Head of Music (All-through)

  •   Full Time
  •   Westminster, London
  •   £46350 – £115581 Leadership Pay Range

To apply, click here: 

As a music-specialist school, this is a unique opportunity to lead the Orchestra Programme and be part of an outstanding academy, which seeks to redefine what is possible for a school serving an inner-city community.

We seek an enthusiastic and talented teacher and leader, ready to guide the curriculum and teaching in our specialist subject and by doing so, to have a huge impact on the futures of our pupils. This is a role for a leader who is able to take on significant responsibility in a high performing school.

We are looking for a leader to join our music department to lead the school’s ground-breaking orchestra programme where all pupils learn a string instrument. We need an exceptional and inspirational music leader to serve as a role model to our music teachers by mentoring and training them in the development of their musical ability, self-confidence and aspirations.

Our ambitious goal is for all of our pupils to become highly accomplished and successful musicians in our string orchestra. We believe all pupils, with the right role models, expectations and teaching can learn to love and excel at playing a string instrument, irrespective of their starting point.

King Solomon Academy aims to transform the lives of its pupils, 65% of whom come from the 1% most deprived communities in the country. Our mission is to provide a rigorous education that prepares our pupils for success at university and beyond, irrespective of their starting point. Our teachers do whatever it takes to make this vision a reality. The staff culture of KSA is one of mission aligned teamwork and shared professional development so that as individuals and as a school we can provide the very best education for the children we serve.

Last year, King Solomon Academy was the highest performing non-selective school in the country. We are redefining what is possible and we are seeking an exceptional teacher and leader ready to join our high-performing school and contribute to our school’s mission. This is a unique opportunity to be part of showing what education can achieve.

We are looking for an individual with a genuine passion for working at King Solomon Academy, a belief in the potential of every child and that through hard work all pupils can access and benefit from a university education, and the confidence and vision to lead others in making things happen.

This is a role for a leader who is able to take on significant responsibility in a high performing school.

In this role you will:

  • Define an all-through experience of musicianship for our pupils
  • Lead nationally ground-breaking music practices
  • Develop an already talented team of music teachers even further
  • Be developed as an exceptional leader capable of driving ground-breaking educational outcomes for pupils from an economically deprived background
  • Have the opportunity to take on additional leadership responsibilities as you develop, including senior leadership
  • Join the Ark network, accessing comprehensive development opportunities

King Solomon Academy is a place where teachers learn how to improve their teaching, constantly striving to be the best they can be. A significant proportion of the Head of Music’s time will be coaching the team of teachers in their department. Each teacher is supported with weekly drop-in observations and action steps, meaning our teachers rapidly progress into being exceptional classroom practitioners. Our school is one which is transformational for staff and pupils alike.

To apply, please submit your application by 11am on Friday 3 February 2017. For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Francesca Waters, Recruitment Manager at Francesca.Waters@arkonline.org and 0203 116 7025.

Reports to: Relevant SLT member
Start date: September 2017
Salary: Ark Inner London Leadership Scale (Dependent on Experience)

Ark is committed to safeguarding children; successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Job Description: Head of Music (All-through)

Reports to: SLT
Start date: September 2017
Salary: Ark Inner London Leadership Scale (Dependent on Experience)

The Role

To lead and manage the KSA music programme, including the development of the Strings Orchestra, providing a music curriculum that represents a transformational education for all our pupils

Key Responsibilities

  • Plan and deliver a world class orchestra programme
  • Recruit, manage and develop a team of in house instrumental teachers who can create exceptional culture and learning of instruments
  • Be held accountable for the progress of all pupils in learning across the school
  • Constantly improve the quality of teaching and learning, where necessary holding teachers to account
  • Lead the design and implementation of the curriculum and assessment including controlled assessment and examinations
  • Be a role model of outstanding teaching in the department
  • Coach teachers in the department using frequent observations and drop ins to drive development

Outcomes and Activities

Leadership of subject

  • Develop a wide and rich range of opportunities to perform regionally, nationally and internationally
  • To develop an exciting and motivating extra-curricular and enrichment offer including university links, trips and residentials
  • Through observation and feedback, coach subject teachers to ensure excellent teaching and learning in all lessons, ensuring that classroom teachers are utilising best pedagogical practice
  • Use regular, measurable and significant assessments to monitor progress and set targets
    • Produce periodic assessments with marks schemes
    • Ensure assessments are moderated internally
    • Ensure end of year assessments reflect each pupil’s overall level which is both externally valid and provides an accurate baseline for the next academic year
    • Analyse progress and attainment data to make data-driven changes to curriculum design, and pupil interventions
  • Work in collaboration with classroom teachers and SENDCO to ensure pupils receive high quality interventions

