Head of Outdoor Education and DofE
- Organisation: Surbiton High School
- Location: Surrey
- Tenure: Full-time
- Closing Date: Wednesday 19 April 2023
Lead, manage & develop the Outdoor Education programme at Surbiton High School including the running, maintenance & development of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, managing and leading International Expeditions & overseeing Outdoor Education.
Reporting Line: Assistant Principal – Compliance, Health & Safety
Start Date: ASAP
Tenure: Permanent, full-time, full year-round (52 weeks)
The nature of the role demands flexible hours, particularly at weekends and during School holidays
Salary: Competitive – based on the Surbiton High School Pay Scale
Application Deadline: 8:00am, Wednesday 19 April 2023
Interviews to be held week commencing: 24 April 2023
Key Responsibilities:
- Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
- To lead and manage the organisation of the School’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme, including expeditions
- To attend, coordinate and take overall responsibility for all Duke of Edinburgh’s Award events, both in and out of hours, including:
- Expedition training sessions
- Meeting with parents
- Practice expeditions
- Qualifying expeditions
- Presentation evenings
- To train, supervise and assess pupils to successfully complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels, including in wild country terrain
- To ensure that the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award records are kept up-to-date, and to take whatever action is necessary to sustain and improve performance by pupils
- To ensure that all Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities are conducted in line with relevant health and safety guidelines and legislation and in line with the School’s policies and procedures, including those covering trips and visits, safeguarding and data protection. Please note that the School is a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Licensed Organisation and as a result, we do not go through our local borough for the programme.
International Expeditions
- To lead and manage the organisation of the School’s international expeditions programme
- To organise and lead a presentation to pupils and parents to promote and advertise School expeditions
- To organise relevant training and orientation weekends in consultation with the School and the expedition providers
- To ensure that a suitable staff team is recruited for each expedition
- To advise colleagues on leading expeditions
- To ensure that all staff members of the expeditions team have the necessary up-to-date training and qualifications
- To organise and manage travel safety courses for all expedition participants
- To carry out risk assessments as required
- To maintain management of kit and equipment needed for expeditions and plan purchases, replacements and repairs where necessary
- To liaise closely with external expedition providers and other relevant stakeholders
- To ensure clear communication of information pertaining to the expeditions to all relevant pupils and parents
- To encourage, advise and help pupils to structure their own fundraising activities
- To ensure key feedback and post-expedition evaluation is carried out
Outdoor Education
- To develop programmes in Outdoor Education activities
- To lead and supervise Outdoor Education lessons as part of the PE Curriculum
- To develop a programme of team-building/leadership activities for pupils, and potentially staff
General
- To liaise closely with the Assistant Principal regarding the decisions and logistics for all expeditions
- Training other members of staff as appropriate
- To assist on fieldtrips for other departments
- To drive a minibus when necessary
- To assist with residential trips for other subjects
- To provide cover and private study supervision if required
- To carry out any such duties as may be reasonably requested
Person Specification
The successful candidate will be likely to fit the following profile:
Qualifications
- Suitable outdoor qualification to help train pupils and lead expeditions in wild country terrain both within the UK and overseas (Mountain Leader would be desirable, but Hill and Moorland Leader acceptable)
- Current First Aid qualification
- Training/assessing qualification desirable
- D of E Expedition Assessor and Supervisor training desirable (or a willingness to undertake it)
- Full UK driving license required (willingness to drive a minibus is an essential requirement)
Skills
- Ability to monitor, evaluate and assess project performance
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of a team
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent time management skills, to be able to plan and regulate workload including the ability to prioritise demands and thrive under pressure
- Excellent organisational, administrative and ICT skills
- Ability to inspire, motivate and support pupils and colleagues in a successful and dynamic school
Experience
- Experience of leading and collaborating with colleagues
- Experience of working with young people
- Experience of leading adventurous training and expeditions would be an advantage
- Experience of delivering the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award would be an advantage
- Experience in booking and coordinating overseas travel and trips would be an advantage
Personal Qualities
- Personal warmth to gain the confidence of pupils, staff and parents
- Positive rapport with pupils
- High standards of personal presence and presentation and attention to detail
- Ability to communicate concisely and sensitively, both orally and in writing, to a variety of audiences
- A healthy sense of humour
- A team player with leadership qualities
- A reflective and flexible approach
- Organised and able to self-direct
- Positive, enthusiastic and energetic approach to life, with a can-do attitude
- Ability to think creatively and imaginatively
- Committed to Surbiton High School’s ethos and strategic vision
- High expectations for pupil attainment, personal development and conduct
- Committed to representing the strategic vision for the School
- Ambitious and aspirational for oneself and for the School
- Committed to professional development and show a willingness to undertake appropriate training for this role
Surbiton High School is culturally diverse and are fully committed to celebrating, respecting and learning about inclusion and diversity throughout the community.
