Outdoor Learning Coordinator
The William Henry Smith School and Sixth Form, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 3JW19 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
28 October 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
9 October 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other support role
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: Permanent, Term-time only plus 2 weeks holiday cover, 37 hours per week
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- NJC Scale 26 – 33 (£38,510.00 - £45,529.00 FTE) (Actual Salary: £34,711.66 - £41,038.36)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Education/Qualifications/Training
Trained in delivery of Duke of Edinburgh, Lowland Leader, Hill and Moorland Leader, Mountain Leader, Forest Schools or a willingness to attend training
Up to date First Aid certificate (CPD/Training) First Aid Qual
Experience
Experience in managing and delivering programmes or projects for young people
Ability to demonstrate management of outdoor education or adventurous activity programmes
Experience of developing and managing partnerships with external providers and community organisations
Ability to demonstrate excellent leadership and management skills
Proven track record of ability to make use of and develop the outdoor learning space available
Be highly skilled in behaviour management skills, with the ability to manage confrontation and challenging behaviour
Knowledge & Understanding
Understand the contribution outdoor learning makes to wellbeing, engagement, communication, personal development and preparation for life
Ability to lead a range of outdoor activities
Ability to work with external provider to co-ordinate outdoor education
Ability to create and maintain a safe, happy, stimulating and well-organised learning space(s)
Good organisational and personal management skills
Understanding of Quality of Life and Positive Behaviour Support approaches
Attributes, Skills and Abilities
Driving licence D1 & E
An ability to demand high standards
Ability to work in a team
Personal Qualities
Values-driven, committed to Safeguarding, student welfare, equality and diversity
Self-motivated and proactive, with a willingness to undertake further training and continuous learning
Commitment to the aims, values and ethos of the Foundation, including Quality of Life and Positive Behaviour Support
Passionate advocate for outdoor learning, enrichment and preparation for life
Passionate about working with children and young people
Flexible and responsive to change
Ability to work under pressure. Manages time effectively
High level of positivity and emotional resilience in working with challenging behaviours
Creative, ambitious, solution-focused, resilient, adaptable and responsive to change
Ability to relate well and motivate young people
Able to influence and coordinate others through expertise, relationships and shared purpose
Ability to keep children and young people safe, including child protection and forming and maintaining appropriate relationships and personal boundaries
Effective planning and delivery
Effective behaviour management Ability to monitor participation, identify barriers and use evidence to improve provision
Good organisational and personal management skills
What the school offers its staff
Health & Wellbeing Support
Westfield Health Fully funded core cover (colleagues pay only the taxable benefit). Includes:
Doctor Line & Best Doctors access
CBT sessions and counselling
24/7 counselling and legal advice
£150 alternative therapies allowance
£150 physiotherapy and related therapies allowance
Routine healthcare cashback (dental, optical, chiropody)
Easy access via dedicated app
Headspace
Reduced annual subscription for meditation, mindfulness, sleep tools and stress reduction.
Menopause Café
A supportive and inclusive space to learn, share experiences, and access resources.
Fitness & Lifestyle Support
Nutritional and physical training from a specialist personal trainer
Lifestyle, wellbeing and financial guidance
Encouragement of peer learning and shared expertise
Occupational Health
Onsite Occupational Health Nurse and a team of external consultants supporting physical and emotional wellbeing.
Annual Flu Vaccine
Free flu vaccinations delivered onsite.
Life Assurance Scheme
4x annual salary coverage (or via Teachers' Pension Scheme). Expression-of-wish form completed on joining.
Work–Life Brilliance
Quality of Life Hour Weekly dedicated wellbeing hour with activities such as yoga, HIIT gym work, arts & crafts, gardening, bingo, badminton, darts, secret spa sessions, nail delights and more.
Staff Meals
Daily hot lunch in The Barn for School-site colleagues
Delivered meals for College-site colleagues
Termly refreshed menus and meals provided on L&D days
Wellbeing Gifts & Celebrations
Wellbeing gifts at Christmas and Easter
Subsidised staff festive party and end-of-summer celebration
Life Days
One paid Life Day each academic year
An additional Life Day for 100% attendance
Healthy Email Boundaries
Colleagues are encouraged not to check or send emails between 7pm–7am or on weekends (unless required by role).
