Application Guide

How to Apply for Subject Lead - Physical Education (Maternity Leave Cover)

at Oak National Academy Ltd

🏢 About Oak National Academy Ltd

Oak National Academy is a fully remote, mission-driven not-for-profit that partners with teachers to create high-quality, sequenced curriculum resources for all subjects and age groups. What makes Oak unique is its independently verified culture—Flexa certified with 93% overall score, Escape the City's Top 1% Employers, and Investors in People Gold—offering exceptional flexibility, autonomy, and purpose while maintaining a 4.5-day work week and 11% employer pension.

About This Role

As Subject Lead for Physical Education (maternity leave cover), you'll lead the development and continuous improvement of Oak's PE curriculum resources in partnership with subject experts and delivery organizations. This role is impactful because you'll directly shape high-quality, accessible PE materials that support teachers and pupils nationwide, ensuring physical education remains engaging and effective across diverse learning environments.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve collaborating remotely with PE subject experts to refine curriculum sequences, reviewing feedback from teachers using Oak's resources, and planning improvements to existing materials. You'll likely participate in virtual team meetings, coordinate with delivery partners, and work autonomously on resource development while maintaining alignment with Oak's quality standards and educational mission.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Oak National Academy Ltd Is Looking For

  • Experienced PE curriculum developer with a proven track record of creating high-quality, sequenced resources for diverse age groups
  • Strong collaborator who excels at partnering with subject experts, delivery organizations, and remote teams
  • Mission-driven professional passionate about improving educational outcomes through accessible, teacher-supported materials
  • Self-motivated remote worker who thrives with high autonomy and can manage projects independently within a flexible structure

📝 Tips for Applying to Oak National Academy Ltd

1

Highlight specific examples of PE curriculum resources you've developed or improved, emphasizing sequencing and accessibility

2

Demonstrate your experience working in partnership with subject experts or educational organizations, not just solo work

3

Showcase your remote work capabilities and how you've maintained productivity and collaboration in distributed teams

4

Connect your personal mission to Oak's not-for-profit, teacher-partnership approach—explain why this model resonates with you

5

Address the maternity cover aspect directly: explain your interest in temporary roles and how you'll ensure continuity and knowledge transfer

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience developing and improving PE curriculum resources, with specific examples of impact', "How you've successfully partnered with subject experts or organizations in educational settings", "Why Oak's mission-driven, not-for-profit model and remote-first culture align with your values and work style", 'Your approach to ensuring smooth transitions and continuity in temporary leadership roles']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore Oak's existing PE curriculum resources to understand their current approach and identify potential improvement areas
  • → Review Oak's Flexa certification details and their culture metrics to understand their remote work philosophy
  • → Investigate Oak's partnerships with teachers and delivery organizations to grasp their collaborative model
  • → Study Oak's not-for-profit structure and mission to understand how they differ from traditional educational publishers

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through a PE curriculum resource you developed or significantly improved—what challenges did you face and how did you measure success?
2 How would you approach partnering with external subject experts and delivery organizations while maintaining Oak's quality standards?
3 Describe your experience working in fully remote teams and how you maintain collaboration and productivity without in-person interaction
4 How would you ensure knowledge transfer and continuity given this is a maternity leave cover position?
5 What specific strategies would you use to make PE resources engaging and accessible for diverse pupil populations across the UK?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on teaching experience without demonstrating curriculum development and resource creation expertise
  • Applying generic remote work skills without showing how you've specifically succeeded in mission-driven, distributed teams
  • Neglecting to address the temporary nature of the role or showing discomfort with maternity cover positions

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Oak National Academy Ltd!

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