Graduate / Sports Coach to Cover Teacher (Secondary Education)

Are you a sports coach, instructor, or graduate looking to launch a rewarding career in secondary teaching?

If you have the commanding presence, high energy, and leadership skills developed in sports coaching or team environments, secondary schools in Blackpool (FY1-FY4) want you. You don't need a PGCE or teaching qualification to get started.

From September 2026, we are offering an entry-level pathway into secondary education that bridges the gap between sports leadership and classroom teaching. Operating across vibrant Blackpool secondary schools, you will split your time across classroom cover, pastoral support, and specialised Teaching Assistant (TA) duties. This is the ultimate "test drive" to build your classroom management confidence before stepping into formal teacher training.

No two days are the same. You will work across a collaborative network of Blackpool schools, gaining experience across three vital educational pillars:

• Classroom Cover (Cover Supervisor): Lead and manage pre-prepared secondary lessons across various subjects when the main teacher is absent. Your job isn't to lecture; it's to command the room, ensure pupils stay on task, and maintain a positive learning environment.

• Pastoral Support: Act as a relatable mentor and positive role model. You will support students with behavioural, social, or emotional barriers to learning, drawing on your coaching skills to build confidence and resilience.

• Teaching Assistant (TA) Support: Work 1:1 or with small groups inside the classroom to provide extra academic and focus support to pupils who need it most.

The skills that make a great coach or team leader translate perfectly to the front of a modern secondary classroom:

• The "Voice" and Presence: You already know how to command attention on a pitch or court - you just need to bring that exact same confidence to a classroom floor.

• Adaptability: You are used to thinking on your feet when a game plan changes. Classrooms require that exact same fluid problem-solving.

• Relationship Building: You understand how to earn mutual respect from young people by establishing clear, consistent boundaries.

• Experience in sports coaching, outdoor pursuits, youth work, or a recent university degree with a desire to work with young people.

• A resilient, proactive, and "thick-skinned" approach to behaviour management.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt to different school cultures across the Blackpool area.

• Commitment to starting a full-time role from the September 2026 academic term.

• Willingness to undergo an Enhanced DBS check and thorough safeguarding screening.

• Competitive Pay: Salary up to £28,000 FTE (pro-rata for term-time hours).

• Direct Experience: Rapidly build a portfolio of classroom hours that will make your future PGCE or teacher training application stand out at the top of the pile.

• No Work Brought Home: Term-time hours only, with zero lesson planning or marking responsibilities.

Kickstart your transition from the sports field to the classroom for the September 2026 intake. Submit your CV alongside a brief overview of your coaching or youth mentorship experience today!