Secondary PE Teacher (Paternity Leave)

About the school

Hastings School, founded in 1971, serves students aged 2-18 from a diverse community of 1415 students representing 56 nationalities across six sites in Madrid, Spain. The school is a prestigious, premium international school within the Cognita family. Its holistic educational approach delivers outstanding academic results, with recent graduates progressing to leading universities including the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Duke University, University of Edinburgh, King’s College London, KU Leuven, LSE, University of St Andrews and Delft University of Technology.

The school utilises a learner power approach based on eight learning habits: Collaboration, Creativity, Curiosity, Empathy, Reflection, Resilience, Responsibility and Thinking. As part of the Cognita group, Hastings School designs its education to help students develop these attributes and thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, it comprises 90 schools in 21 countries serving more than 100,000 students. Each school is unique yet shares the collective purpose of enabling every student to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

The role

This is a temporary, full-time Secondary PE Teacher position covering a period of paternity leave. The successful candidate will deliver a dynamic and inclusive PE curriculum that motivates students to lead active, healthy lives. The role commences on 31 August 2026.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and teach engaging lessons across a range of sports and physical activities
• Ensure all students are supported, challenged and encouraged to develop skills and confidence
• Use assessment effectively to monitor progress and provide constructive feedback
• Maintain high expectations for effort, participation and behaviour
• Contribute to the department’s sporting events, fixtures and extracurricular clubs
• Promote a positive culture of teamwork, fair play and physical wellbeing

Requirements

• Enthusiastic and committed educator who enjoys working with young people
• Strong organisational skills and a collaborative mindset
• Ability to adapt to change with sensitivity and professionalism
• Understanding of effective teaching and learning strategies within PE
• Commitment to helping all students achieve their personal best regardless of ability
• UK-approved PGCE or international equivalent
• Commitment to ongoing professional development

Safety and equality

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

The school is an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.