Assistant Director of Music

Full-Time

KST Teaching Staff Pay Scale plus management responsibility allowance depending on experience

Reports to Director of Music

Start Date: September 2019

The West London Free School is a Music Specialist Secondary School founded in 2011. The school’s goal is to provide pupils from all backgrounds access to an education comparable to the top performing schools in the UK, establishing high expectations for all. In the Music Department our aim is for these expectations to be realised in exams, in ensembles, in concerts and assemblies. The whole school body at the West London Free School celebrates the pupils’ music making and our pupils draw confidence from the support they find in their peers whenever they perform.

Pupils at the school have two hours of curricular music each week and during this time we focus on keyboard skill, singing and composition. Our co-curricular programme includes Choirs, Orchestra, Bands Club, a Close Harmony group, Chamber Groups, Junior Winds, String Group, and an ever-changing Supergroup of our best Rock/Pop musicians. The Assistant Director of Music will play a key role in developing these ensembles.

Off the back of a culture of participation and support, a significant proportion of each year group take GCSE Music (46% of the cohort last summer) with most students passing with A/A*/7-9 grades.

Our Sixth Form has been open for three years and in Year 12 we have a class of Music A-Level, as well as a class doing Music Technology. The successful candidate will teach part of the A-Level Music courses and experience of teaching A-Level would be ideal. As well as building on our exam success at GCSE, the Assistant Director of Music will support these pupils in flourishing as composers and performers and having some of their most fulfilling experiences as teenagers through their participation in great musical activities. 

While there are many qualities which will help successful applications first and foremost, whatever the musical background, we are looking for a candidate who will help us pursue our vision of comprehensive music education with energy and commitment. Key characteristics of the role will include:

• Managing teaching and learning in the department for a Key Stage, including coursework submission;

• Contributing to our extra-curricular programme through running a Choir, a Bands Club and teaching Music Theory;

• Running ensembles in the area of your expertise;

• Organising concerts in and out of school and planning new performance opportunities.

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• an ability to teach Music from KS3 to A-Level;

• a passion for Music and exceptional subject knowledge;

• excellent team working skills;

• effective and efficient communication skills with both pupils and staff;

• an understanding and commitment to the ethos of the school.

The successful candidate will:

• be passionate about their subject and inspire pupils; 

• be committed to a rigorous, knowledge-based curriculum; 

• offer a commitment to extra-curricular activities. 

If you have any questions before you decide whether to apply, please contact the Director of Music, Ed Watkins (e.watkins@wlfs.org). 

The West London Free School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. 

Application deadline: 12.00pm on Friday 8th March. Interviews will take place shortly after the closing date. 

If you wish to apply, please complete and return the attached application form with a covering letter via email to s.noel@wlfs.org.