Rowing Coach

Job Introduction

Wycombe Abbey rowing opportunities are offered at Dorney Lake (the London Olympic Games 2012 venue) and in land-based Ergometer sessions at School. Coaching is available for all abilities, from beginners to those wishing to develop their skills for competition. As a British Rowing Affiliated Club, Wycombe Abbey Rowing Club competes in races on the water and at the National Indoor Rowing Championships. Pupils in recent years have completed testing for the British Rowing Talent Identification and Development programme for the British Rowing team, with some then being selected to join our local club, Marlow, to develop their talent further.

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and flexible Rowing Coach Wycombe Abbey to work across the school’s full age range to coach our rowing team and deliver training sessions between a flexible time window of 5:30pm - 8:30pm on weekdays and 12:00pm - 4:00pm on weekends. It is essential that the successful candidate possess a solid understanding of water safety issues and the ability to instil their importance in young people. The following would be highly desirable, although not essential:

1. A British Rowing L2 Club Coach / Session Coach qualification (or equivalent).
2. A RYA Powerboat Level 2.
3. Valid First Aid Certificate.

If the successful applicant does not have these qualifications, training may be provided and therefore a willingness to complete the above qualifications is essential. 

Wycombe Abbey is a world-class full-boarding school for girls, located on a beautiful site in the centre of High Wycombe. With its distinctive heritage, magnificent 170-acre campus and impressive resources, the School provides an outstanding education for 650 pupils aged 11-18.  

We have been at the forefront of girls’ boarding education for over 125 years. Superb academic outcomes are the School’s hallmark and pupils regularly secure places at the most prestigious universities across the globe. Known for its world-class education, Wycombe Abbey encourages curiosity, innovation, leadership and delight in learning among its pupils.

The School benefits from easy access to London (24 minutes to Marylebone), the Chiltern Hills and attractive towns such as Marlow, Henley-on-Thames and Beaconsfield. Heathrow is also just 20 miles away plus good transport links to other London airports. 

Wycombe Abbey has its own salary scale which compares favourably with other independent schools and is well above that of the maintained sector. 

Benefits of working at Wycombe Abbey include: 

• Enrolment in the School’s generous pension scheme. 
• Fee school remission at Wycombe Abbey and selected prep schools.
• Generous CPD training and development scheme.
• Free parking. 
• Free meals. 
• Free use of the Sports Centre. 
• Free eye tests. 
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme. 

To apply: Please see the job profile document for full information about this role. To apply, please complete an application form and submit this, together with a covering letter, to the Headmistress, Mrs J Duncan by selecting “Apply for this job”. Should you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact the HR Team on 01494 895575 or [email protected] .

Closing date for applications: Monday 5 May 2025

Interview date: Thursday 15 May 2025

We reserve the right to appoint to this position before the closing date, should we receive a high volume of suitable early applications.

Wycombe Abbey is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity with children. 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions.
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020).

Further information regarding filtered convictions, please refer to Filtering Guidance by the Ministry of Justice and Nacro Guidance. 

We are an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No. 310638. 

Wycombe Abbey is a Disability Confident Committed Employer. 

About the School
Wycombe Abbey is an exceptional place for our pupils to learn and our staff to work. Working here you will be part of a world class school and community of 420 staff and 650 pupils. We are committed to encouraging curiosity, bold ideas, innovation, leadership and delight in learning – not just in the pupils, but in our staff body too, both teaching and support staff. We are looking for people who can bring new ideas, a passion for their area of expertise, skills and enthusiasm that will enrich our community as well as encourage our pupils to do their best.

Life at Wycombe Abbey goes beyond the job title. We encourage staff to be fully involved in School life and offer a rewarding working environment, generous employee benefits package, continuous professional development and an emphasis on staff wellbeing throughout your time with us. Whether you are a member of the teaching staff, House staff or support staff, you will be part of the whole team at Wycombe Abbey. Everyone at School plays their part in inspiring our pupils to strive for ambitious goals and to recognise that they can make a positive difference in the world, now and in the future.

Please watch the film below to find out more about working at Wycombe Abbey.