Head of Music - Senior School

The role of the Head of Music (Senior School) at St. Paul's School is to promote at all times and in every possible way the pupils’ intellectual and social development and learning, including independent learning skills and appreciation and a passion for music. 

Start date: as soon as possible. 

Pupils’ development, teaching and learning  

• Academic learning (including, but not limited to):  
• Creating and monitoring lessons and learning activities that are appropriate to a range of learning styles and pupil abilities.  
• Provoking and developing pupil’s sense of curiosity and wonder about the world.  
• Social development (including, but not limited to):  
• Ensuring a safe, stimulating, ordered and supportive environment for learning.  
• Giving ethical direction and pastoral care.  
• Professional/Self-development (including, but not limited to)  
• Participation in and keeping a record (portfolio) of personal goals, training and development initiatives.  
• Professional relationships  
• With other teachers and staff (including, but not limited to):  
• Being a team player – supporting the work of other colleagues by participating in meetings, covering absent teachers, duties, etc.  
• With parents (including, but not limited to):  
• Reporting on pupil progress, orally and in writing, as may be required by school procedure.

Learning and teaching  

• To devise and review the rationale of the department and its schemes of work.  
• To support the learning of new pupils joining the school including (but not limited to) provision of a catch-up programme and Recuperação.  
• To keep up to date with current thinking in the subject area and ensure necessary changes are introduced to the department as appropriate.  
• To review the policy and work of the department with colleagues at weekly departmental meetings and to provide and organise regular in-service training where necessary.  
• To co-ordinate and oversee school procedures (monitoring the content and quality of report writing, grade predictions, IGCSE and IB options, IB extended essays, etc.) with respect to the department.  
• To maintain close contact with the librarian to ensure that the necessary supplementary resources are available to support learning in this subject area.  
• To ensure the availability and appropriateness of all materials and resources necessary for the delivery of the department’s programme of instruction.  
• To monitor set sizes and communicate necessary changes to the leadership team.  
• To keep a careful check on syllabuses, etc. of external examinations taken in the subject and to implement modifications as required.  
• To supervise any necessary work for the setting and marking of the school’s internal examinations.  
• To keep departmental marking and assessment policies up to date and appropriate in the department handbook

Staff management  

• To consult with the Head and Deputy Head regarding staffing needs.  
• To play a significant role in the appointment of new staff, especially those recruited locally.  
• To coach and induct newcomers to the department in school and department ethos and administrative procedures.  
• To participate in the school’s staff review process.  
• To regularly deliver CPL to the department.  
• To ensure, when a teacher leaves the school, teaching records and resources are left in order.

Administrative  

• To prepare and submit an annual departmental budget (including book orders) in agreement with colleagues and the Deputy Head.  
• To check that each room has its proper complement of desks, chairs and equipment and that any variations are agreed with the Deputy Head.  
• To take pride in the presentation of rooms.  
• To report damage to rooms, furniture and equipment (usually used by the department) to the service desk, to ensure that all equipment is regularly serviced and that damaged furniture is removed and replaced.  
• To participate in heads of department meetings.

General  

• To take part in school meetings as required.  
• To attend staff development sessions, including the middle leaders programme.  
• Additional, specific responsibilities for the role of Director of Music  
• To deliver quality music teaching and demonstrate a passion for music within the school  
• To oversee all musical ensembles and instrumental lessons, ensuring a wide variety of choice, direction, quality, consistency and smoothness of operation (communicating with staff, parents and pupils)  
• To manage and direct quality school concerts and events, assisting in the marketing of a full and varied programme of concerts and workshops for the academic year  
• To take responsibility for the musical content and management of all rehearsals, accommodation, and equipment and staffing for these events.  
• It is expected that the Director of Music will direct at least one ensemble.  
• To oversee the provision of instruments, their maintenance and repair and maintain an up to date inventory of all departmental equipment; instruments, books and other resources.  
• To oversee the administration of all areas of teaching and external work of the music department including all financial reconciliations of lessons, correspondence with Pasa music teachers, promotion of instrumental tuition within the school, seeking out potential new students and actively encouraging them to explore instrumental tuition, ensuring all students receiving individual tuition participate in school ensembles and are showcased in concerts/workshops during the academic year.  
• To maintain and extend the profile of the school’s music in the local community and the city in general

Essential personal skills  

• To be a good honours graduate of music with excellent teaching skills, subject knowledge and a passion for education.  
• To have a certified teaching qualification, e.g. either a PGCE from the UK  
• To have excellent interpersonal skills, to be professional in outlook and conduct.  
• To be flexible in attitude and approach.  
• To have the ability to lead, motivate and inspire others: both colleagues and pupils and work well with others in small teams both within and beyond the music department.  
• To have the ability to manage a considerable work load and have a high degree of administrative efficiency with the ability to work to deadlines.  
• To have the sensitivity to deal with pastoral and staffing issues.  
• To have a positive approach to problem solving.  
• To feel confident about leading continual professional development for their team and have a proactive attitude towards participation in continual professional development and the school’s staff review and development provision.  
• To be resilient and cheerful.  
• To have strong ICT skills both in their teaching and for administrative purposes.  
• To have excellent written English and outstanding communication skills.