Surbiton High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, Disclosure and Barring Service and Online/Social media Searches
Please note that the School reserves the right to appoint at any stage during the recruitment process.
For any queries relating to the role or your application, please email recruitment@surbitonhigh.com
United Learning
We are part of United Learning, a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England.
Our schools work as a team and achieve more by sharing than any single school could. Our subject specialists, our Group-wide intranet, our own curriculum and our online learning portal all help us share knowledge and resource, helping to simplify work processes and manage workloads for an improved work-life balance.
As a Group, we can reward our staff better: with good career opportunities, better pay, benefits, and ultimately, the satisfaction of helping children to succeed. We invest in our staff wellbeing. Our academies each have at least eight INSET days per year (with three of those solely dedicated to planning), and an ongoing group-wide wellbeing programme. It's an ethos we call ‘the best in everyone’.
We are working hard to become a more diverse organisation – which is key to our commitment to bringing out the best in everyone. We welcome applications from everyone committed to this ethos and would particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented in the Group as a whole. We always appoint on merit. We are open to discussing flexible working options.
Lead, manage & develop the Outdoor Education programme at Surbiton High School including the running, maintenance & development of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, managing and leading International Expeditions & overseeing Outdoor Education.
Description
Reporting Line: Assistant Principal – Compliance, Health & Safety
Start Date: ASAP
Tenure: Permanent, full-time, full year-round (52 weeks)
The nature of the role demands flexible hours, particularly at weekends and during School holidays
Salary: Competitive – based on the Surbiton High School Pay Scale
Application Deadline: 8:00am, Wednesday 19 April 2023
Interviews to be held week commencing: 24 April 2023
Key Responsibilities:
- Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
- To lead and manage the organisation of the School’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme, including expeditions
- To attend, coordinate and take overall responsibility for all Duke of Edinburgh’s Award events, both in and out of hours, including:
- Expedition training sessions
- Meeting with parents
- Practice expeditions
- Qualifying expeditions
- Presentation evenings
- To train, supervise and assess pupils to successfully complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels, including in wild country terrain
- To ensure that the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award records are kept up-to-date, and to take whatever action is necessary to sustain and improve performance by pupils
- To ensure that all Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities are conducted in line with relevant health and safety guidelines and legislation and in line with the School’s policies and procedures, including those covering trips and visits, safeguarding and data protection. Please note that the School is a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Licensed Organisation and as a result, we do not go through our local borough for the programme.
