Head of Swimming

Organisation

Millfield School

Salary

Competitive

Location

Street, Somerset

Contract type

Permanent (Full time)

Closing date

31 August 2026

Job Description

Millfield is one of the UK's leading sports schools, with a proud history of developing swimmers who have gone on to achieve success at national, international, Commonwealth and Olympic level. We are seeking an exceptional Head of Swimming to lead and shape the future of one of the country's most prestigious school swimming programmes.

This is a rare opportunity for an outstanding leader and coach to oversee a high-performance environment while ensuring every swimmer, regardless of ability or stage of development, is supported to achieve their potential. Working closely with the Director of Sport, coaching team, academic staff, boarding houses and parents, you will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of swimming at Millfield.

About the Role

As Head of Swimming, you will be responsible for the planning, development and delivery of Millfield's comprehensive swimming programme, leading performance, coach development, athlete recruitment, competition planning, governance and community engagement. You will also oversee the continued development of swimming pathways across the school, supporting student-athletes from participation level through to international competition.

We are looking for a Head of Swimming who:
• Has a proven track record of developing swimmers to national, international, Commonwealth and Olympic level, with performance sport remaining a clear priority.
• Is equally passionate about building strength and depth throughout the programme, supporting swimmers at every stage of their development, including those balancing swimming alongside other sports.
• Has significant leadership experience and the ability to inspire, manage and develop a talented coaching team.
• Is committed to building long-term success and stability within a high-performing programme.
• Demonstrates a clear understanding of the principles for optimal youth development; physical, physiological, emotional, psychological and with regards to skill acquisition.
• Embraces Millfield's whole-school approach, working collaboratively with parents, boarding and academic colleagues to support every student-athlete.
• Understands the unique opportunities and challenges of delivering sport within an educational environment.

What You'll Bring
• UKCC Level 3 Swim Coach qualification / Swim England Senior Coach Programme (or equivalent).
• Experience leading and managing coaching staff and wider programme operations.
• Strong organisational, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Experience working with National Governing Bodies and high-performance sporting environments.
• A passion for developing young people both in and beyond sport.

Working Hours and Salary
This is a year round role working 42 hours per week, typically across Monday to Saturday, with occasional Sunday work required to support fixtures, tournaments or events.
We offer a competitive salary, dependent on skills and experience.

Benefits include:
• 10 weeks’ holiday, to be taken outside of term time
• Freshly prepared lunches for £10.30 per month
• Access to school facilities and wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

**Please note that applications will be considered on receipt, and as a result the vacancy may close early should an appointment be made. As such we would recommend submitting your application as soon as possible** 

Millfield School is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all. We are a community that celebrates diversity, supporting our pupils and employees to be brilliant as individuals.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Specific safeguarding responsibilities for this position are outlined in the job description. Offers of employment are subject to satisfactory safeguarding checks including, but not limited to, Enhanced DBS clearance and satisfactory references. All positions within the school are exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Be kind, be individual, be brilliant. Millfield School, where being an individual is recognised as the key to brilliance.

How to apply

https://bit.ly/4pS2KzX

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