German European School Singapore (GESS) is a world class, not for profit International School in Singapore that offers both the German Curriculum stream and the IB Curriculum stream.
Currently, more than 1850 students are learning at our international school supported by more than 400 full time and part time academic and administrative staff members.
Head of Physical and Outdoor Education
Commencing: 01 August 2025
Reporting to the Director of Innovation and Educational Programs, this position oversees key school-wide educational programs. It requires a visionary leader with the flexibility to enhance our physical and outdoor education offerings, inspiring students and staff to engage and develop these areas. The role involves creating a structured, age-appropriate physical curriculum and outdoor activities program for students aged 4 to 18, fostering teamwork, leadership, and activity-specific skills. Responsibilities include overseeing the implementation of sporting competitions and outdoor activities, managing the program's budget, and ensuring proper control and maintenance of equipment. Additionally, the role involves expanding the portfolio of day and residential trips, supporting trip leaders, and leading expeditions during term time and holidays. This position also involves coordinating all physical education teachers and managing the utilization of PE and outdoor facilities. Collaboration between core academic departments and broader school programs is integral to the role.
Responsibilities
Leading and Managing Staff
· Leading the Physical and Outdoor Education department strategically, creating a learning community with high standards, high expectations and a culture of collaboration and learning.
· Leading and managing the development of learning and teaching strategies within the department, ensuring staff develop innovative and effective pedagogical expertise, facilitating appropriate development opportunities for all department colleagues as necessary.
· Functionally line-managing Physical and Outdoor Education teachers and sports coaches within the department, to facilitate high achievement and efficiency across all facets of the department.
· Maintaining a learning climate that is inclusive and safe, yet challenging and innovative, ensuring appropriate differentiation to meet the needs of students with all learning profiles.
· Lead and contribute to a comprehensive program of fixtures, competitions and outdoor educational experiences.
· Ensure full risk assessments for PE and Outdoor Education are in place, including keeping up to date records from third party providers.
· Create a positive and safe environment where all students are respected, encouraged to participate, and supported in their well-being and high achievement.
· Provide training opportunities for PE and Outdoor Education teachers and sports coaches within.
· Foster excellent communication with parents, students, and staff.
Leading Teaching and Learning
· Ensure effective teaching and learning strategies are in place across the department, supporting the school’s strategic implementation plan.
· Monitor and evaluate standards of teaching, student progress, and classroom management within the department.
· Plan and oversee educational visits and events relevant to the PE and Outdoor Education curriculum.
· Support teachers in identifying the most effective teaching approaches.
· Monitor teaching and learning activities to ensure they meet the needs of all students.
· Ensure successful organisation, communication and running of sporting events, including but not limited to sports days and swim galas.
Recording and Assessment
· Develop understanding of learning needs and the importance of raising achievement for all students.
· Lead the PE and Outdoor Education team to set targets for raising achievement for all students.
· Maintain and enhance systems for identifying, assessing and reviewing PE and Outdoor Education teaching staff and Sports coaches.
· Keep parents informed about their child's progress through regular reports, parents’ meetings and appropriate communication.
Budgets and Resources
· Identify resources needed to meet the needs of all PE and Outdoor Education students.
· Advise the SLT and the Line Manager of priorities for expenditure and manage the PE and Outdoor Education department budget.
· To have the day-to-day responsibility for all PE and Outdoor Education resources in the school.
Additional responsibilities
· Teach lessons for PE and Outdoor Education as assigned by line manager.
· Contribute by regularly communicating with the marketing and BeyondClassroom teams to celebrate and inform the community about developments and achievements in PE and Outdoor Education.
· All other responsibilities and tasks as deemed appropriate by SLT and the Line Manager.
Knowledge and Experience
An experienced leader with the following key areas of knowledge and expertise:
· Educated to Degree Level, Masters (or equivalent) preferred.
· Qualified Teacher status with previous experience of teaching and leadership in Physical and Outdoor Education.
· Proven leadership experience in a senior educational leadership role.
· Proven ability to develop opportunities for parental involvement.
· Good understanding of educational quality management and its role in relevance for the quality of performance in international schools.
· Proven understanding of effective teaching and learning theory and practice.
· A good understanding of the curriculum.
· An excellent understanding of contemporary international educational policies and best practices.
· Certification in First Aid and other relevant courses.
Technical and Soft Skills
With a demonstrable ability to communicate professionally, to work collaboratively and build relationships at all levels and across diverse cultures and generations, will also be:
· Positive and enthusiastic personality.
· Patient, resourceful and observant.
· Someone of high personal standing and integrity.
· An excellent communicator, both verbal and written.
· Results driven, able to evaluate performance, provide necessary support, take tough decisions, and hold people to account.
· A team player paired with leadership skills and intellectual capacity to improve whole-school standards and student achievement/outcomes.
· Someone who drives excellence through valuing and developing others.
· An innovative thinker with an informed and critical awareness of the prevailing and evolving global trends in education.
· Able to work under pressure, with excellent organisational and time-management skills and high attention to detail with a willingness to take on multiple tasks.
· Proactive and able to prompt others to ensure deadlines are achieved.
· Adaptable with a flexible mind-set and openness to innovative ideas.
Keen to collaborate and share your specialist expertise, you will be a fitting ambassador for the school. You will communicate with confidence across diverse audiences and situations, using your expertise to build strong relationships across the GESS community.
Our School
The German European School Singapore (GESS) is a multi-lingual, not-for-profit, German international school in Singapore with a distinct European flavour. As an accredited ‘Excellent German School Abroad’, the German Section of GESS offers all major German school leaving certificates.
Our European Section offers tuition in English for students from grade 1 - 12 across all three IB programmes (the PYP, the MYP and the IB Diploma Programme) as an authorised IB World School.
Children aged 2 years onwards can enroll in our Preschool where children are following the PYP programme in German-speaking, English-speaking or bilingual groups. In addition to an outstanding academic education, GESS strives to teach students community values such as respect, openness and diversity.
To Apply
We offer an exciting working environment in an international and cooperative team. Your application should include a letter of application and your complete resume. Please indicate your reasons for applying for the position.
Our Selection Process
At GESS we adhere to fair employment practices that consist of hiring practices that are fair, merit-based and non-discriminatory.
We are committed to providing a world class, safe, happy environment in which children and young people are able to thrive and learn. We are committed to safeguarding and child protection as we promote the welfare of all our pupils irrespective of race, ability, religion, gender or culture.
All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures including satisfactory reference and background checks and the offer of employment will be subject to the completion of these. In addition, the visa entry requirements for Singapore are subject to certain requirements being met. This includes but is not limited to, mandatory diphtheria and measles vaccination requirements for children attending school in Singapore will need to be in place prior to arriving in Singapore in order for the criteria for a child Dependent Pass to be met and the visa granted. Further information on this will be shared at interview stage if applicable.
Please note, that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
Safeguarding Commitment
GESS is committed to our responsibilities for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people. We actively recruit candidates who share our commitment to safeguarding and, therefore, apply robust and comprehensive recruitment and selection procedures. We expect all appointed staff to adhere to and ensure compliance with the relevant GESS Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. If the job holder identifies any instance that a child may be harmed or are at risk of harm (physically or emotionally) in any environment, they must report any concerns to the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or a member of the Safeguarding Team.
CPE registration number: S72SS0010G Registration period: 22 June, 2023 – 21 June, 2029