Head of Department - Performing Arts

About the role: We are seeking to appoint a full time Head of Department - Performing Arts who can deliver high quality learning opportunities for our students. As the subject leader, you will have whole-academy responsibility for this subject area and will develop and will be an integral part of our team that ensures the Hayesbrook Academy becomes an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Provider.  Applications are welcomed from experienced teachers who are seeking to take on extra responsibility. 

We are looking for a music specialist with superb subject and curriculum knowledge. The HoD will be involved in supporting teachers and leaders to develop the quality of their curriculum in music and drama.

Our strong learning community works together and shares the value of collaboration; every member of our academy family works together to achieve success, cultivating a strong sense of belonging. Our belief in human-scale education, delivered through our college model, ensures every one of our students is known and valued. Strong pastoral care is at the heart of our academy and we place great importance on building strong partnerships with parents and carers.

Working at Hayesbrook Academy is a unique opportunity as it transitions to becoming Leigh Academy Tonbridge and becomes co-educational in September 2023. A flexible approach with a can-do ethos is required, as is drive, grit and boundless enthusiasm. 

What we are offering: 

• A salary commensurate with the profile of the post  
• Bespoke CPD with mentoring and coaching opportunities 
• The opportunity to work laterally across a number of Leigh Academies Trust schools to benchmark best practice and to be involved in teaching and learning innovation

We’d like to hear from candidates who are: 

• An excellent teacher who is passionate about learning and has strong subject knowledge 
• Collaborative, able to build strong professional relationships 
• Able to motivate and inspire students and staff to achieve their full potential 
• Energetic and have a can-do attitude 
• Confident and has strong career aspirations 
• Committed to safeguarding and the happiness and wellbeing of everyone at the Academy 
• Prepared to be involved in leading co-curricular activities either within or outside of their teaching subject​​​​​​​

The role is offered on a full-time, permanent basis offering MPS/UPS commensurate with experience + a TLR of £2,800. We would like the successful candidate to join us from January 2023.

If you have any queries regarding the role or the application process, please contact Elene Redelinghuys (elene.redelinghuys@latrust.org.uk)​​​​​​

​​​​​​​​​​​Do you know a great teacher who would like to hear about opportunities with Leigh Academies Trust? If so, make a referral today for the chance to receive £300 as a 'thank you'. Simply complete the referral form by clicking here. T&C's apply. ​​​​​​​

Joining us at Hayesbrook Academy: Hayesbrook Academy first opened in 1964. Having always been an all-boys school, our history before then is closely linked to the old Sussex Road Boys School, where records go back to the early 1900’s, and so we have a strong tradition of education provision in Tonbridge. The modern day academy has always been an 11-18 comprehensive school with a mixed sixth form, serving the local community.

Since being the first school in West Kent to gain Academy Status in 2010, the academy led the way in achieving excellent standards and in creating a multi-academy Trust. We were graded ‘Excellent’ by Ofsted in 2005, 2008 and 2009. The academic success and high standards have continued and inspections in 2013 and again in 2017 found the school to be ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ features and praised for its leadership and continued commitment to improvement of educational standards as well as students’ achievement.

Hayesbrook Academy grows, adapts and thrives with each new cohort of students that are welcomed here every September and our recent move to Leigh Academies Trust has strengthened the academy’s ability to deliver the very best for our pupils.​​​​​​​ In September 2023, Hayesbrook will rebrand as the Leigh Academy Tonbridge and will admit its first co-educational cohort.

​​​​​​​Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2021, our Trust comprises 31 geographically organised academies (15 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating 20,000 students, and employing over 2,500 talented staff. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North West Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training organisations, a large teaching school hub and is an accredited apprenticeship provider. Click here to view our future plans in our Vision 2025 document.

As part of Leigh Academies Trust you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

Click here to view the range of benefits available to all LAT staff. ​​​​​​​ 

Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units.  All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.  

Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a Trust we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds.

Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.