Full Time Basketball Coach
GLC Academy: Gateway Academy
Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: 37 hours per week, Term time only plus 20 days holiday working
Closing Date: 10th July 2026 at Midday
The Gateway Academy is part of the Gateway Learning Community [GLC] which is a partnership of one secondary academy and four primary academies located within Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary in the borough of Thurrock, to the east of London. We are a vibrant, innovative and highly successful organisation: the place of choice to work and learn. Across the 5 academies of the GLC, we celebrate differences and pledge that everyone enjoys an equality of opportunity and is not discriminated against in any way.
The Gateway Academy is seeking to appoint an exceptional, full time Basketball Coach to lead and further develop our thriving basketball programme. Now entering its fourth year, the programme has already established itself as one of the most successful school basketball initiatives in the region, achieving remarkable success in a short period of time.
In just three years, our teams have:
- Won 6 Junior NBA titles
- Reached 3 Essex Cup Finals
- Progressed to the Last 8 nationally in both the U14 Girls and U14 Boys competitions
These achievements represent only the beginning of our journey. Our ambition is to establish The Gateway Academy as a nationally recognised basketball programme and a leading basketball hub for the East of England, creating opportunities for young people across our community while developing pathways that allow talented players to reach their full potential.
With strong foundations already in place, we are looking for a committed and ambitious individual who will become an integral part of our school community and lead the next phase of this exciting development.
This role offers a unique opportunity to lead an established and successful programme while shaping the future of basketball across the Gateway Learning Community (GLC). The successful candidate will work across The Gateway Academy and our four linked primary schools, helping to create a clear and sustainable basketball pathway from primary through to secondary education.
Working closely with pupils from an early age, the successful candidate will play a key role in increasing participation, identifying talent and ensuring a seamless transition into our academy programme. They will help develop a basketball culture that spans the entire GLC, creating opportunities for students at every stage of their educational journey.
The successful candidate will also build upon our existing partnership with Barking Abbey School, while developing further relationships and opportunities that ensure our students have access to the very best pathways during their time at The Gateway Academy and beyond Post 16 education. We want every student who commits to the programme to have access to outstanding opportunities, whether that be within education, elite basketball environments or wider sporting pathways.
This is a rare opportunity for an ambitious coach to influence basketball development across an entire school community and play a leading role in building one of the premier school basketball programmes in the country.
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking a coach who is:
- Driven and ambitious
- Inspirational and able to motivate young people
- Highly organised and professional
- Passionate about player development
- Committed to the wider school community
- Dedicated to improving outcomes for young people through sport
- Excited by the opportunity to build and grow an already successful programme
The successful candidate will share our vision of using basketball as a vehicle for personal growth, academic success and wider life opportunities for students across the Gateway Learning Community.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the organisation, planning and delivery of the basketball programme across the academy and wider GLC
- Deliver high quality coaching sessions that inspire and develop young people
- Manage and coordinate entries into local, regional and national competitions
- Develop clear progression pathways for students, including Post 16 opportunities
- Build and strengthen relationships with our four linked primary schools to create a sustainable player pathway
- Maintain accurate programme data, performance records and student tracking systems
- Develop partnerships and external links that enhance opportunities for students
- Work with external basketball organisations, clubs and academies to create progression routes
- Support the continued growth and profile of basketball across the Gateway Learning Community
- Contribute to the long term vision of establishing The Gateway Academy as a nationally recognised basketball programme and a hub for basketball development across the East of England
Why Join Us?
This is an incredible opportunity for a dedicated and inspirational coach to take ownership of a flourishing programme with a proven track record of success. You will inherit a programme that is already winning trophies, competing nationally and inspiring young people across our community.
For the right candidate, this role offers the chance to build something truly special, creating a lasting legacy within the Gateway Learning Community while helping establish The Gateway Academy as one of the leading school basketball programmes in the country.
Watch our video for an insight in to our academy:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDFOVP3_K7w
You can read our latest Ofsted Report here:https://www.theglc.org.uk/page/?title=Ofsted+Reports&pid=21
Additional Benefits for Working for the GLC:
Staff well-being programme: Including access to Westfield Health Insurance
Salary Sacrifice Schemes including Cycle to work Scheme
Long service awards after: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and years of service
State of the art facilities and access to high quality resources to support learning
A paid 'My Day' each year
Excellent career development and training
2 week October half term break
A supportive central team [reprographics, ICT, HR, Finance] which enables teachers to focus on teaching
Subsidised holiday provision for children of staff
Free Access to the Fitness Suite at the Gateway Academy
GLC Staff Nursery [Competitive rates and term time only]
The GLC embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.
We warmly welcome applicants who are interested in this position to visit our school prior to making an application. Please contact Katie.Creighton@theglc.org.uk to arrange a visit.
If you would like to apply for this position, please complete an online application form.