The Oratory – Senior Rowing Coach and Boathouse Manager

The Oratory is an HMC co-educational independent school for pupils aged 11 to 18, providing an allround education of quality and purpose. We welcomed our first girls to the school in September 2020 – with intakes in all year groups except Year 11 and Year 13 – and currently have 50 girls at the
school.

We offer small class sizes and outstanding facilities on a wonderful South Oxfordshire country estate and yet we are within easy travelling distance of London, major motorways, railways and airports.

The Oratory School has high academic standards; however, we believe that an education is about more than statistics. We have a clear vision to ensure that each pupil flourishes and fulfils their maximum potential both in and far beyond the classroom. To this end, a wide variety of co-curricular activities enrich the pupils’ learning and all pupils get the opportunity to develop their specific talents to the full. The Oratory is not a large school, and this enables each and every pupil to be known, valued and stretched as an individual within our nurturing community.

Founded in 1859 by Saint John Henry Newman – we are a Catholic school which welcomes pupils of all faiths or none. Visitors often comment on the inclusive community atmosphere of our school, which we believe nurtures confidence, self-expression and a desire to learn and grow.

Message from the Head Master

Thank you for your interest in potentially joining us as a colleague at The Oratory School. I’m delighted that you are considering applying for this post and hope very much that, once you have read through the application pack, you will decide to do so.

I do hope that you will apply and I hope to meet you in due course and discuss the possibility of your coming to join us at The Oratory.

With best wishes

Joe Smith BA MEd PGCE
Head Master

Senior Rowing Coach and Boathouse Manager

Purpose of the role

The main duty of the role is to manage all areas of running the boat club including coaching anddevelopment. In addition, there is the responsibility to continue to run well trained teams in a variety of competitions, the running of a well-ordered boathouse, basic routine maintenance of kit and the health and safety and well-being of all is of paramount importance.

Coaching role:

  • Setting the overall club Training program for the age groups and specific individuals, sharing plans with coaches and organising to enable efficient use of school resources.
  • Setting up and helping with the maintenance of boats and equipment rigging.
  • In assistance with Head of Rowing (HoR) mentor and develop coaches in line with BR standards and arrange courses and other opportunities for them.
  • Helping to arrange and run trips and camps for crews, organising and running these in arrangement with the Head of Rowing.
  • Prep school camp and summer camps: Playing a lead role in coaching prep school enrichment sessions as arranged with the Head of Rowing. Running rowing camp opportunities for prep school age Children each summer in July.
  • Being willing to training in and lead/assist with delivery of S and C / training sessions for cross sport provision and for specific rowing groups and individuals.
  • Coaching school Rowing sessions during Games periods + running additional training sessions with school rowers.
  • Assist with organising and running visits to external Regattas and Head Races in conjunction with the Head of Rowing.
  • Assist the other coaches at regattas and head races, both rigging/ derigging /loading boats and with launching for races.
  • Hold and be able to demonstrate excellent knowledge of rowing and sculling techniques.
  • Hold and be able to demonstrate excellent knowledge of the principles of boat rigging.
  • Be responsible for a duty of care for rowers and to act in loco parentis when taking groups of pupils to any event/camp.
  • Maintaining a pupil focused approach to all activities and training.
  • Hold or be prepared to train for the L2 British Rowing Coaching qualification, DVLA driving licence and minibus and towing licence (D1+E).

Boathouse Management:

Organising the boat house to ensure a safe and effective environment for the school rowing to function from including:

