The Role of the Football Academy Director:
As our Academy Director, you will lead a unique, high-profile program that integrates elite football development directly into the fabric of a mainstream secondary school environment. In this dynamic role, you will be responsible for designing and delivering a professional-tier football curriculum while ensuring it harmoniously supports our student-athletes' academic journeys. You will lead a dedicated coaching team, manage state-of-the-art facilities, and foster a culture of discipline, resilience, and ambition that translates from the pitch to the classroom.
About The Kemnal Academies Trust
The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT), one of the largest and most established multi-academy trusts in the country. As part of The Kemnal Academies Trust, colleagues benefit from access to a wide network of professional support, collaboration, and development opportunities across a family of schools committed to excellence in education. The Trust is dedicated to investing in its people, providing high-quality training, career progression opportunities, and a strong culture of teamwork and innovation. Joining The Kemnal Academies Trust means becoming part of a forward-thinking organisation that values inclusion, ambition, and continuous improvement, where staff are empowered to make a real difference to the lives of young people.
About Thomas Bennett Community College
Thomas Bennett Community College is a welcoming and ambitious 11–18 secondary school at the heart of the Crawley community, serving families across the town and the wider West Sussex area. As part of The Kemnal Academies Trust, the school combines a strong community ethos with the advantages of a wider network of collaboration and support. With more than 1,200 students, including a thriving sixth form, it provides an inclusive and supportive environment where young people are encouraged to achieve their full potential. The school is committed to delivering a high-quality education through a broad and engaging curriculum across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, supported by modern facilities and dedicated colleagues.
Key Duties and Responsibilities of the Academy Director
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Oversee and deliver the academy’s football curriculum, integrating training sessions smoothly into the school timetable.
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Manage, and mentor the academy’s coaching and support staff.
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Collaborate with teachers to track players' academic progress, behavior, and attendance, ensuring football never compromises education.
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Coordinate match schedules, league entries, transport, kit, and facility hire.
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Build and maintain active relationships with professional clubs, county FAs, and scouts to create player opportunities.
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Act as the primary lead for player well-being, ensuring strict adherence to school safeguarding and health & safety protocols.
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Manage the academy’s annual budget, equipment inventory, and operational resources.
What We’re Looking For
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Proven leadership experience managing coaching staff and designing cohesive technical curricula.
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Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with school leadership, parents, and external professional clubs or scouts.
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Up-to-date safeguarding credentials (including a valid DBS check) within both educational and sporting environments.
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Excellent organizational skills to handle budgets, fixtures, facility scheduling, and day-to-day operations.
As part of Kemnal Academies Trust, our colleagues enjoy:
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Access to a wide range of resources, training, and best practice across the Trust
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Supportive, forward-thinking leadership with a focus on continuous improvement
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Generous Pension Scheme: Significant employer contributions to support your long-term financial wellbeing
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Wellbeing Support: Access to a wellbeing app and an expert-led Eight-Week Mindfulness Programme
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Family Friendly Leave: Policies designed to support work-life balance and caring responsibilities
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Tailored CPD: Ongoing professional development to support your teaching practice and career progression
To find out more, visit our website here or contact the school office on 01293 526255 or
Our Commitment
Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full safer recruitment process, including an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.
Flexible working
We recognise the value of enabling our employees to develop their career and balance this with their commitments and interests outside of work. We promote flexible working practices and opportunities to promote a positive work life balance.
Our Commitment - Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging
At Kemnal, we are committed to Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging. We embrace and celebrate differences, value individual experiences, aspirations, and achievements, and continuously learn how to grow better together. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, as we believe diversity strengthens our community and drives us forward.
Access to interview
Be Who You Are at Kemnal - should you be selected and invited to interview please let us know if you require us to adapt the recruitment process to enable you to participate as your authentic self. We want applicants to be able to engage with us in ways that support who they are and we are committed to making adjustments within the recruitment process and within the workplace.