Free On-site Parking
Accessible, free parking with encouragement of car sharing.
Financial & Lifestyle Benefits
Discounts for Teachers
Free membership for all staff, providing:
Discounts across retail, travel, utilities, insurance and more
Cashback opportunities via an ode card
Free access to discounts across travel, groceries, electronics, cinema, home & garden and more.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Available after 6 months' service via salary sacrifice, repaid over 12 months.
Contributory Pension Scheme
Competitive employer contributions to the Peoples Pension scheme:
Standard: 4% employee / 6% Foundation (10% total)
Higher: 5% employee / 7.5% Foundation (12.5% total)
Heads of Departments Higher: 5% employee / 10% Foundation (15% total)
All contributions made by way of salary exchange to provide for additional individuals’ National Insurance Contributions savings
Employer National Insurance Contributions savings as a result of salary exchange are also paid into the individuals’ pension accounts and therefore increasing the overall contributions shown above as follows: -
Standard: 4% employee/6% Foundation/0.6% Employer NICs savings (10.6% total)
Higher: 5% employee/7.5% Foundation/0.75% Employer NICs savings (13.25% total)
Heads of Departments Higher: 5% employee/10% Foundation/0.75% Employer NICs savings (15.75% total)
Teachers have separate pension arrangements through the Teachers’ Pension Scheme
Branded Work Wear
Quality branded work wear, of which some is subsidised
Long Service Awards
Recognition gifts and certificates; additional week of holiday pay for term-time staff after 5 years’ service
Leave & Family Support
Maternity, Adoption & Parental Support Up to 12 months leave for all, with enhanced Foundation pay based on service and role.
Enhanced Family Leave
Paternity Leave
Neonatal Care Leave
Parental Bereavement Leave
Additional Paid Leave
Compassionate Leave
Bereavement Leave
Religious Observance
Time Off for Dependants
Funeral Attendance
Learning, Development & Career Growth
Induction & Onboarding
Learning & Development Programme
Performance Development Reviews (PDRs)
Employee Voice & Community
Wellbeing Champions
Surveys & Feedback Loops
Working Together for a Thriving Community
Every benefit in this brochure reflects our commitment to fostering a compassionate, collaborative, empowered and future-focused workplace. Thank you for being a valued part of the William Henry Smith Foundation. If you have any questions, the HR Team is always here to support you.
Further information about the job
Purpose of the Job:
To co-ordinate, develop and deliver a creative, therapeutic and engaging outdoor learning and enrichment programme that connects children and young adults with nature, promoting curiosity, independence, wellbeing and a sense of belonging.
To support the Foundation's Enrichment for All commitment by ensuring every child and young adult can access inclusive and meaningful experiences that develop their talents, interests, aspirations, resilience and confidence.
To uphold the Foundation's Quality of Life and Positive Behaviour Support ethos, promoting the Foundation's values of belonging, respect, kindness, collaboration, integrity and inclusion while supporting positive relationships, emotional wellbeing and personal development.
To promote diversity, equality and the voice of children and young adults, ensuring they have opportunities to influence and shape their learning and enrichment experiences.
To work collaboratively with education, therapy, pastoral, residential and family support teams to provide personalised enrichment opportunities that enhance engagement, independence, life skills and overall quality of life.
To maintain high aspirations for every child and young adult, using enrichment and outdoor learning experiences to broaden horizons, develop confidence, inspire ambition and prepare them for life within their communities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Skills, Knowledge and Understanding:
- Plan, coordinate or deliver, assess and evaluate outdoor learning sessions across school.
- Be able to use IT and report writing to record and assess student’s achievements and progress.
- Be responsible for outdoor learning equipment, tools and clothing.
- Carry out and maintain all risk assessments.
- Develop the outdoor learning philosophy and ethos across school.