International Expeditions
- To lead and manage the organisation of the School’s international expeditions programme
- To organise and lead a presentation to pupils and parents to promote and advertise School expeditions
- To organise relevant training and orientation weekends in consultation with the School and the expedition providers
- To ensure that a suitable staff team is recruited for each expedition
- To advise colleagues on leading expeditions
- To ensure that all staff members of the expeditions team have the necessary up-to-date training and qualifications
- To organise and manage travel safety courses for all expedition participants
- To carry out risk assessments as required
- To maintain management of kit and equipment needed for expeditions and plan purchases, replacements and repairs where necessary
- To liaise closely with external expedition providers and other relevant stakeholders
- To ensure clear communication of information pertaining to the expeditions to all relevant pupils and parents
- To encourage, advise and help pupils to structure their own fundraising activities
- To ensure key feedback and post-expedition evaluation is carried out
Outdoor Education
- To develop programmes in Outdoor Education activities
- To lead and supervise Outdoor Education lessons as part of the PE Curriculum
- To develop a programme of team-building/leadership activities for pupils, and potentially staff
General
- To liaise closely with the Assistant Principal regarding the decisions and logistics for all expeditions
- Training other members of staff as appropriate
- To assist on fieldtrips for other departments
- To drive a minibus when necessary
- To assist with residential trips for other subjects
- To provide cover and private study supervision if required
- To carry out any such duties as may be reasonably requested
Person Specification
The successful candidate will be likely to fit the following profile:
Qualifications
- Suitable outdoor qualification to help train pupils and lead expeditions in wild country terrain both within the UK and overseas (Mountain Leader would be desirable, but Hill and Moorland Leader acceptable)
- Current First Aid qualification
- Training/assessing qualification desirable
- D of E Expedition Assessor and Supervisor training desirable (or a willingness to undertake it)
- Full UK driving license required (willingness to drive a minibus is an essential requirement)
Skills
- Ability to monitor, evaluate and assess project performance
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of a team
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent time management skills, to be able to plan and regulate workload including the ability to prioritise demands and thrive under pressure
- Excellent organisational, administrative and ICT skills
- Ability to inspire, motivate and support pupils and colleagues in a successful and dynamic school
Experience
- Experience of leading and collaborating with colleagues
- Experience of working with young people
- Experience of leading adventurous training and expeditions would be an advantage
- Experience of delivering the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award would be an advantage
- Experience in booking and coordinating overseas travel and trips would be an advantage
Personal Qualities
- Personal warmth to gain the confidence of pupils, staff and parents
- Positive rapport with pupils
- High standards of personal presence and presentation and attention to detail
- Ability to communicate concisely and sensitively, both orally and in writing, to a variety of audiences
- A healthy sense of humour
- A team player with leadership qualities
- A reflective and flexible approach
- Organised and able to self-direct
- Positive, enthusiastic and energetic approach to life, with a can-do attitude
- Ability to think creatively and imaginatively
- Committed to Surbiton High School’s ethos and strategic vision
- High expectations for pupil attainment, personal development and conduct
- Committed to representing the strategic vision for the School
- Ambitious and aspirational for oneself and for the School
- Committed to professional development and show a willingness to undertake appropriate training for this role
Surbiton High School is culturally diverse and are fully committed to celebrating, respecting and learning about inclusion and diversity throughout the community.
Surbiton High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, Disclosure and Barring Service and Online/Social media Searches
Please note that the School reserves the right to appoint at any stage during the recruitment process.
For any queries relating to the role or your application, please email recruitment@surbitonhigh.com
United Learning
We are part of United Learning, a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England.
Our schools work as a team and achieve more by sharing than any single school could. Our subject specialists, our Group-wide intranet, our own curriculum and our online learning portal all help us share knowledge and resource, helping to simplify work processes and manage workloads for an improved work-life balance.
As a Group, we can reward our staff better: with good career opportunities, better pay, benefits, and ultimately, the satisfaction of helping children to succeed. We invest in our staff wellbeing. Our academies each have at least eight INSET days per year (with three of those solely dedicated to planning), and an ongoing group-wide wellbeing programme. It's an ethos we call ‘the best in everyone’.
We are working hard to become a more diverse organisation – which is key to our commitment to bringing out the best in everyone. We welcome applications from everyone committed to this ethos and would particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented in the Group as a whole. We always appoint on merit. We are open to discussing flexible working options.
