Director of Dance and Drama
Bedford Girls' School
Bedford
- Quick apply
- Expired
- Salary:
- Harpur Trust Teachers Pay Scale plus an additional allowance
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- September 2025
- Apply by:
- 28 March 2025
Job overview
Director of Dance and Drama
Start date: September 2025
Full time
Harpur Trust Teachers’ Pay Scale plus an additional allowance
The Drama & Dance Department is a vibrant department offering extensive curriculum and co-curriculum opportunities in Drama, Dance and Speech and Drama. Our vision is the pursuit of excellence through innovation and to ensure that we offer an artistically varied and creatively bold programme of co-curricular and curricular productions. In line with our ethos we want opportunities to be open to all students as we support the development of their learner attributes across their BGS education.
The Department works across the Junior and Senior School, as well as collaborating with students from Bedford School, to deliver four productions on average per year. Drama is offered at GCSE, A Level and as part of the IB Diploma Programme and is taught as a stand alone subject from Year 5.
In recent years our innovative productions have included, The Worst Witch, Les Misérables (joint production with Bedford School), The Ash Girl, Daisy Pulls It Off, High School Musical, The Company Of Wolves, Bugsy Malone (joint production with Bedford School) and Peer to name but a few.
Our stunning modern Drama Wing comprises of a state-of-the-art studio theatre space, a Dance Studio and a dedicated Drama classroom. The Studio Theatre is a versatile and dynamic 360 degree space with very high spec digital lighting rig and full acoustic treatment. This space allows for imaginative and intimate productions and is an inviting and creative space in which to teach lessons. In addition to the Studio Theatre, the School has two large Halls which serve as venues for Dance and Speech & Drama productions, as well as additional dance studios and rehearsal spaces.
The Director of Drama and Dance manages a team of Dance and Drama specialists including: 2 Drama Teachers; the Head of Speech and Drama and a visiting teacher: the Drama and Theatre Technician; and 3 Dance teachers, together with a Co-ordinator of Co-Curricular Dance. We also have a number of visiting teachers offering a full range of co-curricular Dance and Speech & Drama classes. The Department is supported by a small team of costume, set and technical designers.
Each year we have over 300 students participating in our rich co-curricular programme of Dance, Speech and Drama, Drama clubs and Theatre Crew.
The successful candidate will be joining a department that is fully energised by its commitment to continually raising the profile and quality of the performing arts at BGS. We are looking for a dynamic leader who is able to support and enhance our vision.
Please see below for links to our website page and social channels:
We offer competitive salaries and a wide range of benefits including an excellent pension scheme, life insurance, hospital surgical treatment insurance, and a cash plan scheme that includes a variety of wellbeing benefits.
Closing date: 2nd April 2025
Interview Date: 23rd April 2025
Applicants are encouraged to apply early as immediate interviews are available for exceptional candidates. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive sufficient applications.
Our Application Portal can be accessed via our website:
Teaching Opportunities | Bedford Girls' School
Any internal candidates must apply through Employee Self Service.
At Bedford Girls’ School, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We believe that a diverse team enriches our school community and helps us better meet the needs of our students.
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants.
The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.
Attached documents
About Bedford Girls' School
Bedford Girls’ School is a selective independent day school for girls aged 7-18. Underpinned by the International Baccalaureate philosophy of education the School is innovative, outward looking and vibrant. It is our belief that learning should be exciting and spark a life-long desire to engage in the wider world.
We look to each individual to act as an inspiring role model, foster connections within our local and international community, learning from the lives of those around us and developing sensitivity to culture and difference.
Bedford Girls’ School’s approach to learning is forward thinking, dynamic and vibrant. From Years 3 to Upper Sixth, our education is focused on delivering a challenging and well-rounded education, which embeds ten learner profiles, ranging from communication to risk-taking, encouraging students to think independently and to explore their creativity.
There are currently 915 pupils at the School, and our academic standards are high. We offer a choice of A Levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma in Sixth Form. In 2016, 73% of all Upper Sixth entries (IB and A Level combined) achieved an equivalent of A*-B grades, with one in five girls in the A Level cohort attaining straight A*-A grades.
The average IB score (out of a maximum of 45 points) for the BGS 2016 cohort was 36.4, significantly higher than the worldwide average of 30 points. For the second time in BGS’ short history a student, achieved an extraordinary 45 points, the highest grade possible, placing her in the top 0.1% of IB students worldwide. Over 90% of our Upper Sixth leavers gain entrance into their first choice university.
In 2016 Bedford Girls’ School also recorded its best ever GCSE results in 2016, with 65% of all entries achieving an A/A*. Over a third of the year group recorded 9 A/A*, and a quarter of the year group earned 10 A*/A.
We boast state-of-the-art facilities, offering light and open spaces suitable for future inspired education. Technology is integrated into all aspects of our teaching and learning. Our innovative approach to the use of iPads in the classroom has gained us a prestigious Apple Distinguished Educator award.
As one of the UK’s premier girls’ schools for sports, we excel across a wide spectrum of disciplines including hockey, lacrosse, rowing, netball, tennis and athletics. We have facilities both on our main site at Cardington Road and our state-of-the-art dedicated lacrosse facility at Cople Fields.
Dedicated music, dance and drama facilities provide inspiring environments for our students and many girls achieve local, regional or national honours across the arts. In addition, we have a stunning technology wing.
Co-curricular activities and community service are central to our ethos and every girl participates in at least two extra activities a week.
Bedford Girls’ School was founded in 2010 as a result of the merger of Dame Alice Harpur School and Bedford High School. We are part of The Harpur Trust, one of the 200 largest charities in the UK.
To find out more about what life is like at Bedford Girls’ School, visit www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk
Please note that you are wholly responsible for fact checking in respect of the information provided by schools. Please also check for the latest visa and work permit requirements that may apply. Tes is not responsible for the content of advertisements or the policies adopted by advertising schools. Tes asks that all schools follow Tes' Fair Recruitment Policy.