Applicant Information Pack Teacher of Physical Education (Fixed-term)
A foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer
Martin Walker - Principal Our vision is simple – to develop remarkable people. That applies not only to the pupils, but also to the staff in whom we invest. We take a pupil-centred approach at Berkhamsted; they are at the heart of our decision making and fuel our ambition to deliver excellence in all that we do. We aim high with integrity and are proud to have a collective growth mindset and a willingness to be adventurous through innovation, continual learning, and being a research-led school. This leads to an agility, the provision of outstanding CPD for staff, and the delivery of a forward-thinking curriculum that enables pupils to flourish both at, and beyond, Berkhamsted. The inherent joy that stems from learning, from being part of an ambitious and caring team, and from making progress inspires not only our pupils, but also our staff. Berkhamsted School also appreciates the significance of community within and beyond the school; we aim to serve others and have a positive impact through our community and charity work. Moreover, we focus not only on doing well and doing good for the pupils, but also through the pupils. This strong sense of purpose combined with an unwavering commitment to our values make this a special place to work. Our staff are so important to us that we have a Chief People Officer as one of our most senior members of staff; her role is to ensure the staff also flourish.
A foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer
Tracey Evans - Chief People Officer Our staff are our most important asset at Berkhamsted; investing in their professional development with their wellbeing a key priority. We foster a working environment that firstly provides a sense of belonging and supports staff both professionally and personally. We offer a wide range of staff wellbeing initiatives. Colleagues can easily access financial, physical, emotional and social well-being support from school. We seek to enable all members of the school community to achieve their full potential in an environment characterised by equality, equity, respect and opportunity. We work hard at Berkhamsted, but we also know how to come together as a community and enjoy downtime, building relationships which last a lifetime and enrich our professional and personal experience.
History of Berkhamsted Schools Group Berkhamsted Prep School is part of a supportive, family community which fosters a strong sense of belonging. Each pupil is treated as an individual and our child-centred approach to education ensures they develop a natural curiosity and thirst for learning. Pupils benefit immensely from being part of a school that is recognised as providing a high quality educational experience for its pupils; where they achieve their best because of their extremely positive and ‘can do’ attitude to school. Highly skilled and passionate teachers inspire our pupils through a rich and varied curriculum and an array of extra-curricular activities. There are currently 324 pupils at Berkhamsted Prep School (aged 7-11). Part of the Berkhamsted Schools Group Berkhamsted Prep School is one of six schools that make up Berkhamsted Schools Group. Berkhamsted School is one of the country’s leading independent schools. It has a structure that provides the best in both co-educational and single-sex education, offering small class sizes and appropriate teaching environments for each age group, from age 3 to 18. The School’s ‘diamond’ structure allows boys and girls to be taught together until the age of 11 (at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and at Berkhamsted Prep), separately from 11-16 (Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls), before coming back together again in a joint Sixth Form (Berkhamsted Sixth). Berkhamsted Prep pupils are provided with the opportunity of progressing to the Girls and Boys Senior Schools by sitting the Berkhamsted entrance exam a week prior to the external applicants.
Job Description We are seeking to appoint a well-qualified, enthusiastic and dynamic teacher to teach PE and Sport throughout the Prep School (Y3-6) from January 2027 on a fixed-term basis. There is a strong sense of community at Berkhamsted Prep and the appointed candidate will relish the opportunity to form part of a close-knit, warm and welcoming team, enjoying the progress and achievements of all pupils. This position would suit someone in the early stages of their career, as well as a more experienced teacher. A specialism in one of our focus sports which include Cricket, Football and Rugby Union, including experience teaching and/or coaching across age and ability ranges would be advantageous, as well as a good knowledge of other sports within our curriculum. The successful candidate will contribute to the ongoing development of teaching and learning within the department and support the delivery of an outstanding Games and Sports programme for boys, working in partnership with the Head of Prep Sport and the Director of Sport (Whole School). They will help to foster the department's ethos and values through their professionalism, expertise and commitment to pupils. In addition, they will: Plan and deliver outstanding PE and Games lessons for pupils across Key Stage 2 and set high expectations for all pupils. Be able to demonstrate an ability to foster positive, inclusive and supportive environments and apply excellent teaching and coaching methods to motivate pupils to reach their potential. Demonstrate proven success in sports and curriculum management in a school setting and of raising standards and increasing participation. Support the co-ordination of the Prep School (boys’) fixture card, extra-curricular opportunities, House events and activities both before and after school, and at weekends.
Job Description Play an important role in the extra-curricular sport programme, including a busy weekday and weekend fixture programme. Organise the coaching, staffing, refereeing and team management of boys’ sports teams throughout the year. Provide excellent leadership, motivation and co-ordination of PE teachers and coaches. Have excellent communication and collaboration skills and be able to build positive relationships with pupils, parents and staff. Foster links with other local schools, building upon the school's strong sporting ethos. Adopt a flexible approach with an ability to adapt quickly in a busy school environment. With both single-sex and co-educational teaching across the School, Berkhamsted offers excellent opportunities for diversity of experience and continued professional development. It is expected that all members of the teaching staff will be able to contribute fully to the life of the school through participation in the pastoral and extra-curricular activities programmes, which are an integral part of a teacher’s role in an independent school community. The salary will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate and is above national scales. The PE department, and the whole School, is a supportive and welcoming community, and this post would suit someone wishing to gain further experience in an innovative, forward thinking and dynamic environment. Note: The post holder may be reasonably required to perform duties other than those given in the job description for the post. The duties and responsibilities attached to posts may vary from time to time without changing the character of the duties or the level of the responsibility entailed.
Benefits Benefits We boast a competitive salary structure, alongside other benefits, which includes access to a comprehensive pension scheme. The wellbeing of our staff is a priority. We have a developed programme for staff with initiatives and support in the areas of Economic, Physical, Emotional and Social wellbeing. Free classes and advisory services. memberships and discounted rates in local establishments, together with cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, free daily lunch, and fee reduction for staff's children are examples of some of the non-contractual benefits on offer in this programme.
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Safeguarding and Child Protection Benefits Berkhamsted is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. A copy of the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found HERE The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. Berkhamsted Schools Group is a registered charity dedicated to education: 310630.
Application and Next Steps The closing date for applications is 4 October 2026 It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children; applicants must be willing to undertake a number of safeguarding checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS). This post is also subject to receipt of written references which must be satisfactory to Berkhamsted Schools Group, along with documentary evidence of qualifications. A background screening service including a review of candidate’s online presence will be carried out as part of the recruitment process, by an independent third-party screening partner. Successful applicants will need to provide confirmation of permission to work in the UK. Please note that under the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the school has an obligation to ensure applicants have the right to work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. (If it is found that those documents do not meet the legal requirement, an offer of employment will be withdrawn). Where the successful candidate has worked or been a resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks and confirmations as the school may require in accordance with statutory guidance. We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race. Candidates with a disability who are invited to interview should inform the School of any necessary reasonable adjustments or arrangements to assist them in attending the interview. If you have any questions relating to this role please contact the HR department at recruitment@berkhamsted.com Early applications are encouraged, and interviews may take place on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to extend or close the deadline.
Developing remarkable people