Head of Outdoor Education

As one of the leading international schools in Singapore, GESS is home to students from over 70 nations worldwide. We are for many families the home away from home and we are very happy that they are part of our school community which is based on mutual support and solidarity. With our language programme, we support our students to nurture this part of their identity and want to preserve the opportunity that they can grow up with multiple languages to be best prepared for an international environment. With the German International Abitur or the IB Programme they are perfectly prepared for their career after school. Our students enjoy lifelong learning and we take pride in our GESS values of respect, openness and diversity which our students will nurture in their life after school.

We were awarded with the “Deutsche Schulpreis” (German school prize) 2022, which was given to us for our extraordinary concept according to their motto “Make teaching better”. We stand out as the only German school abroad nominated for this award.

 

 

Job Purpose
The Head of Outdoor Education leads the design, delivery and continuous development of a whole-school Outdoor Education programme for Grades 1 to 12, aligned to the IB PYP, MYP and DP and to the GESS mission. The post holder builds a progressive pathway of outdoor learning, day experiences, residentials and expeditions in which students develop competence, confidence, resilience and care for the environment year on year, culminating in a High School expedition and leadership strand linked to CAS.

The Head of Outdoor Education is a teaching and leadership post. The post holder owns the outdoor education curriculum and the school’s outdoor safety management system, line-manages the Outdoor Education Coaches, trains and supports accompanying teachers, manages the department budget, equipment and external providers, and reports on the programme to the Senior Leadership Team and, through the Director of Educational Programs, to the Board of Governors. The post holder is an educator who is creative, collaborative and prepared to share their expertise with colleagues, with a passion for students and their learning.

 

 

Main responsibilities

• Leading, developing and supporting a productive, positive and effective Outdoor Education team
• Designing, writing and maintaining the whole-school Outdoor Education progression framework (Grades 1 to 12), articulated with the PYP, MYP and DP and with the IB Learner Profile and Approaches to Learning
• Planning and publishing the annual calendar of outdoor learning units, day experiences, residentials and expeditions, and redesigning Enrichment Week as the culmination of year-round outdoor learning
• Teaching outdoor learning across the grades and leading the High School (Grades 9 to 12) expedition and leadership strand, including its link to CAS and service as action
• Working with Heads of School, Programme Coordinators and class teachers to embed outdoor learning units in the written and taught curriculum
• Monitoring and evaluating the quality of outdoor teaching and learning against agreed school expectations, and reporting outcomes to the relevant Directors
• Running effective departmental meetings and communicating effectively within the department, across the school and with parents
• Informing the Director of Educational Programs of all relevant issues in a timely manner

 

Safety management

• Owning the school’s Outdoor Education safety management system: policies, standard operating procedures, activity-specific risk assessments, emergency and critical-incident plans, incident reporting and review
• Ensuring the programme meets the Singapore Standard on management systems for Outdoor Adventure Education activities and recognised international good practice, and maintaining the school’s readiness for external review or accreditation
• Vetting, contracting and monitoring external providers, venues and transport, including overseas expedition operators
• Setting and enforcing staff-to-student ratios, competency requirements and leader qualifications for every activity, on and off site
• Ensuring appropriate insurance, medical screening, consent, safeguarding arrangements and communication protocols are in place for every off-site activity
• Acting as senior leader on residentials and expeditions and as the first point of escalation for incidents in the field

 

Leading the team

• Line-managing, appraising and developing the Outdoor Education Coaches
• Training, briefing and supporting teachers who accompany outdoor learning, residentials and expeditions, and maintaining a register of staff qualifications and competencies
• Building in-house capacity so that outdoor learning is delivered by GESS staff rather than relying on external providers

 

School development

• Developing outdoor learning opportunities and events beyond the classroom, including co-curricular outdoor clubs and award schemes
• Developing and implementing agreed school policies and actively promoting a whole-school vision for wellbeing, student agency and sustainability
• Working as part of teaching and learning groups to innovate, develop and implement whole-school priorities; taking a whole-school leadership role where required
• Contributing to the school-wide professional development programme and representing GESS in regional and international outdoor education networks
• Supporting Admissions and Communications in presenting the programme to current and prospective families

 

Key accountabilities

• A coherent, progressive Outdoor Education programme is in place for every grade in scope and is developed in line with school-wide priorities
• Every outdoor activity is delivered within an approved, documented safety management system; incidents are reported, reviewed and acted upon
• The Outdoor Education Coaches and accompanying staff are performing at a high level; underperformance is addressed according to school policies
• The programme is delivered within budget and the agreed three-year implementation plan; progress is reported to SLT each term and to the Board as required
• Student, parent and staff feedback on outdoor learning is gathered, analysed and used to improve the programme

 

Budgeting and resources

• Preparing and submitting the annual Outdoor Education budget, including residentials, expeditions, equipment, training and provider
costs, in conjunction with the Director of Educational Programs and Finance
• Managing the department’s equipment inventory, storage, inspection and replacement cycle in line with manufacturer and industry standards
• Negotiating and managing contracts with venues, providers and transport suppliers

 

Additional responsibilities

• Undertaking additional leadership and teaching responsibilities as determined by the Director of Educational Programs
• Working flexible hours, including evenings, weekends and overnight and overseas trips, as required by the programme

 

Qualifications and experience
• A recognised teaching qualification and a degree; a postgraduate qualification in outdoor education, adventure education or a related field is an advantage
• Significant experience teaching in the IB PYP, MYP or DP curriculum
• Proven experience designing and running a school outdoor education or expedition programme, including multi-day and overseas expeditions
• Recognised outdoor leadership awards in at least one land-based and one water-based discipline (for example Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor, paddlesport or sailing instructor awards from a national governing body, or equivalent)
• Current wilderness or outdoor first aid qualification (Wilderness First Responder or equivalent, minimum 16 hours) and a willingness to maintain it
• Working knowledge of outdoor safety management systems and standards (for example the Singapore Standard for Outdoor Adventure Education, the UK Adventure Activities Licensing scheme, the Australian Adventure Activity Standard or the Institute for Outdoor Learning Accredited Practitioner framework)
• Experience of line management, budget management and working with external providers

 

Skills and attributes
• A strong understanding of current pedagogy, with excellent practice exemplified in own teaching
• Committed to the highest expectations of students, their safety and their learning
• Able to inspire and motivate staff, build a coherent and effective team and coach colleagues
• Excellent risk judgement, calm under pressure and able to make difficult decisions and take action when necessary
• High organisational standards and demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments and school sections
• Able to communicate appropriately and sensitively with students, parents, colleagues and providers
• Able to plan efficiently, use data effectively and manage change
• Physically fit and able to lead activities at height, on water and in remote environments
• Committed to safeguarding and to the GESS values; a proactive and ‘can do’ attitude; attention to detail

Fair Recruitment and Safeguarding: We are committed to fair recruitment practices and safeguarding the welfare of all students. We ensure that our hiring processes are free from discrimination and bias on the basis of age, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy status, caregiving responsibilities, race, religion, language or disability. As part of our commitment to safeguarding, we conduct thorough background checks on all candidates which include criminal background checks in all countries lived and worked in for the last ten years, as well as reference checks. Any offer is subject to the satisfactory completion of such checks.  Our school prioritises the safety and well-being of our students, and we expect all staff members to uphold these values.