Teaching and Learning

  • Meticulously plan and teach engaging and challenging lessons that pave the way for success in school and life
  • Meet the needs of all learners by consistently planning and teaching carefully differentiated lessons
  • Set and mark appropriate homework
  • Use regular, measurable and significant assessments of their teaching
  • Complete all reporting on time
  • Closely monitor progress and attainment of their pupils and use it to inform their teaching
  • Provide content for and where necessary deliver high quality pupil interventions with direction from SENDCO and Head of Department
  • Ensure that all pupils achieve academy targets
  • Maintain regular and productive communication with parents about their child’s progress, behaviour and development, including attending after school parent meetings as required
  • Organize and participate in exciting and motivating trips and events
  • Answer “homework help” phone calls from pupils until 8.30pm as required

Form teacher

(Teachers, including leaders, will sometimes be required to perform the role of form teacher/class teacher)

  • Create and sustain a positive class culture
  • Care for each pupil as an individual and ensure that they succeed academically and develop emotionally and socially
  • Hold each pupil to account in every aspect of their school life by maintaining frequent phone/email contact with parents
  • Write form teacher / class teacher comments in reports

Other

  • Undertake professional development as agreed with school leaders
  • Perform additional duties and tasks required for the effective operation of the school, including: attending home visits, eating lunch with pupils, supervising silent sustained reading (DEAR), break supervision and gate duty
  • Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Principal

Person Specification: Head of Music (all-through)

Qualification criteria

  • Qualified to degree level and above
  • Qualified to teach in the UK
  • Right to work in the UK

Experience

  • Experience of leading orchestras to a high standard
  • Experience of raising attainment in a leadership role in a challenging school
  • Evidence of continually improving the teaching and learning of their subject though schemes coaching or staff
  • Evidence of the leading and teaching KS5 (or a willingness and ability to learn rapidly) is highly desirable
  • Evidence of the leading and teaching KS2 and below (or a willingness and ability to learn rapidly) is highly desirable

Skills and attributes

We are looking for these skills and attributes or at the very least, a clear, demonstrable capacity to develop them:

Leadership

  • Effective team worker and leader.
  • High expectations for accountability and consistency.
  • Vision aligned with KSA’s high aspirations, high expectations of self and others.
  • Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every student.
  • Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence.
  • Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils.

Teaching and Learning

  • Excellent classroom practitioner.
  • Effective and systematic behaviour management, with clear boundaries, sanctions, praise and rewards.
  • Has good communication, planning and organisational skills.
  • Demonstrates resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up standards of achievement.
  • Commitment to regular and on-going professional development and training to establish outstanding classroom practice.

Alignment with KSA vision

  • Totally aligned to the value, purpose and principles of all-through education, and ready to take responsibility for their subject area from ages 3-18.
  • Relentless drive to do whatever it takes to ensure all students succeed.
  • The belief that with the right environment more than 95% of our pupils are able to excel at university.
  • The courage and conviction to make a difference.

Communication skills

  • The ability to listen and communicate effectively.
  • Empathy and the ability to understand the needs, aspirations and motivation of diverse individuals and groups.
  • The ability to influence and motivate others.

Problem solving

  • Identify, analyse and resolve problems and issues.
  • Develop plans with concrete outcomes and effective solutions.
  • Evaluate results and identify necessary actions.
  • Make fact-based decisions.

Resilience

  • Sustain energy, optimism and motivation in the face of pressure and setbacks.
  • Stay calm in difficult situations and maintain clarity of vision.
  • Be adaptable in the face of adversity.

Results and learning orientation

  • Awareness of own strengths and limits.
  • Commitment to ongoing improvement and learning.
  • A passion for teaching subject.
  • Focus on achieving challenging goals and results.
  • Resourcefulness and flexibility in delivering outcomes.

Other

  • This post is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies.  In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process. This process is outlined here, but can be provided in more detail if requested. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Job & Establishment Details

Establishment Type

Academy

Establishment Size

100 - 499 Employees

Language

English

Job Position

Head of Department

Subject

Music

Applications Accepted Until

2017-02-03

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