Director of Music Specialism

Director of Music Specialism 

Responsible to: CST Executive Principal

Salary: L14 - L18 on the CST Leadership pay scale (£55,061 - £60,754)

Start date: 1st September 2019

The role is ideally suited to an outstanding music practitioner who is ambitious to progress into Headship or other senior school leadership positions. The successful applicant will direct music education at Bristol Cathedral Choir School (BCCS) and support other primary and secondary schools within Cathedral Schools Trust (CST); there will be opportunities within the Teaching School Alliance to be deployed as a Specialist Leader in Education.

Bristol Cathedral Choir School is a state funded academy with a national reputation for the quality and range of musical opportunities. It is a centre of excellence for music within the city and region. In addition to the cathedral choristers, 10% of Year 7 students are awarded places for musical aptitude. Exceptionally high numbers of students study GCSE and A level music. The range of musical co-curricular opportunities was described by Ofsted as “exceptional”.

Purpose of the role

Cathedral Schools Trust (CST) is seeking to appoint a Director of Music Specialism from 1st September 2019. 

The Director of Music Specialism will direct and develop the curriculum and wider co-curricular music offer across all CST schools. The role will involve teaching at BCCS and other CST schools. The Director of Specialism will lead and work with music coordinators in our schools to ensure that the specialism is well coordinated and driven to even greater success. 

Responsibilities of the role

At BCCS, the postholder will:

• Dedicate approximately 60% of their time to directing music.
• Be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Line manage the Head of Music.
• Assume overall responsibility for the quality of the curriculum and student progress.
• Inspire inclusivity of musical opportunities for all student groups.
• Teach approximately 6-8 curriculum lessons per week from Year 7 to 13. 
• Lead co-curricular ensembles.
• Oversee the quality of co-curricular musical provision.
• Direct a high quality programme of concerts and events. 

Across CST, the postholder will:

• Dedicate approximately 40% of their time to providing strategic leadership of music across CST, ensuring there is high quality music provision in all schools.
• Establish links with other music and arts providers. 
• Support and train staff across CST to improve the quality of music provision
• Liaise with senior leaders to ensure that the music specialism is clearly communicated and driven.
• Provide some classroom music teaching and modelling.
• Organise CST concerts.
• Support school concerts.
• Ensure that ensembles are well run.
• Manage the music administration team.
• Recruit experienced, well qualified and inspirational instrumental and ensemble teachers.
• Lead or model some musical ensembles as required.
• Be deployed by the Teaching School Alliance as an external SLE supporting teaching, learning and leadership.

If you would like to find out more about the Trust including FAQs, please visit the website.

Please the attached documents for further details about the role including the job description and person specification. 

Please note that we will only consider applications through TES and will not consider CVs so please ensure that your supporting statement on the application meets the requirements of the person specification. We encourage you to be succinct and to restrict your supporting statement to no more than four pages in length.

Closing date: 24th March 2019

Interview: 2nd and 3rd April 2019

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and the post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.