Director of Rugby - Stoke-on-Trent
The school is part of the Woodard Corporation, and the Head is in membership of HMC.
Sport is an important dimension of life for all pupils, and many staff, at Denstone. There is high quality coaching of a wide range of games and activities, on all days of the week. An extensive programme of inter-school fixtures takes place, mostly on Saturdays.This includes big match days with multiple teams against the leading sporting schools in the midlands and beyond. School sport is highly valued, and enthusiastically supported by parents.
Facilities are outstanding. There are excellent grass pitches for all sports, plus two artificial surfaces for Hockey, extensive courts for Netball and Tennis and a nine hole golf course. An indoor sports centre includes a large hall (including Cricket nets), swimming pool, excellent conditioning facilities and social spaces.
The Athletic Development Department has a full time member of staff leading the programme and liaising with Heads of Sport. It supports aspiring athletes through the Dedicated Athlete Scheme. Its success is reflected in the number of pupils who regularly win representative honours in a range of sports and some who move into professional sport.Equally important, however, is the huge number of girls and boys who participate in a wide range of sports at all levels and adopt healthy, active lifestyles.
Rugby at Denstone
Rugby Football has a high profile within the Denstone community. The great majority of boys play the game - enthusiastically and willingly -throughout their school career. There is appetite and opportunity for the girls’ game to grow. Rugby is an important part of the sporting identity of the school, and is popular with pupils, parents and staff.For many, it is a significant part of the school’s attractiveness. Denstone has resisted many of the pressures on the game in education, by maintaining a strong culture of participation and a high-quality programme.
Results in school competition are good. The fixture list is ambitious and wide-ranging: Denstone competes on a national circuit against the most aspirational schools. For the 2025 season, this will include 1st XV fixtures against Sedbergh, Kirkham Grammar and Uppingham – alongside a regular programme of traditional Saturday block fixtures at all ages and abilities.The Prep School has local fixtures against similar schools, which are played during the week. Sevens rugby holds a significant place in the school's sporting programme for seniors, featuring a dedicated training squad throughout the spring term.
Denstone regularly participates in prestigious tournaments, including the St Joseph’s Festival and the Rosslyn Park Sevens.
Denstone College is a proud Leicester Tigers Partner School. The school ensures regular attendance at Tigers sessions for students in the Developing Player Programme, fostering skill progression and competitive experience. In the 2024-2025 season, Denstone has seen nine pupils advance to the U18 Tigers Academy, with three of these players earning invitations to England training camps.
Resources for Rugby are excellent. They include high quality grass pitches and training areas, as well as a fully-equipped modern Athletic Development Centre, with a dedicated Head of Athletic Development. Contemporary analysis software is widely used.Significant time is dedicated to training and preparation, both within and beyond the timetable.
The Director of Rugby
Denstone seeks to appoint an outstanding Rugby coach and leader, to have strategic oversight of the game in the College and Prep School. Supported by the Head and Director of Sport, they will seek to enhance the school’s Rugby reputation and its position as a destination of first choice for ambitious players in the midlands and beyond.This will include a clear vision of how a coherent and inspirational programme should operate throughout the 4-18 age range, based on a strong awareness of sector trends. A commitment to inclusivity, development, wide participation and high performance will be essential.
The Director of Rugby will be the school’s principal coach, having a direct input into the coaching of all age groups. They will manage a large team of teachers and coaches who deliver the game, to ensure that all pupils have high quality experiences appropriate to their age and ability.This will involve establishing pride in high standards and inspiring able and committed athletes to stretch themselves to be the best that they can become. Liaison with the Head of Athletic Development will be necessary to support the development of aspirational players, many of whom participate in the Dedicated Athlete Scheme.
The Director of Rugby will be an important ambassador for the game and the College. This will include managing the partnerships with Leicester Tigers and other Premiership academies, and supporting players in representative pathways. There will also be a contribution to the Outreach programme, to maintain relationships with local clubs and feeder schools in support of pupil recruitment and the wider school reputation.A full commitment to Saturday afternoon matches is essential.
This is an exciting and wide-ranging position, which will include overseeing communications, operations, logistics, staff development and the calendar. It is a potentially career-defining opportunity for the right person.
Person Specification
The College seeks to appoint a high calibre man or woman with the experience, personal qualities and dedication to lead the next stage of Rugby development across the schools. The background of candidates is less important than their ability to command wide respect and to build a positive culture for the game in the school.A clear understanding of age-grade Rugby is essential.
The successful candidate will have recent, successful experience as a player and/or coach. This may have been in any relevant environment, though experience of working in a school - and with young players - will be a significant advantage.
The ability to lead the coaching of the 1st XV, and VII, is essential. Coaching qualifications, or the willingness to achieve them, would be an advantage. Equally important is the ability to contribute to the delivery of the game throughout the 4-18 age range.Although all teams have their own dedicated coaches, the support of the Director of Rugby in stimulating and supporting the game will be essential. Building a coherent, developmental, player pathway throughout the two schools, will be a priority.
The capacity to establish positive relationships with parents is important, as well as an ability to manage the complex logistics of an extensive programme. This will include responsibility for all competition arrangements.
The Director of Rugby will be a role model for pupils. High personal standards, attention to detail and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively will be vital. The ability to make a contribution to the coaching of other sports – at any level – will be expected, alongside a willingness to be fully involved in a busy boarding community.The appointed person will be an inspiring coach, and dedicated ambassador of the values and reputation of the school.