Teacher of PE and Outdoor Learning

Service: Education

Closing Date: Friday 29th May 2026

 

Teacher of PE and Outdoor Learning, Rothesay Joint Campus

Argyll and Bute is one of Scotland’s most stunning areas. As its award-winning council, we play a vital part in the day-to-day life and long-term future of our beautiful and diverse communities. Our unwavering purpose is to make Argyll and Bute the place to be, the place where people want to live, to work and do business. And we are committed to making the council the place to have a great career, by providing excellent benefits and a friendly, dynamic working culture so that each of our 5000 colleagues can deliver services that help our corner of Scotland thrive. Join us to make a difference.

We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic Teacher of Physical Education and Outdoor Learning to join our joint campus on the beautiful island of Bute. Whilst based in the Secondary, the successful candidate should be passionate about promoting physical activity, wellbeing, and outdoor education and delivering creative and engaging learning experiences for children and young people across our campus community. They should be able to demonstrate a commitment to collaborative practice and teamwork and a strong relational, nurturing and inclusive approach, essential to supporting all our learners to belong, learn and thrive.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, deliver, and assess high-quality learning experiences in line with Curriculum for Excellence.
• Teach Physical Education across the Broad General Education and Senior Phase.
• Deliver engaging Outdoor Learning experiences that support wellbeing, personal achievement, environmental awareness, and interdisciplinary learning.
• Develop and lead outdoor learning opportunities including adventurous activities, team-building, environmental education, and wider achievement programmes.
• Support Duke of Edinburgh or equivalent programmes where applicable.
• Promote sustainability, risk awareness, resilience, and responsible citizenship through physical education and outdoor learning.
• Differentiate learning to meet the needs of all learners, including those requiring additional support and challenge.
• Use a range of assessment approaches to monitor, track, and report on learner progress.
• Maintain high expectations for learner participation, positive relationships, achievement, and inclusion.
• Contribute to whole-campus health and wellbeing initiatives.
• Build positive partnerships with families, community organisations, sports clubs, and outdoor learning providers.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications and Registration

• Degree qualification relevant to Physical Education.
• Full registration (or eligibility for registration) with the General Teaching Council for Scotland in Physical Education.
• Current knowledge of Curriculum for Excellence and Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC).

Essential Skills and Experience

• Experience of delivering high-quality PE learning and teaching.
• Knowledge and understanding of Outdoor Learning approaches and pedagogy.
• Strong classroom management skills.
• Ability to motivate and engage young people across a range of ages and abilities.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and across different stages of education.
• Commitment to inclusion, wellbeing, and child-centred practice.

Desirable

• Experience working across primary and secondary stages.
• Qualifications or experience in outdoor education, adventure activities, forest school, expedition leadership, or coaching awards.
• Experience leading extracurricular sports and outdoor programmes.
• First Aid qualification and relevant outdoor activity certifications.
• Experience supporting wider achievement awards such as Duke of Edinburgh.

Our employees make good things happen in the day-to-day life and for the longer term future of Argyll and Bute. We want you to feel valued working for us. We offer various benefits to support you, such as a competitive salary, pension scheme, generous leave entitlement, cycle to work scheme, discounts on gym memberships and leisure centres, wellbeing initiatives, and opportunities for learning and career growth. We also embrace a modern approach to work, offering a flexible first approach where possible to requests from our employees to how they work.

If you are planning to relocate to Argyll and Bute, our Housing Services Team can offer support to help find affordable housing. To learn more or to access this dedicated service, please email: workerhousing@argyll-bute.gov.uk

We care about our people and the world around us and always aim to do the right thing. From employee recognition schemes to environmental policies we have many initiatives in place to help us look after the things we all care about.

Learn more here Argyll and Bute Employee Recognition Programme, Disability Confident, Armed Forces, Fair Work First Statement, Equality and Fairness, Climate Change, Flexible and Hybrid Working Policy 

Argyll and Bute Council recognises the numerous benefits of a positive work-life balance to the wellbeing and productivity of our employees. We will take a flexible first approach to requests from our employees to change the way that they work. While we must balance such requests with the need to ensure the quality of the important services we deliver is not compromised, we will ensure that each request is given careful consideration with a view to achieving a positive outcome wherever possible.

Applicants should note that:-

• This post requires Protection of Vulnerable Group (PVG) Membership in relation to working with children.
• The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Scotland) Order 2013, as amended, applies to this post.
• Please Note - Pay arrangements for those starting after 1st day of school session.

  In accordance with Teachers Conditions of Service (SNCT - Appendix 2.19), Teachers who commence employment with Argyll and Bute Council after the first day of the school session will have their salary for the remainder of the school salary year (which runs from 1 August to 31 July each year), recalculated to reflect how teachers accrue leave and pay. In these circumstances, a calculation will be carried out upon commencement of employment and leave and pay will be adjusted. A link to the guidance sheet will be provided to the successful candidate should this be applicable."

To apply for this vacancy, please click on the Apply Now button at the top of this page.

If you would like clarification on any information contained within the vacancy advert and/or the job description you will require to speak with the recruiting manager, who is:

• Leigh Tyley, Faculty Head PE and Expressive Arts
• Telephone: 01700 503367
• Email: Leigh.Tyley@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• Reference: ARB17999 / 038932

Please note that you cannot apply for this vacancy by contacting the recruiting manager, applications must be made by clicking on the Apply Now button at the top of this page.

Please also note that we do not accept CVs, only applications completed and submitted via the Apply Now button on this page.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about our commitment to this please visit Equality & Diversity Policy