Head of Music

The English College in Prague is looking to appoint a Head of Music for its thriving Arts Faculty. We are flexible regarding the exact qualification and experience of the applicant, but are looking for someone who would enjoy teaching Music throughout the school and potentially has the skills to lead and further develop the Music Department academically, whilst coordinating our vibrant range of Music-related events.

This is an exciting opportunity because music has a superb reputation in the Czech Republic - being the home of classical composers Antonín Dvořák, Bedřich Smetana, Leoš Janáček and Bohuslav Martinů - as well as boasting an excellent contemporary live music scene. 

The post will be in the region of 70-80% of full time which could rise to full time after 2 or 3 years if the incumbent was able to deliver strong student recruitment into KS4 and IB courses. We would consider an immediate full-time contract for an exceptional candidate who could offer teaching in another specialism in addition to Music.

Music is a popular extracurricular subject, with superb performance opportunities in excellent venues. Our ideal candidate will be a passionate advocate for their subject in the curriculum, also, and will enjoy the challenge of revamping uptake at Pre-IB level, whilst beginning to build momentum for future uptake at IB. Confidence, and enthusiasm, for developing Music Technology within the overall curriculum is highly desirable. Experience of teaching a range of instruments is an obvious and definite advantage, as is a working knowledge of how to manage a range of peripatetic instrumental teachers. 

Fully committed to maintaining the extracurricular profile of the department, the Head of Music will be joining a diverse and dedicated team who maintain a dynamic learning and extra-curricular environment in which the needs and talents of the individual student are recognised and nurtured.

The successful candidate will relish the idea of working in an academically-focused and aspirational school which values relationships in the learning environment - whether that be the classroom or outside of it. The ideal candidate will understand modern approaches to the teaching of Music, aiming to cultivate a love of the subject as well as rigour and exam success. Very importantly, the successful candidate will be interested in in-school pedagogical development. All teachers in the school are intensively involved in teaching and learning activities, such as classroom-based action research groups, personal research projects, mentoring trainees, mutual observations, and piloting various initiatives to see if they work well in our context. In summary, a strong interest and desire to connect with, and learn from, other colleagues is essential.

Short School Statement

We are an unusual, exciting and academic HMC secondary school, educating both Czech and international students, that is committed to fostering good relationships. While we prepare our students for a small number of core IGCSEs, and Common European Framework language exams, our main focus is on delivering success in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and the Czech Maturita qualification. Each year, our graduates go on to study at universities in the UK (usually including Oxbridge), continental Europe and occasionally, Asia and North America. The majority of our teachers are native speakers of English, immersing our students in the language as authentically spoken and supporting their own language development, and our teaching style is typically that found in the best British schools. We offer the successful candidate adventure, challenge, permanent contract and good remuneration in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. For further information including a description of living and working in the Czech Republic, please visit the English College in Prague website via this link.

Watch this video about teaching at the English College.

Read here what our staff say about life in Prague with the English College. 

Job Specification Overview:

Music is an exceedingly popular extra curricular endeavour at the English College, with a long-standing reputation for student involvement. The successful candidate will benefit from an upcoming renovation, enhanced classroom space and a well-resourced recording suite, with close proximity to an auditorium. Working within a collaborative, collegiate and forward-looking Arts Faculty, their performances will be supported by enthusiastic colleagues from Drama and the Visual Arts. They will also enjoy access to superb external performance spaces in some of Prague’s well-known, centrally located venues. The extracurricular portfolio for the Arts Faculty is vibrant and busy: there are normally three large concerts per year, and two larger theatre productions, supported by a range of smaller events such as Open Mics and lunchtime concerts. 

The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience of teaching Music up to A-Level or IB Diploma
• Have a degree directly relevant to the subject
• Have a PGCE or equivalent and ideally QTS
• Be confident in the implementation and delivery of Music Technology 
• Be experienced and confident in staging and managing performances on a variety of scales
• Be experienced in managing and developing a programme of instrumental lessons 
• Be able to commit fully to supporting the extra-curricular activities of the Arts Faculty 
• Be excited about working collaboratively with colleagues from Drama and the Visual Arts.

Desirable but not essential:

• Knowledge of the ABRSM and/or LAMDA Certification process at Bronze, Silver and Gold Level
• An interest in Musical Theatre.

Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure and References Statement

The English College in Prague is totally committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects the same from its employees. All new staff will be subject to a police check, ICPC or similar, depending on their country of origin or previous employment. Identity checks, employment checks and qualifications checks all form a non-negotiable part of the recruitment process. Any gaps in employment will be examined and we will require at least two references, including one from your most recent Headteacher. Safeguarding and child protection training is given on arrival and the induction process also assiduously follows UK best practice in this area. 

How to apply:

Fill in the ECP application form which you can download after clicking at Apply Now and send a short covering letter to the Headmaster, Dr. Nigel Brown, at headmaster@englishcollege.cz. Please include a complete career history as well as the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of two referees, including your current or most recent Headteacher. Only applicants selected for interview will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted either online, or in person in London or Prague (travel expenses will be reimbursed), depending on the circumstances.