Freelance educator jobs

Do you have significant experience facilitating activities with young people, the ability to deliver exceptionally engaging team-challenge sessions to classes from KS2 to Sixth Form, and a commitment to professionalism and a big sense of fun? If so, read on...

Hours: Freelance - hired on a day-by-day basis
Location: London / South East
Pay: £150-200 p/day depending on level of responsibility, plus travel expenses
Closing date: Friday 5th September
Commencement: We run these days all year round, yet would be looking to get you along to watch one of our September days for both you and us to work out if it’s a good fit, and if possible, induct you!

What do we do, and what’s our impact?

We’re a small, creative, and fast-growing team who run team-challenges days in schools, usually for a whole year group. We work in both the maintained and independent sector across London and the South East.

Our days each bring numerous positive benefits to young people, such as developments in:

• Speaking confidence

• Collaborative skills

• Independent thinking

• Leadership

• Taking responsibility

• Sense of adventure

• Personal organisation

How do we do it? We deliver activities and experiences, both indoors and outdoors, such as:

• Team-building

• Improv workshops

• Public speaking

• Orienteering

• Catapult creation

• Puzzle games

• Interview training

• Archery

• Axe-throwing

…that will develop their skills, confidence and self-esteem - both inside and beyond the classroom. 

Head to our website to learn more.

Note: We also run a small number of other businesses that work with schools and young people. Each operates in distinct yet overlapping areas of education - so there may be opportunity for successful candidates to be offered work for these too. 

Outspark provides the Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition element at Bronze, Silver and Gold.
The Philosophy Man delivers workshops and training to help schools embed philosophy, oracy and metacognition into their curriculum
P4HE provides online and in-person workshops in philosophy, debating, acting, writing and more, for home and mainstream educated children from 6 to 18. It also runs regular residential weekends in Kettering.

Our ambitions

Hidden Leaders currently works with 20 schools across London and the South East (and dozens more in our other organisations above). Word is spreading about us and we are growing in size, and we anticipate delivering even more sessions in schools in the coming years. And so we are looking to expand our small, trusted expert group of freelance facilitators to help us deliver this impact.

Opportunities we can offer you:

• Real impact: You’ll be on the frontline of our in-school days delivering a programme that makes a real difference to children’s confidence and skills

• Growth and development: We’re looking for people with existing significant experience in any of the activities listed above, but you’ll also receive full training and induction on all activities - and opportunities to attend further CPD events we put on to become even better at what you do

• A friendly and driven team: We are a collaborative, supportive, and flexible team that values innovation and achieving meaningful outcomes

• Choice: We have several set dates in schools each year, usually in Summer term and in late August into September - which you may be offered and can choose whether to take or not. We’re also looking to expand our work in the months in between. 

The Role

We’re looking for experienced, energetic and confident freelance facilitators to help us deliver our tried-and-tested activities — from team-building and orienteering to improv games, problem-solving challenges, debates, archery, and axe throwing. We don’t expect anyone to be experienced in all of these - every member of our team of freelancers has their own areas of expertise and choose to be deployed on particular activities that most suit their skills and experience.

You’ll be working with a diverse range of schools, from primary and prep schools, right through secondary to sixth forms, facilitating sessions to inspire teamwork, communication, resilience, and leadership.

You’ll always be working on a day under the guidance of one of our Founder Directors, Tom and Alex. 

Important to know

We are looking for freelancers who may be available for work and who fit our ethos, values and activities to whom we can offer as and when it comes in. 

We couldn’t do what we do without our core team of trusted freelancers. We look after those we work with by offering regular training and observation opportunities so they can expand their repertoire. 

However, joining our pool of freelancers will not involve a fixed contract of employment or a guarantee of regular work. Our existing freelancers work with us anywhere between 3 - 15 days per/year. Such work offers very useful supplementary income alongside other roles at other organisations (or their own) rather than a core income. Our busiest times of year are:

September — where we deliver team building/bonding days for new year groups

May, June and July — where we deliver similar days but usually as part of school activity weeks

We anticipate further growth at these times, and also are looking to expand our offer to more indoor/lower cost days in the Autumn/Spring term. And to deliver these we will need more staff!

