Job Description for Director of Outdoor Activities Responsible to: The Headmaster Line Manager: Assistant Head [Co-Curricular] Responsible for: Management and development of the vision for Outdoor Education at Nottingham High School Primary function: To drive the future development and the co-ordination of Outdoor Activities at Nottingham High School Salary allowance: The salary will be subject to qualifications and experience and will be discussed at interview.
Nottingham High School is seeking to appoint a Director of Outdoor Activities to start in January 2018. The main duties of the post, in terms of wider outdoor education and particularly the Duke of Edinburgh s Award Scheme, are outlined below:- Outdoor Education This is a fantastic opportunity for a candidate to develop a rich programme of outdoor education as part of the rich co-curricular offering at Nottingham High School. We are looking for someone with the vision, drive and flexibility required to develop our current provision, inspire pupils and staff in terms of involvement and development and to put in place age-appropriate provision across the School from ages 4-18. This will involve working in our Infant School Lovell House (ages 4-7), our Junior School (ages 7-11) and our Senior School (ages 11-18). Develop within the School a structured outdoor activities and leadership programme, with appropriate challenge and progression, accessible to all members of the School (from 4-18) Develop an outdoor learning space at Lovell House. Oversee the provision of a programme of outdoor activities to develop skills of teamwork and leadership in addition to activity-specific skills. Introduce a variety of lunchtime and after school activities based around skills development through outdoor and adventurous activities in all sections of the school. Develop team-building activities for pupils and students across the School. Manage an Outdoor Education Budget. Implement systems for control and checking of School equipment and manage the Outdoor Activities Stores, overseeing the purchase, issue, maintenance and write-off of items. Checking of staff qualifications and experience and organising training and CPD. Encourage and mentor staff gaining outdoor qualifications. Arrange First Aid Training for outdoor activity staff as necessary. Technical advisor to NHS staff, offer support and advice to others running adventurous activities and trips. Assist Educational Visits Coordinators with adventurous activities trip approval. Build on our existing portfolio of residential trips and support trip leaders in all parts of the school. Lead and support residential expedition and adventurous activities during School holiday periods. Develop more local opportunities for adventurous activities. Offer support to our Games and co-curricular programme.
Infant and Junior School Outdoor Learning In the Infant and Junior School we are looking for a colleague who is experienced or willing to: Deliver Bushcraft or Forest Schools type skills across the primary curriculum. Work alongside the current teaching staff to develop areas such as general survival, appreciation of the outdoor environment, shelter building, the safe use of tools, fire building and outdoor cooking. Help the pupils to learn about primitive skills and conduct studies of nature and natural processes in the wild. We would wish our pupils to be guided through tasks that teach specific, concrete, outdoor learning skills that introduce them to wider themes and topics on the environment as well as provide learning opportunities that complement the curriculum subjects. We would be looking to develop and enhance the pupils resilience and perseverance through engaging them in new skills to challenge them beyond their normal experience. This is an excellent opportunity for the successful candidate to develop their own Outdoor Curriculum programme (both that which is delivered with the school day and that which would be delivered as part of our trip and residential trip programme). There are no current specific topics that must be introduced so we look forward to discussing ideas at the interview stage. Duke of Edinburgh s Award Manager This aspect of the role is designed to lead, manage, promote, develop and support the school s DofE provision. The successful applicant will be pro-active, have responsibility for maintaining accurate database records, answering email and telephone queries, and ensuring that the pupils and students undertaking the scheme, and the staff involved, are well supported. This role involves significant administrative responsibility. Part of the role will be devoted to the management of the edofe system. As the Coordinator of this programme a key focus of this role will be working with the Assistant Head Co-curricular to improve, and maintain, the successful completion rate at each level of the Scheme. Pupils will be tracked through the edofe database to ensure that they are working effectively towards completion at different stages throughout the year. Act as the Duke of Edinburgh s Award (DofE) Manager at Nottingham High School. Ensure that School complies with the DofE Independent Operating License as a Directly Licensed Centre. Represent the School, as a Directly Licensed Centre, in terms of communications, meetings and responsibility to the regional and national DofE organisation. Organise DofE Award presentation evenings. Celebrate the success of the pupils and students at all levels of the Scheme by reporting success to the School Marketing Department and writing a regular update in the School newsletter to parents. Responsible for the launch and promotion of DofE to pupils and parents. Writing promotional materials and issuing information to parents regarding the benefits and challenges that DofE can offer to their children at the High School.
Oversee all administration for the DofE Award Scheme (or any similar in-house scheme) including the management of the edofe system. Production of an annual report, outlining the numbers who have achieved at each Award Level. Working regularly with all pupils and students undertaking the Award to ensure progression through all aspects of the Award and adequate planning and training for expedition work. Manage the planning and delivery of expeditions, ensuring the practical, administrative and risk management requirements are fully in place for each trip. Coordinate the staffing of DofE expedition and support work. Oversee the DofE financial accounts, setting costs of involvement for each candidate, arranging for collection of payments and managing this budget such that the DofE Award is financially self-supporting within the School. CCF There may be an opportunity for the successful candidate to be involved with the CCF in some form. This is not an essential part of the job but could be discussed at interview with interested candidates. Candidate specification: The successful candidate should have: A portfolio of higher level NGB Awards in Outdoor Education, such as Mountain Leader(or equivalent), Single Pitch Award, Mountain Biking, Kayaking etc. Experience of working with young people (4-18) Ability to communicate well with pupils and students of all ages and have an understanding of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people Ability to plan teamwork/leadership training Ability to plan and organise trips within the UK and abroad Excellent verbal and written communication skills Strong ICT skills Motivational skills to encourage participation Strong people management skills Ability to manage processes Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team Flexibility in order to meet the demands of our calendar, which will include working evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays when required. A can do approach and able to work effectively without direct supervision. Current knowledge and experience of the D of E Scheme and edofe. A good sense of humour. A willingness to participate in the wider life of the School Commitment to the ethos of Nottingham High School
Holidays The job will come with an annual holiday allowance of 25 days which may be taken at any point during the year. Due to the nature of this role, which will involve the running of trips during school holidays on a regular basis, personal holidays may be taken during term time. Summary This is an exciting opportunity for someone to develop and expand an already strong outdoor education programme. Within the job description there are a number of strands that can be developed. The School would welcome applications from candidates with some or all of these skills but the ability to run the Duke of Edinburgh Programme is essential. Any questions about the role should be addressed to the Assistant Head Co-Curricular, Mr Kieron Heath via email: heath.k@nottinghamhigh.co.uk