Curriculum Leader of Drama with English Teaching

The school is looking to appoint a committed, enthusiastic individual to lead the teaching of Drama at KS3 and KS4 and to teach English at KS3 and KS4. The successful candidate will have the role as Curriculum Leader of Drama within the English Faculty. Media Studies is also taught within the English Faculty. The department is one that has a clear vision for its development and has seen very strong outcomes for its students. In 2018 English achieved a Progress 8 score of +0.2, placing it in the second quintile for achievement nationally.

The Faculty will consist of seven full-time teachers and two part time teachers. Drama is taught in Year 7 and then within the English Curriculum during Years 8 and 9. Drama is a GCSE option. Some years there are two drama groups, in other years there is one depending on the number opting for Drama at GCSE.

Drama is taught from the Drama Studio which has its own small lighting rig. There are curtains and flats that can be used to divide the space up as well as a projector and whiteboard. Drama also has its own storage area for props and costumes which is currently being enlarged and refurbished. The school Hall is the venue for major productions. There is a range of permanently installed lights including fully programmable DMX lighting run from a laptop. The PTA have just agreed to fund a complete refit of the sound system for the Hall.

The Drama department works closely with the Music and RE department in order to bring drama to events such as our Christmas Carol service at St Andrew’s Church and to our Easter Service. There is a rich tradition of productions, the most recent of which have included The Sound of Music, Oklahoma and Dick Whittington. The Drama department is highly inclusive and at the Balshaw’s Has Talent show for Children In Need a wide range of students are provided with the opportunity to perform.

Balshaw’s has a proud range of alumni working in drama and the arts. From Oscar winning scriptwriters such as Tom Bidwell (My Mad Fat Diary, Watership Down, Casualty) to Oscar winning special effects designer Kim Libreri (Star Wars, The Matrix and recently the game Fortnite). Famous actors include Tisha Merry (Coronation Street), Ian Bleasdale (Casualty) as well as a large number of other former Balshavians who are working in major productions all over the country such as the up and coming Alex Moran.

Drama runs a Drama Club for lower school students as well as organising Theatre visits both for Drama and for English. The successful candidate will also teach within the Faculty of English, delivering lessons in English and English Literature up to KS4.

This is an exciting opportunity to come and bring drama to life in an outstanding school which has a passion for excellence in the creative arts.

Professional Development:

Staff at Balshaw’s have an hour per week of dedicated Professional Development time which takes place on a Monday evening. Balshaw’s is also a member of a number of local Teaching Alliance networks and staff both deliver training and are able to take part in training across these networks.

All staff are provided with laptop computers, have a dedicated staffroom, staff silent working room, CPD library, Staff Health and Wellbeing Resource Library and various kitchen areas and departmental offices. Staff also benefit from the use of a fully-equipped fitness suite.

The closing date is midnight on Friday 26th April. Shortlisting is expected to take place on Tuesday 30th April and interviews are scheduled to take place on Friday 3rd May.