Responsibilities

• Facilitate pre-designed Hidden Leaders sessions and activities in schools

• Engage and motivate participants, creating an inclusive and supportive environment

• Brief, instruct, and ensure safety during practical activities

• Encourage reflection and discussion to link activities to personal and team development

• Adapt delivery style to suit different audiences, group sizes, and abilities

• Take care of activity equipment and ensure activity areas are safe and ready to use

• Represent Hidden Leaders professionally in schools

• Adhere to our high delivery standards and health safety and our strict safeguarding obligations at all time
   

We need you to have…

• Significant experience facilitating group activities with young people (e.g. classroom teaching, team-building, outdoor education, public-speaking training, drama/improv, youth work)

• Confident communicator and able to deliver exceptionally engaging sessions to groups of up to 30 to all ages from KS2 to Sixth Form

• Reliable, punctual, and comfortable arriving at a school to help us set up at 8am, and be packing down with us afterwards

• A big sense of fun and joy in what you do - we don’t do dry

• The ability to relate to young people in a way that isn’t “teacherly” but at the same time firm and in-command

• Strong situational awareness and ability to manage group safety effectively

• Flexible, adaptable, and able to think on your feet to differentiate activities in the moment

• Willingness and ability to travel to different locations across the South East

A bonus if you have…

• (For outdoor education experts): Outdoor activity instruction qualifications (e.g., Archery GB Leader / Outdoor First Aid / Lowland Leader)

• Have any experience leading or co-leading events or expeditions and so be able to step into the shoes of Day Director if we need you to (and obviously be remunerated accordingly)

• Any experience running activities not listed above, but that you’d think schools would love as part of our Team Challenge days

• Are confident speaking in front of larger groups such as school assemblies or full year-group briefings

• Clean UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

We will not accept any application which:

• does not contain significant experience (4+ years) working with young people in an official role (e.g. teacher, youth-leader, outdoor educator)

• was created through AI

• isn’t from inside, or within, easy travelling distance of the South East

If you’ve read this far down, do show it in your application by telling us your favourite TV show from your childhood, and why.

Application process

To apply: Submit your CV and a brief cover letter outlining how you meet the requirements of the role via CharityJob Apply. If you have any questions, please contact us via our website.

Shortlisting will happen as applications come in, and interviews will be held online at times convenient to both yourself and us. 

All application letters will be filtered through an A.I detector. Sorry if we sound old fashioned, but we're humans, looking to recruit a human, who will be working with other humans!

The National Youth Orchestra is the UK’s leading organisation championing orchestral music as a powerful agent for teenage development.

We activate teenagers’ confidence, optimism and skills to play their part in the world today, through performing and sharing extraordinary music.

We are looking for a Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator to help share the voices, stories and energy of our teenage musicians across digital platforms. From concert announcements and recruitment drives to behind-the-scenes content and campaign storytelling, you’ll help ensure that every post, page and email reflects the vibrancy of our work and the transformative power of orchestral music.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to develop your skills and grow your experience in a supportive and ambitious team. You’ll be confident scheduling social media posts, editing simple graphics or short videos, and working collaboratively with colleagues and young people alike. You’ll also be passionate about NYO’s mission to empower teenagers through music, and keen to help more young people discover, enjoy and take part in orchestral music.

At the National Youth Orchestra, you'll work as part of a supportive, friendly, and adventurous staff team. Learning and personal growth are intrinsic to every role.

Our offices near Holborn in central London are a hive of activity, a space for collaboration and ideas. Hybrid working is standard for most roles, with a flexible and supportive culture. NYO offers a season ticket loan scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, health cash plan, retail and entertainment discounts, and a 24/7 counselling and support helpline.

Deadline for applications: 10am, Monday 15 September 2025