Permanent Teacher and Acting Head of Music

We wish to appoint from September 2024 a well-qualified, enthusiastic and committed Teacher of Music on a permanent contract. For a suitable candidate there will also be the option to take on the Head of Music role to cover maternity leave. The teaching post is permanent and full-time. The Head of Department post is full time until 31st August 2025. The position would suit an experienced teacher. 

This is an excellent opportunity to join one of Oxfordshire’s largest and most successful schools. Effective administrative systems support the two sites. Students are well-behaved and motivated, and there is a strong sense of community in Thame, with a committed parent support base.

We are exceptionally strong in terms of pastoral support for all students and have the highest expectations for individual achievement whatever the starting points. Outside the classroom there are wonderful extra-curricular activities for all. Students leave the school successful and well-rounded individuals. There is a ‘buzz’ about learning in the school and our students are fortunate to be supported in their learning by dedicated teachers and support staff. Staff training and professional development are always a developmental priority and many of our staff move on to promotions in other schools.

The School

The school is the only school serving the market town of Thame and surrounding villages. It is a popular school and always oversubscribed. It is a split site school – Years 7-9 on our Lower School site and Years 10 -13 on our Upper School site. There are around 540 students in our Sixth Form and we attract many students from other schools, post-16. Teamwork is a key feature of school life and so is partnership with our feeder primary schools. There is a strong drive to establish powerful curriculum links cross phase with teachers collaborating on a range of projects.

The Department

The Department is part of the Faculty of Creative Arts. The Music Department staffing currently consists of 2 full-time Music teachers, 1 part-time Music teacher, and the Deputy Head Teacher of Lower School. The school is the recipient of an Artsmark Award in recognition of its Creative Arts provision. The four departments of Art, Dance, Drama and Music organise much of their own work but they also work together, particularly at Key Stage 3. The Faculty team meets regularly as a group and ideas for working imaginatively and collaboratively are welcomed.

Music is taught to all students in Years 7, 8 and 9. There are flourishing GCSE groups in Years 10 and 11 and A Level groups in Years 12 and 13; eduqas is the exam board taught at both KS4 and KS5.

The Department is well equipped on both sites with good-sized teaching rooms and several practice rooms. At Key Stage 3 all teachers deliver an agreed schemes of work and includes activities using Music Technology (Ableton) electronic keyboards as well as tuned and untuned percussion instruments.

Choirs, orchestras and instrumental groups produce many performances throughout the year. The Faculty has also worked together on whole school musicals. Recent productions include Avenue Q, Guys and Dolls and The Wizard of Oz. There are several whole school music concerts, performances at the Candle-lit Service, and a Creative Arts Evening in the Summer. At Upper School, there are monthly Live Lounge lunchtime gigs which are student-led. 

We are fortunate to have annual funding for Arts activities in the school from a bursary known as the Willie Howe bursary. This supports a variety of Arts workshops throughout the year, as well as providing funding for 5 annual Music Scholarships (appointed for a year). 

The Acting Head of Music Post

This is an excellent opportunity for a well-qualified teacher of Music to join a strong and successful team and to take on the Head of Music maternity cover. 

The Head of Music provides leadership for all aspects of the subject throughout the school. He/she will involve the team members fully in the organisation and development of the subject and will  delegate aspects of the work to them, whilst retaining overall responsibility for programmes of study and the quality of teaching and learning. Current priorities include monitoring and evaluation within the department and ensuring high standards of student achievement.

Instrumental and vocal tuition is provided through the peripatetic teachers in the County Music Service and through private tuition carried out in the school. The department is looking to develop and expand the tuition programme and to incorporate the work more fully into the life of the school. The Head of Music is responsible for day-to-day organisation.