- Plan, lead and evaluate DoE sessions leading to a qualification.
- Lead groups of students with SEMH difficulties and coordinate and lead staff involved in the outdoor learning.
- Work with a range of staff across school.
- Take a leading role in the organisation of ‘holiday experiences’ and other outdoor learning events.
- Be willing to take part in CPD.
- An awareness of current health and safety requirements and current legislation surrounding outdoor education.
- Use the current site facilities to deliver and then go on to develop the outdoors as a learning environment.
- Ability to build positive, trusting and therapeutic relationships with children and young people.
- Ability to use pupil voice to inform and shape outdoor learning and enrichment opportunities.
- Ability to promote resilience, confidence, independence and positive risk-taking through outdoor learning experiences.
Support for Students:
- Ensure PBS (Positive Behaviour Support) supports human rights and supports respect, dignity and inclusion working in partnership with the person and their family. Implement the overall aim of PBS by improving the quality of a person’s life and that of the people around them. Use different methods to gather information about the function behind the behaviour and empower people to identify better methods to meet their needs. This will be achieved through the implementation of natural consequences, dialogue, clearly defined boundaries and high expectations which helps young people begin to independently develop their own strategies and make improved choices over time.
- To adopt the role of a Key Worker and attend to students’ personal needs and provide advice to assist in their social, emotional and mental health needs and development.
Support for the curriculum:
- Implement agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adapting activities according to student responses/needs
- Determine the need for, prepare and use specialist equipment, plans and resources to support students, including where these need outsourcing by external partners
Support for the school:
- Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support differences and ensure all students have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
- Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school
- Attend and participate in regular meetings
- Participate in training and other learning activities as required
- Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others
- Supervise students on visits, trips and out of school activities as required
Managing own performance and development:
- Prioritise and manage own time effectively, particularly in relation to balancing the demands made by teaching, subject management and involvement in school development;
- Achieve challenging professional goals;
- Take responsibility for your own professional development.
Extra-Curricular Activities:
- Participate in a programme of Outdoor Education (normally a total of 2 weeks residential per annum).
Other Specific Requirements:
- To participate in the Foundation’s programme of performance management.
- Understand their professional responsibilities in relation to the Foundation’s policies and practices.
- To participate in whole Foundation training days.
- To ensure your Essential Training/Reading is kept up to date as well as any CPD relevant to the role.
- To work across all Foundation sites as and when required by line management.
To undertake such other duties appropriate to the post as may from time to time be required to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the Foundation
Commitment to safeguarding
William Henry Smith Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Our recruitment process aims to create and maintain a safe workforce and contains robust vetting procedures. The successful applicant will be appointed subject to references and enhanced child/adult DBS check including barred list (this is a regulated activity position).
The successful candidate will be subject to a rigorous safer recruitment process and must adhere to a strict code of conduct regarding behaviour. Shortlisted candidates will be subject to online searches in accordance with KCSIE 2025.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About The William Henry Smith School and Sixth Form
- Organisation type
- Special school, ages 5 to 19
- Size
- 83 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 5 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- gemma.maloney@thesmithfoundation.org.uk
- Phone number
- 01484710123
William Henry Smith Foundation values equality and diversity across its workforce and aims to ensure our staff community is reflective of the diversity of the children and young people within our care. We are also committed to promoting the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of both students and staff and reflects life in Modern Britain.
William Henry Smith Foundation is a registered charity that operates the outstanding William Henry Smith School, Sixth Form and Specialist College and therapeutic children’s home, all for children and young adults experiencing social, emotional, and mental health challenges (SEMH).
The School, Sixth-Form, Specialist College and Children's home have a wealth and breadth of professionals which form an integrated team around students, including Creative Arts Psychotherapists, Speech and Language and Occupational Therapists, Nurses, a Social Worker and a Family team. Residential Care and Teaching and Learning staff play a vital part in children’s lives, progress and quality of life.
Arranging a visit to The William Henry Smith School and Sixth Form
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email gemma.maloney@thesmithfoundation.org.uk.
School location
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