Trainee Outdoor Education Instructor

Trainee Outdoor Education Instructor (Climbing)

Location: Cambridge

Salary: £28,000 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time

Closing Date: 10th November 2025

The Perse School Cambridge is one of the country's leading independent co-educational day schools for children aged 3-18.

Their aim is to be a leading employer of choice. This means they strive to be a school where staff say they are proud and excited to work, and feel valued, respected and motivated.

They are committed to providing a very competitive salary and benefits scheme at the same time as offering a wide range of opportunities for personal and professional development. They want their staff to feel engaged and purposeful so that they, in turn, help pupils to be happy and successful.

The Role

This role is designed for those who would like to take up a career in climbing/ outdoor instruction. You will be supported by an experienced team of staff and provided with support and training to become a skilled instructor of indoor climbing.

Much of the postholder's delivery will be conducted in their state-of-the-art climbing wall, the largest roped wall within 50 miles of Cambridge. Instruction is varied with delivery of taster sessions, birthday parties, structured school physical education lessons and clubs, bespoke coaching and the National Indoor Climbing Association Scheme (NICAS).

The role is offered as a permanent full-time contract. The post holder will have full involvement across the breadth of Outdoor Education provision at The Perse. They will work across PES provision, games programme delivery, extra-curricular clubs and climbing provision.

The role is divided between training, activity instruction, administration tasks and commercial delivery. This includes an exciting range of school holiday delivery, trips and weekend session instruction, alongside term time programme delivery.

The post holder will be provided with financial support towards relevant national governing body training and award schemes. In year 1, this will likely include the Mountain Training Climbing Wall Instructor Award and British Mountaineering Council FUNDAS courses. For candidates already holding these awards, higher level training courses will be offered.

• Instruction of climbing activities to include bottom rope, top rope, autobelay and lead climbing. General instruction of balance skills, abseiling and physical training.
• Delivery of climbing games sessions and extra curricular clubs for Perse pupils, including 3 annual trips.
• Delivery of the commercial climbing programme, to include birthday parties/events and supervision of public climbers.
• Assist in the delivery of Perse Exploration Society sessions and extra curricular clubs.
• Delivery of outdoor education sessions in support of the wider programme.
• Regular route setting and holds cleaning (training provided).
• Daily and weekly climbing wall and PPE inspections (training provided).
• General cleaning duties, setup and clear away of equipment.
• Updating NICAS award logbooks.
• Attend and contribute to weekly departmental meetings and training.
• Work towards the completion of the Climbing Wall Instructor Award, Climbing Wall Development Instructor Award and Abseil Module, and Rock Climbing Instructor Award (if not already held)

Skills and Qualifications

• Be able to demonstrate flexibility and skill when working in a busy school and department.
• Excellent organisational, inter-personal and communication skills.
• Effectively manage commitments and deadlines.
• Up-to date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and the protection of, children and young people.
• Ability to work collaboratively and supportively with colleagues within school and with colleagues in other organisations.
• Ability to work effectively both as part of a team and independently.

Candidates are not required to hold any qualifications. An active interest in climbing and/or bouldering is all that is required. Any relevant qualifications or experience should be expressed on application. This is a training post, with full support for qualifications and training.

Benefits

• Free lunches in term time
• A workplace pension scheme
• A uniform allowance
• Funding for all professional fees relevant to qualification required for the role
• PPE and leadership equipment relevant to instruction roles
• Professional development funding subject to approval from the Director of Outdoor Education.
• Funding will be considered for:
• Full funding for Mountain Training/British Mountaineering Council qualifications relevant to the role
• Full funding for expedition first aid courses
• Additional CPD relevant to the maintenance of current qualifications and/or relevant to the role.

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for this reputable School, please click apply to be redirected to their website to complete your application.