Advert Details
Teacher of PE (Part-Time 0.4 or 0.6) from September 2026
THE KING ALFRED SCHOOL
For over 100 years, The King Alfred School [KAS] has stood for a rational, nurturing and enlightened educational experience. Founded in 1898 by a group of parents in opposition to Victorian educational practices – authoritarian discipline, regimentation, religious instruction, collective worship – KAS was created as a demonstration school committed to encouraging learning for its own sake and informed by research. It sought to provide a well-rounded education that focused on what was best for the whole child and on the development of character and individuality.
KAS still stands out from the prevailing educational environment as a school that achieves academic success without unnecessary pressures, and social success through the development of relationships and responsibility rather than external discipline. It is a school that is genuinely loved by students, parents and staff alike.
KAS has often been referred to as a “progressive” school. Certainly, it subscribes to many of the concepts of the progressive movement. We emphasise child-centred education, which aims to draw out the best in the individual child.? We believe that the principles of mutual respect, of relationships based on trust rather than authority and punishment, and of allowing each child to develop at his or her pace in an atmosphere that is free from fear, provide the best learning environment. The school places a strong emphasis on creative and active learning and on the value of play.? Co-education, mixed ability, all ages and non-denomination are its essential and enduring characteristics. Informality is typified by the use of first names, the absence of uniform and as few rules as can be managed within a community.
The village green setting of the main site, next to Hampstead Heath, contributes to the community feeling of KAS. The school has 715 students, from age 4 to 18. Most children will join at Reception and continue on to the end of their school lives. Transition from Lower to Upper School is a natural one and for KAS pupils does not depend on assessments, tests or examinations. Even though KAS is divided into two sections [Lower School, from Reception to Year 6; Upper School, from Year 7 to Year 13], it perceives itself as one school in which all parts belong to a whole. Age groups are encouraged to mix. We aim to provide a happy, compassionate environment in which the emotional, physical and social developments of the child are held in equal regard to academic progress.
A high teacher/pupil ratio enables the committed and professional staff to provide a rich variety of activities. Alongside preparation for GCSE and A levels, teachers strive to provide a broader and more generous education. KAS measures the success of its philosophy by the acknowledged maturity of the students when they leave, by their successful pathways beyond school, and by the fact that students invariably end up doing something worthwhile, interesting or unusual.
KAS is committed to professional development and training for all its staff. New ideas from teachers and children are encouraged and there is active staff involvement in all aspects of the school. Staff are supported to pursue master’s degrees, engage in action research projects, and connect with education professionals in this country and abroad.
The school is owned by and operated through the King Alfred School Society [KASS] members of which are mainly parents, ex-parents, ex-students and members of staff. The majority of the governing body – Council – is composed of parents and ex-parents [some of them ex-pupils]. Like any board of governors, Council is legally responsible for educational policy, financial management and the strategic development of the school. In practical terms, Council delegates the running of the school to the Head and oversees this work through its committee structure. Maintaining the school ethos remains an important part of Council’s responsibilities.
Annual election of Members of Council ensures that parents maintain an active interest and input in how education is carried out at KAS. On the principle that family life is a vital overall aspect of education, parental involvement in the general life of the school is encouraged.
The King Alfred School is situated on two beautiful sites. On the main site at Manor Wood, school buildings are spread around an open field; a number of mature trees from the original Manor Wood provide play and camp-building areas for the younger children and protection for a small amphitheatre. The facilities have been expanded considerably over the years, and there is an exciting building programme for the next five to ten years.
Curriculum Principles:
• Our curriculum can be defined as the sum total of all learning experiences inside and outside the classroom. As such, all members of staff are expected to contribute to the extra-curricular life of the School.
• We put the child at the centre of our teaching and learning. Intelligence, understanding and capabilities will show themselves in many different ways and therefore we aim to educate in a way which will challenge and support each individual.
• Our curriculum aims to help students to make meaning of the world around them. An awareness of spirituality and morality; an understanding of the importance and the limitations of inherited knowledge, culture and values; a sense of social responsibility, and preparation for the world of higher education and work, are all important components of that meaning.
• We value high-level thinking and creativity as well as measurable exam outcomes.
• Our curriculum aims to enable our students to enjoy achievement and keep competition in perspective, valuing the intrinsic worth of actions and learning, rather than the pursuit of prizes.
• While being aware of the National Curriculum, we are not constrained by it and take full advantage of our independence and our own rational, progressive traditions.
• In the Upper school, we teach a broad range of discrete subjects and consider all subjects to have creative and academic aspects and possibilities.
• It is our expectation that in Years 10-13 KAS teachers will use GCSE and A Level specification as a starting point but will aim to teach above and beyond examination requirements.
• Success in external examinations is a proven consequence of our approach but our truest measure of success is the fact that our students leave KAS as adults who are well-rounded, socially adept, emotionally resilient, inquisitive life-long learners, who are self-motivated, independent thinkers.
• We regard our curriculum as dynamic and constantly evolving rather than a static entity. Informed by current educational research and thinking, a process of review and development is embraced by our community of learners, teachers and parents.
PE and Games at KAS
The Post
We require from September 2026 a well-qualified and enthusiastic teacher. The successful candidate must be able to teach PE and Games to Key Stage 5, including Exam classes (GCSE/A Level).
The Department
The Sports Department at King Alfred School provides an enjoyable and inclusive programme of sport and exercise in a safe learning environment. We provide opportunities for every pupil from 4 to 18 to develop physically, socially and emotionally, allowing them to reach their full potential.
