Debating Coach
- Job title:Debating Coach
- Job Type:Casual
- Hours:Deliver two 90 minute after school training sessions per week (4pm - 5.30pm). Planning time of up to 1 hour per week. Accompany pupils to debating competitions during afternoons and weekends.
- Salary:£35/hour for regular weekday duties. Weekend competitions paid at a day rate of £200, with overtime payable at the usual hourly rate of £35 if the day is longer than a standard working day of 8 hours.
- Department:Co-Curricular
- Reporting to:Assistant Head (Pastoral and Co-Curricular)
- Location:Highgate, North London
- Start:September 2026
- Closing Date:1 June 2026 at 8:00 am
Are you an experienced debater or established debating coach interested in supporting enthusiastic and talented young people to further develop their public speaking and oratory skills?
Debating is a popular co-curricular choice at Highgate, and it has grown tremendously as a competitive activity in recent years. This role will build on the successes of our previous debating coach, especially in improving our performance at top competitions and expanding our pool of competitive debaters who are pupils aged 11-18. Recently, Highgate teams have been finalists at top national tournaments (such as the Oxford Union, Cambridge Union, and ICYD) and Highgate pupils have been shortlisted for Team England selection.
Highgate has over 150 co-curricular activities, clubs and societies on offer in the Senior School to ensure pupils get to try something different, discover a new hobby and make new friends.
Time is set aside each week for all pupils to take part in at least one co-curricular activity of their choice, and we’re always expanding and adapting our offering to make sure there’s something to suit everyone’s interests.
We take pride in how our pupils:
- Enjoy exploring their interests and enthusiasms
- Develop personal qualities such as self-motivation, collaboration and leadership
- Contribute positively to our School and wider communities
Job Description
Responsibilities
- Leading a high-performance British Parliamentary Debating programme for pupils aged 11-18
- Planning and delivering two x 1.5 hours weekly training sessions (from 4-5.30pm) for pupils who are interested in competitive debating and are preparing to enter competitions; ensuring that these sessions are engaging, inclusive and support the pupils to develop their skills; one hour of paid planning time can also be claimed at the usual hourly rate
- Selecting pupils for team competitions; ensuring that the selection process is fair, open and transparent
- Liaising with the member of Highgate staff with responsibility for the co-ordination of the debating trip administration
- Accompanying pupils to external competitions on evenings and weekends as agreed in accordance with the debating schedule, likely entailing 8-12 full day weekend competitions (Saturday or Sunday) per academic year
- Updating the Communications department as appropriate e.g. to inform them of particular competition successes
- Developing pupils’ interest in Debating at Highgate and developing the debating programme itself (particularly as it pertains to external competitive debate)
- Adhering to the Staff Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy and procedures
- Depending on the candidate’s experience, there is scope to further develop this role
Person Specification
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- Expertise in debating and public speaking
- Experience in coaching young debaters
- Excellent understanding and experience of BP debating
- Knowledgeable across a broad range of topic areas and enthusiastic about developing their knowledge further
- Has begun or completed an undergraduate degree or equivalent
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to manage one’s own time effectively
Desirable
- Experience of being a judge in competitions
- Experience of competing in school BP debating
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 26% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 16% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).
Lunch | A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
Help with sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependant leave.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
- Closing Date:1st June 2026
- Interviews:w/c 8th June 2026
Contact: The Recruitment Team is happy to answer any questions about this post.
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities. DBS Privacy Policies
Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. DBS Code of Practice