Athletic Development Coach

Location: Elstree Schools' Campus (Haberdashers' Boys' and Girls' Schools) Reports to: Director of Sport (Boys School) Contract: Full-time, Term Time Only Salary: £25,738 FTE (£20,473 pro rata based on term time only). Habs has been awarded Independent School of the Year 2025, with Haberdashers' Elstree Schools receiving both the award for Outstanding Educational Partnerships and the overall top accolade of Independent School of the Year 2025. This national recognition reflects our long-term commitment to social impact and the deep, sustained collaborations we continue to build with our state sector partners. It is an exciting and proud moment to be joining our community. The Athletic Development coach supports the delivery of a high-quality, campus-wide athletic development programme across the Elstree Schools. Working closely with the Directors of Sport and PE departments, the role will focus on developing Athletic Development and Functional Movement across all age groups, contributing to the High-Performance Programme, and embedding a positive culture of training and movement throughout the school. This developmental role includes coaching responsibilities in PE and Games lessons, working with HPP athletes, and contributing to a school team in the focus or performance sports each term with Saturday fixture involvement. The agreed hours of work will be 37.5 hours per week, term time (35 weeks per year), with an hour unpaid for lunch. Actual hours are to be agreed with your line manager, to include early mornings, evenings and weekends to support the needs of the school and sports fixtures. Key responsibilities will include:

• Support with the design and delivery of the Habs Elstree-wide Athletic Development Framework across both schools
• Take responsibility for Athletic Development lessons and Functional Movement education.
• Champion the development of a co-ordinated Physical Literacy model from Reception through to Year 13.
• Support the integration of athletic development principles into curricular and co-curricular sport.
• Lead Strength & Conditioning for athletes selected into the HPP, inclusive of both Boys' and Girls' Schools.
• Co-ordinate with the Directors of Sport, Heads of Sport, and PE staff to align technical, tactical and physical development.
• Lead regular performance testing and profiling to inform tailored programming.
• Develop and manage systems for athletic monitoring and feedback across both schools.
• Collaborate with PE departments to report meaningfully on progress and impact.
• Coach and manage a focus or performance sport team, including responsibility for Saturday fixtures. Sports here may include: football, hockey, cricket, lacrosse, netball, water polo and athletics as being those of greatest need, but we will consider support across the full range of activities we offer
• Support delivery of Games and PE lessons across a range of age groups.
• Provide leadership and CPD opportunities to support the development of PE staff, Games staff and coaches.
• Contribute to the education of pupils, parents and staff around key S&C themes (nutrition, recovery, training).
• Support injury rehabilitation and return-to-play protocols alongside medical teams.
• To train and motivate any staff supervising fitness to follow strict guidelines of safety in the fitness centre.
• To help Sports Centre staff to ensure that all fitness equipment is cleaned and maintained each week as part of a co-ordinated programme of work.
• To take responsibility for the Fitness Suite, covering open sessions, and those which target specific groups. Ensuring that a record of pupil inductions is maintained.
We are looking for someone who:
• Degree in Sports Science, Strength & Conditioning, or a related field.
• UKSCA, NSCA-CSCS, or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
• Experience of leading athletic development programmes in youth or school settings.
• Excellent knowledge of LTAD and youth functional movement principles.
• Demonstrated leadership in team coaching, ideally in one of the school's focus sports.
• Strong organisational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• A commitment to safeguarding and child welfare.
What we offer:
• A competitive salary, commensurate with the candidate's experience
• Private Pension Scheme through Aegon with generous employer contributions
• Additional life assurance cover
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), providing confidential support and advice
• Extensive professional development training opportunities
• Free lunch and refreshments
• Free onsite parking and access to travel on the schools extensive coach network
• Free access to state-of-the-art sports facilities including the gym, swimming pool, and fitness classes
• Wellbeing initiatives and programmes, such as yoga, mindfulness sessions, and health checks
• Access to an online GP service, providing quick and convenient healthcare advice
• Access to Vivup, the staff benefits platform, featuring discounts, financial advice, and wellbeing resources
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early and interview suitable candidates before the closing date if we receive sufficient applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. Haberdashers' Elstree Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.


• Degree in Sports Science, Strength & Conditioning, or a related field.
• UKSCA, NSCA-CSCS, or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
• Experience of leading athletic development programmes in youth or school settings.
• Excellent knowledge of LTAD and youth functional movement principles.
• Demonstrated leadership in team coaching, ideally in one of the school's focus sports.
• Strong organisational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• A commitment to safeguarding and child welfare.
  
  A competitive salary, commensurate with the candidate's experience
• Private Pension Scheme through Aegon with generous employer contributions
• Additional life assurance cover
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), providing confidential support and advice
• Extensive professional development training opportunities
• Free lunch and refreshments
• Free onsite parking and access to travel on the schools extensive coach network
• Free access to state-of-the-art sports facilities including the gym, swimming pool, and fitness classes
• Wellbeing initiatives and programmes, such as yoga, mindfulness sessions, and health checks
• Access to an online GP service, providing quick and convenient healthcare advice
• Access to Vivup, the staff benefits platform, featuring discounts, financial advice, and wellbeing resources
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early and interview suitable candidates before the closing date if we receive sufficient applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. Haberdashers' Elstree Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.