Head of PE

Harris City Academy Crystal Palace, London, SE19 2JH

15 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  Easter or September

• Closing date

  22 January 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  5 January 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Head of department or curriculum
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Subject: Physical education
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £37,870 - £56,154 + Competitive TLR
• Pay scale: MPS/UPS (Outer London) + £1,500 Harris Allowance + Competitive TLR
• Additional allowances:

  + Performance and Loyalty Bonus + Pension Scheme (TPS) + Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan + Additional Harris Benefits

What skills and experience we're looking for

Are you a passionate teacher looking for your next step? We are looking for a qualified, experienced teacher to join Harris City Academy Crystal Palace as Head of PE.

We would like to hear from you if you:

• Hold QTS (or equivalent) and a relevant undergraduate degree, and, ideally, management training
• Demonstrate successful teaching of GCSE at good or better level
• Have experience of initiation and effective management of change
• Show evidence of raising achievement in present post and showing good value added for groups
• Have knowledge of current curriculum developments in subject and their implications
• Have good knowledge and understanding of current educational thinking
• Show good understanding of how children learn and how to raise standards of achievement
• Have good communication skills in speech and writing
• Display excellent organisational skills
• Are able to build and sustain professional standards and relationships with students
• Are able to contribute towards creating a safe and protective environment

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

What the school offers its staff

Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is a mixed Academy for 1,300 students aged 11-18, with a large sixth form of nearly 400 students. The Academy has three consecutive Outstanding judgments by Ofsted, with the most recent inspection in 2014 finding the Academy to be Outstanding in every aspect. We are a consistently high performing school. Our motto, ‘All Can Achieve' encapsulates our vision that all members of the Academy community are supported and encouraged to achieve their absolute potential. We believe that a well-supported and valued staff body is the key to our success.

We are the ‘Teaching School Hub' for Croydon and Sutton and we are able to offer all teachers an extensive programme of first class professional development. Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is part of the Harris Federation and this enables us to offer you a comprehensive induction programme and training and development opportunities to support your career development including Masters and other qualifications.

Teacher Development

At Harris, we have curated professional development pathways that will guide you towards achieving your career ambitions. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. With a strong network of passionate educators, expert development initiatives and a multitude of opportunities for career progression, your journey with Harris could be the most rewarding one yet.

We offer a wide range of high quality teacher professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership.

Benefits

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance (usually £2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Flexible working opportunities

Harris Federation is committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment for our staff, recognising that achieving a balance between professional and personal responsibilities is essential. We understand that each individual’s circumstances are unique, which is why we offer flexible working options that can be adapted to meet the needs of both the academy and our employees.

Our approach to flexibility includes a range of solutions, from tailored working hours to part-time arrangements, where appropriate, ensuring that we maintain our high standards of education while supporting the wellbeing of our staff. Whether you are a classroom teacher, support staffor part of our senior leadership team, we work together to find solutions that align with both the operational needs of the academy and your professional development.

Harris Federation and our academies are dedicated to creating an inclusive and collaborative environment, where every member of staff can thrive and feel valued in their role.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Working closely with the Director of Performing Arts and PE and the Faculty Director of Science and PE to ensure effective leadership of the department
• Assisting and deputising for the Director of Performing Arts and PE when necessary
• Managing and overseeing the day-to-day running of the PE department
• Promoting an inclusive environment that provides development opportunities for all students
• Assisting in developing and delivering the PE curriculum
• Implementing and reviewing Key Stage 3 and 4 core curriculum to ensure breadth, balance and relevance for all students
• Ensuring the development of Physical Education aligns with the national curriculum
• Ensuring appropriate schemes of work for all courses taught and updating them regularly in line with national developments
• Determining, implementing and monitoring systems for improving student attainment and progress in Physical Education
• Liaising with the SENCO and staff with Special Educational Needs expertise to ensure curriculum accessibility for all students
• Communicating weekly through the Academy Bulletin
• Delivering an outstanding extra-curricular programme for students
• Maintaining team rooms, resources and equipment in good order with regard to health and safety, security and display
• Assisting in running the Academy's Sixth Form Rugby Academy
• Organising fixtures, training and competitions for the Academy's lower school rugby programme
• Overseeing inter-faculty competitions within the Academy
• Delivering outstanding provision for gifted and talented athletes within the Academy

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Commitment to safeguarding

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Head of PE Jan 26.pdf - 302 KB (opens in new tab)

About Harris City Academy Crystal Palace

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1162 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Harris City Academy Crystal Palace website
• Email address: careers@harrisfederation.org.uk
• Phone number: 0208 771 2261
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/harris-city-academy-crystal-palace

Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is a pioneering academy for 1,300 students aged 11-18, and celebrated its 25th anniversary last academic year. The founding academy of the Harris Federation, it has three consecutive outstanding judgments by Ofsted, most recently finding the academy to be outstanding in every aspect in 2014. It is one of the most oversubscribed comprehensive schools in the country and in the top 5% for performance. Come and see us in action: visits to Harris City Academy Crystal Palace are strongly encouraged and very welcome. Please call 0208 771 2261 or info@harriscrystalpalace.org.uk to arrange a time to come in or an informal conversation with the Principal.

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