Netball Coach

Job description / Role

Job overview

The school
Deira International School is an outstanding BSO and KHDA rated, award winning school located on a beautiful campus in Festival City, Dubai. In 2023 DIS was awarded the Education Excellence Award for ‘School Team of the Year’ and is also a platinum award holder for ‘Best Place to Work’, demonstrating our commitment to continual focus on ensuring we have a happy and thriving community.

With students from ages 3-18, DIS is run as a not-for-profit school and is part of the Al Futtaim Education Foundation. Founded in 2005, the school is renowned for providing an outstanding inclusive and holistic education. In our recent inspection, the report recognised the following:

• Staff are overwhelmingly proud of the school and believe that it is well led and provides a safe and inclusive learning environment.
• The quality of teaching, learning and assessment across the school is outstanding.
• Teachers have high expectations of pupils and consistently challenge them in lessons and other activities to do their best.
• Staff enjoy working at the school and believe they are treated fairly, respected and valued.
• At every phase, the curriculum is planned with precision, is well sequenced and systematically builds on pupils’ prior learning.
• DIS has a strong focus on academic progress and achievement.

The student body has over 90 different nationalities and this diversity is fundamental to the community nature of the school. Exceptional facilities provide wonderful opportunities for a holistic approach to education; sport, performing arts, academic, technological, leadership and creative pathways are all on offer, ensuring our students enjoy enriching and varied school experiences within our classrooms and beyond.

Although non-selective at admission, our students achieve exceptional exam results which compare to top UK schools. Digital literacy development is emphasised as the school prepares its pupils to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. This success enables our students to move on to the very top universities worldwide.

Our personalised, play-based and continuous provision in the Early Years ensures that students are rigorously assessed against the prime and specific areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. This focuses on developing key learning skills and the foundations for accessing the Primary Curriculum. In primary, students receive an enriching and broad curriculum offer, which includes the delivery of several non-core subjects. Our senior students take the IGCSE examinations in Year 11 and move into the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) in Years 12 and 13.

Al-Futtaim Education Foundation (AFEF) owns and provides governance to Deira International School. AFEF aims to realise its vision of taking education in the UAE to the next level of future readiness and of preparing students for an increasingly globalised and technologically advanced world. Al Futtaim Education Foundation is an initiative of the Al Futtaim family to support the vision of the Government of Dubai and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) for the creation of a globally competitive economy while maximising its social contribution to the community through this not-for-profit endeavour.

Netball coach

We are seeking an enthusiastic, talented, and committed Netball Coach to support the continued growth of our Netball and wider Sports Programme, with a particular focus on developing our top performers within the co-curricular and competitive games structure.

The successful candidate will work under the leadership of the Director of Sport and in close collaboration with the PE Department to deliver high-quality netball experiences for pupils of all ages and abilities. They will help to embed the DIS Sport Principles of Dedication, Integrity, and Success, while also working with external providers to strengthen club links and provide professional development for staff across the school.

We are looking for someone who can work as part of a supportive and forward-thinking team, championing netball while maintaining flexibility and keeping students at the centre of every decision.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver age-appropriate, engaging, and progressive netball coaching sessions across the whole school - within PE lessons, after-school clubs, and the competitive sports programme.
• Support players’ development in technical, tactical, and psychological aspects of netball performance.
• Promote and uphold the DIS Sporting Values of Dedication, Integrity, and Success.
• Build positive relationships with pupils and staff, creating an inclusive, motivating, and safe coaching environment.
• Support the netball pathway from Year 3 through to post-18, catering for both participation and performance levels.
• Establish and maintain strong external club links to enhance player opportunities and progression.
• Take responsibility for school teams and lead fixtures throughout the year - primarily in netball, but also supporting other sports where appropriate.
• Participate in events that raise the profile of netball and sport at DIS, including sports days, showcases, and domestic/international sports tours.
• Deliver professional development (PD) sessions in netball coaching for staff within the department.

Skills and experience

Essential:

• High-level playing and/or coaching experience in netball, with relevant national coaching qualifications.
• Proven experience coaching children or young people in a school or club environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with staff, students, and parents.
• A passion for developing young athletes in a positive and holistic way.
• Excellent organisational skills and reliability in managing sessions, fixtures, and player welfare.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to support fixtures and events.

Desirable:

• Experience working in an international school or similar educational setting.
• Experience leading sports tours or major sporting events.
• Knowledge of strength and conditioning, nutrition and sports psychology.
• Multi-sport coaching ability or willingness to assist in another sport when required.

Application process

If you meet these criteria, we would very much welcome your application.

Deira International School, Festival City is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students. An ICPC or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.