PE and Outdoor Education Instructor

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Job Title:  PE and Outdoor Education Instructor
Location:  Abbey Gardens School, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6SA
Hours:  37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday     
Salary:  Up to £39,000.00 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:  January 2027       
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

At Abbey Gardens School, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to thrive, achieve and develop the confidence, skills and qualifications needed for a successful future. Guided by our vision of "We are BRAVE", we are looking for an enthusiastic and inspiring PE and Outdoor Education Instructor to lead engaging learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom and help students develop academically, socially and personally.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver a dynamic programme of Physical Education, Outdoor Learning and Life Skills across the school. You will play a key role in developing a progressive curriculum that supports student achievement, emotional wellbeing, independence, employability and preparation for adulthood. Working closely with colleagues and external partners, you will create meaningful opportunities that build confidence, resilience, teamwork and leadership skills while helping students achieve recognised qualifications and accreditations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Delivering engaging PE, Outdoor Education and Life Skills lessons across the school.
• Leading the development of a progressive and innovative PE and Outdoor Education curriculum.
• Creating learning opportunities that support EHCP outcomes, personal development and academic achievement.
• Planning and leading educational visits, enrichment activities and off-site learning experiences.
• Developing programmes that build independence, employability skills and preparation for adulthood.
• Creating opportunities for students to develop confidence, resilience, teamwork, communication and leadership skills.
• Supporting students through experiential and outdoor learning opportunities that promote engagement and wellbeing.
• Developing accreditation pathways and qualifications such as PE GCSE, Duke of Edinburgh, ASDAN, John Muir Award, Forest School Awards and other recognised programmes.
• Building strong partnerships with employers, community organisations and outdoor learning providers.
• Monitoring student progress and celebrating achievement through accreditation and reward programmes.
• Promoting a therapeutic, trauma-informed and relational approach to learning and behaviour.
• Ensuring the highest standards of safeguarding, inclusion, health and safety during all activities and educational visits.
• Contributing to whole-school improvement and championing the Abbey Gardens School vision of "We are BRAVE".

About You

We are looking for someone who is passionate about helping young people succeed and who believes in the power of physical activity, outdoor learning and real-world experiences to transform lives.

You will have:

• Experience of teaching children and young people.
• Experience of working with students with SEND and/or SEMH needs.
• Experience of leading PE, outdoor learning, adventurous activities or experiential learning programmes.
• A strong understanding of SEMH needs and trauma-informed practice.
• Excellent communication, organisational and planning skills.
• The ability to inspire, motivate and engage students with a wide range of needs and abilities.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to develop innovative curriculum opportunities.
• Excellent knowledge of health, safety and risk management within outdoor learning environments.
• A full UK driving licence.

Desirable qualifications and experience include:

• QTS or an equivalent teaching qualification.
• Forest School Leader qualification.
• Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) qualification.
• Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader accreditation.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of young people, helping them develop the confidence, resilience, independence and skills they need to thrive both in school and beyond.

About Us

Abbey Gardens is a brand-new specialist school, part of Acorn Education, supporting young people aged 11–16 with SEMH needs. Opened in June 2026, we provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where every student is supported to thrive.

Our personalised curriculum builds on the National Curriculum while being adapted to each student’s individual needs, strengths and aspirations. We combine academic learning with personal development, helping students build confidence, resilience, independence and essential life skills.

As the school grows, our curriculum will remain relevant, engaging and purposeful, with Key Stage 3 and 4 pathways offering recognised accreditation wherever possible. Our aim is simple: to help every young person overcome barriers, experience success and build a positive future.

At Outcomes First Schools, we provide specialist education for learners who need a deeper level of understanding, expertise and support than mainstream education can typically offer. We support students with a wide range of complex, co-occurring and neurodivergent needs, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, speech and communication needs, dyslexia and experiences of trauma or adversity.

We are proud to be a part of OFG Education who in 2025 were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place students and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

OFG Education is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, OFG Education does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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