Organisational Context
The Head of Co-Curricular provides strategic leadership and quality assurance of all co-curricular programmes across the education group, ensuring alignment with the curriculum offering.
The role ensures that co-curricular provision meaningfully supports holistic learner development, curriculum enrichment, and the development of internationally recognised competencies, while remaining compliant with national and international standards across Pre-Primary, Preparatory and College phases.
Key Areas of Responsibility
1. Strategic Leadership & Curriculum Alignment
- Develop and implement a Brand-wide co-curricular framework aligned with:
- Pre and Prep Learner Profile, Approaches to Learning (ATL), CAS (where applicable)
- Cambridge learner attributes and enrichment expectations
- CAPS requirements for holistic development, physical education, arts and culture as well as the IEB SAGs document
- Ensure co-curricular programmes clearly support curriculum intent across all phases.
- Provide strategic guidance to Heads of School on positioning co-curricular excellence as part of the group’s educational value proposition.
2. Programme Design & Phase-Specific Progression
Pre-Primary (aligned to early learning and curricular
- Design play-based, inquiry-driven co-curricular experiences supporting physical health and well-being, creativity, socialisation and early learner agency.
- Align activities with transdisciplinary learning and CAPS early childhood development outcomes.
Preparatory (aligned to curricular offering)
- Ensure co-curricular programmes develop ATL skills, collaboration, communication, resilience and creativity.
- Provide broad exposure to sport, arts, leadership and service learning.
- Support transition pathways into structured sport, performance and leadership programmes.
College (aligned to curricular offering
- Oversee co-curricular offerings that support:
- Curriculum requirements and documentation
- Cambridge enrichment, leadership and service learning
- CAPS and IEB SAGs Life Orientation, sport and cultural participation
- Ensure appropriate balance between academic rigour and co-curricular engagement and ensure a competitive edge.
3. Quality Assurance, Accreditation & Compliance- Establish group-wide standards, policies and operating procedures for co-curricular provision aligned to:
- Early learning, Foundation and Intersen phases
- Cambridge inspection and accreditation expectations
- CAPS and IEB regulatory and compliance requirements
- Support schools during governance audits by the various authorities and bodies eg: Cambridge inspections and equivalent bodies in SAby evidencing robust co-curricular structures.
- Monitor safety, safeguarding, and risk management across all co-curricular activities.
- Audit and maintenance of schools facilities associated with Co-curricular activities to provide feedback and strategic insight into priorities/upgrades and new builds
4. Leadership, Training & Professional Development
- Lead and develop school-based Co-Curricular Heads/Directors (Sport and culture)
- Provide professional development on:
- CAS implementation and assessment
- Inquiry-based and learner-centred enrichment models
- Inclusive and differentiated co-curricular practice
- Build communities of practice across all Crawford International schools.
- Sports Coordinators & Co-Curricular Deputies
5. Learner Experience, Inclusion & Wellbeing- Ensure co-curricular programmes are inclusive, accessible and developmentally appropriate.
- Promote learner voice, leadership and agency in programme design and delivery.
- Monitor learner wellbeing and workload balance, particularly in assessment-heavy phases (IGCSE, NSC).
- Embed service learning and ethical citizenship across all curricula.
- Develop the spirit of competition and sportsmanship in all programmes.
6. Operational Oversight & Partnerships- Guide schools on timetabling, staffing models and resource planning across diverse curriculum structures.
- Oversee selection and quality assurance of external providers, coaches and enrichment partners.
- Support financially sustainable and scalable programme models across multiple campuses and ensure depth and competitive edge in all programmes
- Sponsorships, Applications that support co-curricular activities
7. Stakeholder Engagement & Brand Alignment- Collaborate with academic leadership, marketing and admissions teams to articulate the co-curricular offer for across phases of school and child development and in line with curricular,
- Strengthen parent understanding of the role of co-curricular programmes in learner development and post-school outcomes.
- Represent the group in inter-school, regional and international co-curricular forums.
- Develop depth in the school co-curricular programmes to ensure a competitive edge in all programmes.
Core Competencies
Strategic & Systems Leadership
- Ability to think and operate at group and systems level, not just school level.
- Strong strategic planning, policy development and implementation capability.
- Ability to balance standardisation with school-level autonomy.
Curriculum & Educational Expertise
- Deep understanding of holistic education and the role of co-curricular programmes in learner development.
- Strong working knowledge of:
- Curricula in Early Learning,
- Ability to align co-curricular programmes with academic intent and learner outcomes.
Leadership & People Development
- High-level coaching, mentoring and leadership development skills.
- Ability to inspire, challenge and support school-based leaders.
- Strong collaboration and influence skills across diverse teams and contexts.
Operational & Organisational Excellence
- Strong organisational, planning and project management skills.
- Sound judgement around risk, safeguarding and operational compliance.
- Experience managing budgets, resources and external providers at scale.
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to engage confidently with executive leaders, Heads of School, staff, parents and external partners.
- Strong presentation and reporting skills for boards and executive committees.
Learner-Centred & Values-Driven Practice
- Strong commitment to learner wellbeing, inclusion and ethical leadership.
- Deep belief in co-curricular programmes as a driver of character, leadership and citizenship.
- Alignment with the values and ethos of independent education.
Leadership & People Development
- High-level coaching, mentoring and leadership development skills.
- Ability to inspire, challenge and support school-based leaders.
- Strong collaboration and influence skills across diverse teams and contexts.
Operational & Organisational Excellence
- Strong organisational, planning and project management skills.
- Sound judgement around risk, safeguarding and operational compliance.
- Experience managing budgets, resources and external providers at scale.
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to engage confidently with executive leaders, Heads of School, staff, parents and external partners.
- Strong presentation and reporting skills for boards and executive committees.
Learner-Centred & Values-Driven Practice
- Strong commitment to learner wellbeing, inclusion and ethical leadership.
- Deep belief in co-curricular programmes as a driver of character, leadership and citizenship.
- Alignment with the values and ethos of independent education.
Qualification- A recognised teaching qualification (e.g. BEd, PGCE or equivalent).
- An undergraduate degree in Education, Sport Science, Performing Arts, Human Movement, Educational Leadership or a related field.
- A postgraduate qualification in Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum Studies or Management (strongly preferred).
- Formal training and/or certification related to one or more of the following:
- Cambridge International Education
- CAPS curriculum, IEB SAGs and regulatory requirements
- Valid safeguarding / child protection training.
Experience- 10+ years’ experience in education, including significant involvement in co-curricular, enrichment or learner development programmes.
- 5+ years in a senior leadership role, such as:
- Head of Co-Curricular / Director of Sport / Director of Activities
- Deputy Head or Head of Department with co-curricular oversight
- Group or multi-campus leadership role
- Proven experience working across multiple curriculum frameworks, including IB, Cambridge and/or CAPS.
- Demonstrated experience supporting:
- Cambridge enrichment and learner development expectations
- CAPS and IEB Life Orientation, sport and cultural programmes
- Experience leading, mentoring and performance-managing middle and senior leaders across multiple schools.
- Experience working within a private or independent school group (strongly preferred).
Start date: 01 January 2027