Singing Teacher

The Department

The Music Department is a thriving department with a wealth of talented musicians and an exciting musical programme. The Director of Music leads a team consisting of the Assistant Director of Music, the Head of Instrumental Music, Head of Production and a part time Teacher of Music. In addition there is a full time department administrator, a part time accompanist, a Waynflete intern and a team of 42 visiting music teachers.

Academic music lessons are taught for two periods per week in J1-J4 (Years 3 to 6) and in the Second and Third Form (Years 7 and 8). Music becomes an optional subject from Lower Fourth (Year 9) with three periods per week. 20-30 pupils take GCSE Music each year and have four periods per week. Each year up to ten pupils take Music at A Level. In 2023, 59% of GCSE grades were Grade 9 and 82% were Grades 9-8. In the same year, 38% of A Level grades were A* and 88% were A*-A. Most pupils learn an instrument during their time at MCS (either at school or privately) and there are over 500 instrumental lessons each week and many pupils reach Grade 8 or Diploma level by the time they leave the Senior School. Every year a number of pupils go on to university to read Music and a number of pupils gain organ and choral scholarships to Oxbridge colleges each year. The School also educates Magdalen College’s choristers and members of the Music Department liaise regularly with the Tutor to the Choristers and the College’s Informator Choristarum about the musical development of the choristers and their participation in the musical life of the school.

Please see job description for more information.

The Role

Magdalen College School is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and experienced Singing Teacher to join its Music department from January 2024.

The Singing Teacher will be responsible to the Master through the Director of Music for the proper discharge of his or her duties. Further information on the post is attached.

Please see job description for more information.

The Candidate

We are looking for a charismatic musician who can teach Singing to pupils throughout the school.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Education: A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Music or a related field is required. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Instrumental Expertise: Demonstrable expertise and mastery of singing, with a strong background in performance and pedagogy.
• Teaching Experience: Proven experience in teaching singing to students of different ages and skill levels, preferably within a school setting.
• Passion for Education: A genuine passion for teaching and a commitment to the musical development of students.
• Patience and Empathy: Ability to establish a supportive and nurturing learning environment, where students feel comfortable and motivated to explore and develop their musical abilities.
• Organisational Skills: Ability to plan and organise lessons effectively, including selecting appropriate repertoire and resources for students.
• Continued Professional Development: Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional growth and development in the field of music education.

Please see job description for more information.

Application Process

Candidates should submit the following two documents to the Recruitment Officer, Miss Yelena Molcanova (recruitment@mcsoxford.org), which can be found on the Job Vacancy link of the website (www.mcsoxford.org). To access Click here.

1. “MCS Application Form for Teaching and Support Staff” Form
2. CV (Curriculum Vitae)

All documentation should be sent no later than Monday 13th May, at midday; early applications are highly encouraged. Any applicants who submit just a CV will be automatically rejected. The school’s preferred method of communication is by email and it will not be necessary to send a hard copy of the documents by post.

References may be taken up in advance. If you do not wish references to be called for at this stage, please make that clear on the reference section of the application form.

We anticipate holding interviews in the weeks commencing Monday 13th May and 20th May. Candidates short-listed for interview will be asked to teach a lesson in person with a pupil and meet with the Director of Music and Head of Instrumental Music. We will be in contact with shortlisted candidates by telephone.

Safeguarding Policy

Magdalen College School is committed to the safeguarding of pupils, and any offer of employment will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure, the receipt of satisfactory references, the school’s pre-employment medical questionnaire, plus sight of relevant original ID documentation and degree certificate(s). This role will be in regulated activity and will require a children’s barred list check as well as an enhanced DBS check. The enhanced DBS check is due to this role being exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Remuneration and Benefits

Instrumental teachers are employed as permanent members of MCS staff, and therefore receive holiday pay, pension contributions and other staff benefits in addition to their hourly pay, which is £41.73 for the academic year 2024-2025.

MCS currently has its own salary scale, and salaries are more generous than those in the maintained sector; there is also a relocation allowance on a sliding scale, by agreement with the Master and Bursar, and dependent on current location. The school also operates a cycle to work scheme, and travel loans are available. MCS offers teaching staff a choice of pension arrangements; a Defined Contribution scheme with an employer contribution of 23.68% or the Teachers’ Pension Scheme with a salary sacrifice arrangement. Staff may move between the two schemes as suits their needs. The Master will discuss the pension with any offer of appointment.

Instrumental lessons are 40 minutes long and the timetables are organised by the Music Administrator and posted on the school portal. Instrumental teachers receive lunch at the school if they are teaching in the morning and the afternoon.

There is a wide range of benefits on offer to staff, including a free lunch during term time and school holidays for all year-round staff, free private health insurance, free mortgage advice, complimentary use of school sports facilities as well as free entry into Oxford Botanical Gardens.

Head to mcsoxford.org/vacancies to find out more.