Head of Music
Davenies School
Beaconsfield, Bucks
- Expired
- Salary:
- Competitive
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- 23 April 2019 (or sooner)
- Apply by:
- 24 September 2018
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an inspiring and dedicated teacher of Music to lead and promote this key department within the School. This is a full-time permanent position commencing for the Summer Term 2019, or sooner if possible.
The Head of Music is responsible for leading and overseeing all musical activities throughout the School and will be an outstanding musician and teacher, with a passion for musical education and the ability to inspire and motivate young musicians. The post holder will lead an excellent team that includes our peripatetic teachers, who also direct some of the ensembles. The Music Department is well resourced and is considered a key contributor to the Davenies educational experience.
In the next phase of our school strategy, we are planning to build a new music facility. Therefore, the successful candidate will join the school at a stimulating time for the Music Department and will be expected to have the ambition, vision and drive necessary to further enhance this thriving Department.
Objectives
- To foster enjoyment and enthusiasm for Music
- To ensure pupil learning and progress
- To raise continuously standards of pupil achievement in Music at all levels
Principal Areas of Responsibility
- To take full responsibility for the development and strategic direction of Music as a subject throughout the school
- To be an enthusiastic advocate of the subject, ensuring its high profile in the school and wider community
- To create a vision, sense of purpose and pride in the Department
- Leading and managing staff in the Music Department
- Appointing, managing and appraising the Peripatetic Music Teachers, co-ordinating their timetables and overseeing their professional performance
- To create interesting and imaginative schemes of work and to teach classroom music to Years 3 - 8, ensuring that these build on what has been developed in the Pre-Prep and Early Years, taking curriculum leadership responsibility for the whole school age range
- Direct musical ensembles and manage the provision of the many extra-curricular groups, liaising with other staff
- Plan and produce a programme of high quality concerts and other musical events throughout the year
- Communicating for the department; organising events; promoting music, including via social media
- Actively encourage pupil participation in musical activities
- To ensure that all health and safety requirements are met and that equipment is maintained and serviced as appropriate
Areas of Specific Responsibility
- To teach individual music lessons as required
- To organise individual instrumental lessons for pupils, liaising with parents accordingly
- To lead a weekly singing assembly for the whole school
- To attend school assemblies and accompany, as a pianist, the hymn singing
- To help with the production of the school plays and the Nativity Play
- To support the development of our most talented musicians; to support music scholarship applications as necessary
Administration
- Writing a Departmental Development Plan (annual) and responding to Music-related items on the School’s Development Plan
- To promote the profile of the subject by ensuring a presence on the intranet, website, good quality displays and entering or hosting relevant competitions, music days, festivals and workshops
- Organising and chairing departmental meetings, keeping records and minutes
- Monitoring and developing pupils’ individual development
- To support the induction of new staff teaching music
- Liaising with Learning Support Teachers and the Director of Studies, as appropriate
- To keep abreast of trends and developments in the subject, advising the Director of Studies and the Headmaster with regard to future planning
- To manage and keep an inventory of resources
- To oversee the acquisition of resources in line with the budgetary requirements
- To act as Music Exams Officer entering pupils for ABRSM and other music exams
- To uphold the School Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Assessment and Marking Policies with regard to the subject as well as taking account of other relevant policies
- To support and continue the school’s commitment to the development of ICT in the teaching of music
- To ensure correct procedures and safe practice are being followed by all teachers involved in music teaching
- Arranging suitable visits and visitors to enrich the curriculum
Attached documents
About Davenies School
Davenies is a day preparatory school for boys between the ages of 4 and 13 where the boys are happy, curious, enthusiastic and kind.
Aims of the School - Our ethos and philosophy encourages the boys to make the most of their preparatory years supported by high quality pastoral care, a broad and stimulating curriculum and numerous extra-curricular opportunities. We value Sport, Drama, Music, Art and Design, and believe that by fostering a wide range of interests and passions we provide the boys with every opportunity to grow in confidence. We strive for each boy to discover and develop what he enjoys as well as cultivating his perseverance, determination and confidence to tackle the areas where he may be less adept. Enterprises such as the unique Davenies Award Scheme and the permeation of mobile computing in our teaching and learning ensure we offer a truly independent educational experience.
The Learning Experience - At Davenies, our excellent facilities support us in providing a positive learning experience with our own language of learning that nurtures each boy's understanding of how he learns. Technology, modern teaching styles and a commitment to independent learning complement our traditional values. We encourage respectful, tolerant behaviour; politeness and good manners. Davenies boys are friendly and thoughtful with their own distinct characters, personalities, interests and passions and they progress on to some of the best senior schools in the country. We seek to find the potential in each boy at Davenies, whether in Maths, French, Music or outside the classroom walls. Our extra-curricular programme is as varied as it is fun and offers innumerable opportunities for boys to be involved before, during and after school. Learning something new, honing an existing skill or enjoying some recreational time with friends – there is something for everyone. From Fencing to French Rap, Lego to LAMDA, Cubs to Conservation, and Podcasting to Photography, our own staff offer the boys nearly 50 extra-curricular activities each term.
Safeguarding - Davenies is committed to providing the best possible care and education to its pupils and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people whilst offering a supportive and flexible working environment to all its members of staff. The School recognises that, in order to achieve these aims, it is of fundamental importance to attract, recruit and retain staff of the highest calibre who share this commitment. Child protection screening applies to all staff appointments within the school, including Enhanced DBS Certificate, Barred Lists check, and checks against the Teacher and Management Prohibition Lists.
Staff - With over 80 employees, the body of Teaching Staff and Teaching Assistants are supported by a team of office staff, a site team led by the Facilities Manager, and a dedicated School Nurse. Catering and cleaning are outsourced, with external contract staff working onsite to provide term-time services. In addition, the School hosts a range of visiting music, LAMDA and extra-curricular activity tutors. In addition to a competitive salary, staff can expect to benefit from discretionary school fee remission awards, iPads for teaching staff, membership of group pension scheme, and complimentary school dinners and refreshments.
Facilities - Centred around a Grade II Listed Farmhouse, the school comprises a mix of traditional and modern buildings, with the latest, the RIBA award-winning Jubilee Building housing the Pre-Prep and Junior School, having been completed in September 2015. With purpose-built drama, design & technology and IT amenities, amongst many other subjects, the school is renowned for its sporting facilities, including an indoor swimming pool, sports hall, astro-turf and sports pitches.
Location - Situated midway between the Old and New Towns of Beaconsfield in South Bucks, there are excellent transport links with a direct train line into London just 5 minutes’ walk from the School, and Junction 2 of the M40 just a few minutes away.
Please note that you are wholly responsible for fact checking in respect of the information provided by schools. Please also check for the latest visa and work permit requirements that may apply. Tes is not responsible for the content of advertisements or the policies adopted by advertising schools. Tes asks that all schools follow Tes' Fair Recruitment Policy.