, culture, and enrichment across sport and wellbeing
- Be part of a supportive Academy and the wider Harris Federation network
Harris City Academy Crystal Place is a school steeped in tradition. The Academy has proudly represented its community and the wider Harris Federation as its founding and flagship Academy for 35 years; the core vision upon which the school was founded 35 years ago remains the same today: “All Can Achieve”. This achievement encompasses academic excellence but extends far more than this meaning "the highest priority is placed on pupils' personal development" (Ofsted, April 2025).
This track record of exceptional outcomes is echoed in our sports provision, where we are currently ranked 114th in the national school sport rankings. This puts us in the top 2% of ALL schools nationally. We are looking for someone to continue to provide these opportunities and more for our students.
You will join an Academy with four consecutive Outstanding Ofsted judgements, where “All Can Achieve” is more than a motto – it’s a lived reality. With exceptional CPD, clear progression pathways, and Federation-wide support, this is a chance to grow as a leader while transforming young lives.
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- Qualified Teacher Status and a good, relevant Honours degree
- A clear and good understanding of current educational issues, theory and practice
- Sound subject knowledge as represented by a relevant degree, CPD or experience
- Strong command of subject area
- Understanding of relevant programming language theory and application
- The ability to use assessment data to inform planning, set targets and implement intervention
- The ability to use relevant research and inspection evidence to improve learning and teaching in subject
For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.
What the school offers its staff:
Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is a mixed Academy for 1,300 students aged 11-18, with a large sixth form of nearly 400 students. The Academy has three consecutive Outstanding judgments by Ofsted, with the most recent inspection in 2014 finding the Academy to be Outstanding in every aspect. We are a consistently high performing school. Our motto, ‘All Can Achieve' encapsulates our vision that all members of the Academy community are supported and encouraged to achieve their absolute potential. We believe that a well-supported and valued staff body is the key to our success.
We are the ‘Teaching School Hub' for Croydon and Sutton and we are able to offer all teachers an extensive programme of first class professional development. Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is part of the Harris Federation and this enables us to offer you a comprehensive induction programme and training and development opportunities to support your career development including Masters and other qualifications.
Teacher Development:
At Harris, we have curated professional development pathways that will guide you towards achieving your career ambitions. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. With a strong network of passionate educators, expert development initiatives and a multitude of opportunities for career progression, your journey with Harris could be the most rewarding one yet.
We offer a wide range of high quality teacher professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership.
Benefits:
In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance (usually £2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.
Further details about the role:
Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing and overseeing the day-to-day running of the PE department, a team of five all subject specialists and passionate about sport
- Working with Greenhouse Sports and the Kinetic Foundation as part of the departments offer and overall provision
- Overseeing inter-faculty competitions within the Academy
- Overseeing 300+ fixtures a year
- Overseeing local and National competitions across Year 7-13 across a range of sports
- Promoting an inclusive environment that provides development opportunities for all students
- Assisting in developing and delivering the PE curriculum
- Implementing and reviewing Key Stage 3 and 4 core curriculum to ensure breadth, balance and relevance for all students
- Ensuring the development of Physical Education aligns with the national curriculum
- Ensuring appropriate schemes of work for all courses taught and updating them regularly in line with national developments
- Determining, implementing and monitoring systems for improving student attainment and progress in Physical Education
- Liaising with the SENCO and staff with Special Educational Needs expertise to ensure curriculum accessibility for all students
- Communicating weekly through the Academy Bulletin
- Delivering an outstanding extra-curricular programme for students
- Maintaining team rooms, resources and equipment in good order with regard to health and safety, security and display
- Delivering outstanding provision for gifted and talented athletes within the Academy.
Commitment to safeguarding:
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Associate Director of Sport in London employer: Teaching vacancies
Contact Detail:
Teaching vacancies Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director of Sport in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those who are already part of the Harris Federation. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info about the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into the Academy's values and achievements. Show us how your vision aligns with 'All Can Achieve' and how you can contribute to maintaining that Outstanding status.
✨Tip Number 3
Bring your passion for sport to the forefront! Share specific examples of how you've inspired students in PE and how you plan to enhance the sporting culture at Harris City Academy Crystal Palace.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need to make your application shine.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director of Sport in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Let your enthusiasm for Physical Education shine through in your application. We want to see how you inspire students and foster a love for sport, so share specific examples of your teaching experiences and achievements.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role. Highlight your relevant qualifications, experience, and any leadership roles you've held. We’re looking for someone who can lead a high-performing PE department, so make that clear!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Be personal, be engaging, and don’t forget to mention how you align with our motto, 'All Can Achieve'. We love hearing about your vision for the PE department!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you have all the latest info about the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our community!
How to prepare for a job interview at Teaching vacancies
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of the current educational issues and theories related to Physical Education. Brush up on your subject knowledge and be ready to discuss how you can shape the curriculum and culture at Harris City Academy.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
As an Associate Director of Sport, you'll need to demonstrate your leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past, especially in a PE context. Highlight your experience in managing a department and inspiring students.
✨Engage with the Academy's Vision
Familiarise yourself with the Academy's motto, 'All Can Achieve', and think about how you can contribute to this vision. Be ready to share your ideas on promoting inclusivity and providing development opportunities for all students in your interview.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Expect to discuss real-life scenarios during your interview. Think about how you would handle various situations, such as overseeing competitions or implementing new teaching strategies. Being able to articulate your approach will show that you're ready for the challenges of the role.