  • Ensuring suitable racking of the boats and storage of other equipment – cleaning the boat
    house and the boat bays regularly, including the removal of litter, water bottles etc
  • Ensuring, landing stages are clean before each outing. Checking and arranging
    maintenance of the landing stage area.
  • Ensure the fleet of boats and blades are well maintained, including:
  • Monitor condition of all equipment and prioritise a programme of repairs and refurbishment as required.
  • Make repairs to boats and equipment, as necessary and where possible.
  •  Ensure that the boats are cleaned regularly.
  • Ensure that the boats conform to the safety standards set out in BR’s ‘Row Safe Guide’
  • Ensure that all blades are labelled and stored correctly and painted in club colours.
  • Collection and/or drop off of any equipment as instructed by the Head of Rowing.
  • Ensure a good supply of spares are maintained and stored appropriately at the boathouse
    for all makes of boats used.
  • Ensure a good supply of tools for crew use are available and in good order.
  • Charge and maintain cox boxes.
  • Check and maintain life jackets and complete safety checks.
  • Help to maintain rigging set ups on all boats and help rig racing boats as required bycoaches / HoR.
  • Clean and maintain condition of coaching launches doing any reasonable and necessarywork to keep them in good order.
  • Organise any repair and maintenance of outboard engines. Ensure all coaching launches have safety bags and conform to British Rowing guidelines.
  • Maintain good condition and arrange servicing of the boat club vehicle in conjunction with the School Transport Manager.
  • Maintain trailers, with the assistance of the school Transport manager arrange for their annual service.
  • Organise and arrange the loading of trailers, working closely with the HoR and coaches, for all rowing events.
  • Where possible tow trailers to event and support all the coaches.
  • With the HoR submit an annual safety audit for British Rowing and undertake any necessary improvements, where highlighted by British Rowing, to equipment and facilities.
  • Arrange with the approval of HoR/Bursar the disposal or sale of unwanted equipment
  • Liaise with School Estates Bursar regarding any maintenance of the Boat House, Boat House security and Fire safety requirements.
  • All works and costs to be notified to the Head of Rowing who will monitor expenditure and timetable of work.

Transportation

  • To collect and make deliveries of equipment, including boats, launches or other items as necessary.
  • To assist in transport of boats to from regattas, involvement in towing trailers to and from regattas, and assist with their loading and unloading.

Health and Safety

  • To fully understand the implications of the Health and Safety Policy within the boathouse and be responsible to maintain standards which meet these requirements maintaining safety equipment within the boathouse and in the launches.
  • Ensuring the boathouse is a safe and healthy environment and resources are stored correctly.
  • Adhere to the School’s H&S and Staff Behaviour policies and procedures.
  • Train in basic first and sports first aid and be prepared to help others. Reporting incidents and liaising with School’s Nursing Team when needed (training will be provided).
  • Be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people for whom s/he is responsible and will always adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

Other

  • To become a Fire Marshal trainer and First Aider. Training will be provided.
  • Any other reasonable tasks required by The Headmaster, Bursar, Head of Rowing and/or Deputy Head in association with the above role.
  • To attend all School INSET briefings.
  • Perform any other tasks required for this role with the limits of capability.

Administration

  • Work with the Head of rowing to assist in the necessary administration of the club, as required.

Salary

The salary is competitive and will be dependent upon skills and experience.

Hours:

40 hours a week over a 7-day period, all year round.

Benefits

  • Free Sports Centre membership with access to the gym, squash courts, lane swimming and golf course.
  • Meals while on duty during term time.
  • Contributory pension scheme.
  • Death in Service benefit.
  • Free parking.

Safeguarding

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The following duties will be deemed to be included in the duties, which you may be required to perform:

  • child protection, discipline, health and safety.
  • promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications/Attainment

Good GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications in English Language and Maths – Essential

A specialist Sports and/or relevant British Rowing coaching qualification. (Relevant experience and a willingness to train as a BR coach may be taken into account if no qualification has been achieved) – Essential

Full driver’s license (clean) – Essential

Powerboat Qualification is desirable – Desirable

Skills and knowledge

Knowledge of the principles of rigging and be able to rig boats and blades accurately – Essential

A high level of rowing boat and maintenance experience combined with rowing and/or coaching experience. (Relevant experience and a willingness to train as a BR coach may be taken into account if no qualification has been achieved) – Essential

Experience of working with children or young people – Essential

Awareness of Health and Safety issues (First Aid training will be provided) – Essential

Well organised, able to approach work methodically, prioritise and meet deadlines – Essential

Good collaborative skills, able to quickly establish effective working relationships with key people across the school -Essential

Excellent organisational and time management skills; competency in the use of ICT for administration – Essential

A warm, cheerful and well-presented person, capable of inspiring confidence in pupils and parents – Essential

An understanding of the expectations, ethos and aims of a full boarding school and the demands of a successful co-curricular programme – Essential

Attitude/approach

Be conscientious and diligent and show attention to detail – Essential

Be prepared to work in all weathers – Essential

Ability to develop practical solutions to challenges – Essential

Ability in achieving challenging targets and objectives – Essential

Committed to the safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people – Essential

Proactive and resilient attitude – Essential

Applications: (Early applications are encouraged).

Please send your applications together with a covering letter to Human Resources Department, The Oratory School, Woodcote, Reading, RG8 0PJ. Alternatively, you may email them through to [email protected]. For any queries please phone 01491 683506.

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications or if we find a suitable candidate.

Application Dates: From Wednesday 14th July 2021 to Monday 2nd August 2021

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