The Sports Department, led by the Head of PE and Head of Sport, has six specialist teachers. All staff members currently teach across the age-range, from Reception to Year 13 groups are mixed-ability with no more than twenty-four students in a class.
Our facilities include our playing field, a brand-new AstroTurf pitch, Tennis courts, the Gym and a Fitness Studio. We also make good use of our surroundings with Hampstead Heath Extension and Golders Green park being a regular part of our summer sports programme. We are a well-resourced department, with laptops for staff within the Department so that IT can be integrated into any lesson where it is appropriate.
P.E. and Games
The curriculum and co-curricular programme offer a comprehensive range of learning experiences to meet the needs of individual pupils. We encourage active involvement by all, while at the same time, encouraging the pursuit of excellence. We aim to build confidence, team spirit and an understanding of fair play, ensuring that all pupils are safe and encouraged to do their very best at all times.
Our growing popular extra-curricular programme includes sports clubs offered at break times and at the end of the school day for specific age groups. There are regular fixtures both home and away. Many pupils excel and compete at the highest levels, including national recognition.
In the Lower School, the current department are working to improve the already successful curriculum, and the successful candidate will become part of the working group in the further development of the Lower school Games and PE curriculum. As well as developing their gross motor skills, fitness levels and understanding of strategy and games skills, we want children to embrace and recognise the importance of physical activity in their lives. Pupils from Reception to Year 6 have PE once a week and, in Year 2 and above, additionally have Games on a weekly basis.
In Years 7-9, Games lessons focus on the skills and understanding of more traditional sports such as netball, football, basketball, handball, cricket and rounders. In PE lessons, the Department covers swimming, gymnastics, volleyball, badminton, athletics and fitness.
In Years 10 -11, we offer a GCSE PE option alongside Games sessions which offer diversity, and “activities for all”. In GCSE PE, students study the OCR syllabus and the theory covers topics such as anatomy and physiology, movement analysis, physical training & sports psychology. A significant part of the course is also practical; students need to demonstrate their ability to perform in a competitive environment across a range of areas.
Alongside the GCSE curriculum, we offer a popular Sports Leaders Programme, which has been very successful in recent years, and we are looking to expand this into Higher Sports Leadership Award, which offers UCAS points for Sixth Form students.
We recently launched A level in PE and our first group is about to take their exams this summer, with keen year 11s looking forward to taking A Level PE as an option next year. In addition, in the Sixth Form, all students have one session of Games per week. We have a varied programme which includes Basketball, Yoga, Hiking on the Heath, alongside some of the more traditional sports.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Role: Teacher of PE
Part-time, role is for 2 to 3 days per week (0.4 to 0.6 FTE) with the final number of days to be confirmed based on timetable requirements
Salary: The base salary for this role will be on the KAS scale and the positioning will depend on experience.
[The KAS scale is the same as the Outer London pay scale, plus an additional allowance]
Line Manager: Head of PE and Head of Sport
Job Purpose
To be an effective professional who inspires students with a love of learning, is ambitious for them to achieve well academically and more widely, and who supports them to be happy and fulfilled at school.
Job Duties
(a) Effective and reflective classroom teacher
• Provides a safe, positive learning environment for students
• Ensure that teaching and learning is of a consistently high quality on a day-to-day basis and takes careful account of the range of needs in all classes.
• Provides regular and detailed marking and feedback to support student progress
• Monitor student achievement, sets meaningful targets for student improvement, and puts in place appropriate interventions where required.
• Liaises with the Learning Support department and other key staff to ensure students are effectively supported with their learning and social and emotional development
• Communicates with parents as per the school guidelines, including Parent Report Meetings, written reports, the raising of concerns and prompt responses to enquiries
(b) Team player
• Actively contributes to the department and wider staff team, for example, by taking part in the calendar of meetings and INSET programme
• Takes responsibility for professional development, for example by participating in peer observation and sharing of best practice
• Keeps abreast of national and local developments in the subject you teach
• Assists in the development of schemes of work and resources
(c) Contribution beyond the classroom
• Takes on the role of form tutor or co-tutor
• Liaises with the Pastoral team to support tutees and pupils
• Where requested, provides cover for other colleagues
• Participates in the extra-curricular programme at KAS including clubs and our camps programme
Whilst this job description outlines the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified. Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.
It is understood that areas of responsibility can evolve in the light of the needs of the school and the professional development of the staff. This job description may therefore be periodically amended after joint review with you.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential ttributes:
Qualifications & Experience
• Good honours degree
• PGCE and QTS
• Relevant teaching experience (includes teacher placements for NQTs)
• GCSE or A Level teaching experience
Desirable
• A full D1 driving licence (minibus)
Skills and abilities
• Strong teaching skills
• Strong pastoral skills
• Strong organisational skills
• Excellent standard of written and spoken English
• Ability to establish successful relationships with students, parents and colleagues
Desirable
• Ability to teach and coach some or all of the sports we already offer and offer a specialism in one of the following areas: Handball, Badminton, Tennis, Gymnastics, Sailing or other
Personal attributes
• Enthusiasm and drive
• Empathy and sensitivity
• Resilience
• Analytical and self-reflective
• Welcomes feedback and accountability
• Sets and maintains high standards in professional relationships with young people and colleagues
Committed to:
• The KAS ethos, and child-centred progressive education
• Working in a ‘can-do’ culture with a commitment to continuous improvement
• The happiness, well-being, and progress of all at the school
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
• A competitive pension (APTIS), Employer Contribution 25%, Employee 5%
• The appointment will be made subject to successful references and DBS check.
• The post is a part-time (0.6) position.
• All new staff have a probationary year supported by a carefully structured induction programme.