Director of Drama
Channing School
Highgate, London
- Quick apply
- Expired
- Job type:
- Full Time, Temporary
- Start date:
- September 2026
- Apply by:
- 8 June 2026
Job overview
Sabbatical Cover - 1 term from September 2026
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Director of Drama to lead a committed, hard-working and dynamic department for 1 term. This will include responsibility for the casting and direction of the school play in November 2026.
Drama is part of the timetabled curriculum for Years 7 & 8, and a popular option in Year 9 with more than 70% of the year group taking it in 2025-26. It is a GCSE option at KS4 (EDUQAS), with 3 groups in Year 10 (nearly 50% of the year group) choosing it this year, and offered as Drama and Theatre at A Level (EDUQAS). Exam performances and productions require evening and weekend work for both rehearsals and performances. There are frequent visits to professional productions, both matinee and evening performances.
Heads of Department (HoDs) are key middle leaders within the school, directly accountable to the Headmistress for the quality, effectiveness, and ambition of their subject departments. They play a pivotal role in shaping a culture of innovation, academic excellence and professional collaboration, ensuring that girls are best prepared for happy, successful and fulfilling lives in the 21st century in line with Channing’s Unitarian ethos and vision of girls enjoying success.
For further information, please refer to the Job Description document provided.
Hours:
Full-Time
Start Date:
September 2026
Salary & Benefits:
• Competitive salary scale, dependent on qualifications and experience
• Enrolment into the APTIS pension scheme (10% employer contribution, minimum 2% employee contribution)
• Laptop and iPad provided
• Free lunch and refreshments throughout the day
• Use of school sports facilities when available
• Annual flu vaccination and Employee Assistance Programme
• Extensive CPD and INSET opportunities, with scope for professional progression
How to Apply
Please complete the TES application form by clicking on Apply below. CVs will not be accepted in place of a completed application form.
Deadline for applications: 4pm, Monday 8 June 2026
Interviews: Thursday 11 June 2026
Channing School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. To assist in this, the school follows a formal recruitment procedure for the employment of all staff which adheres to the recommendations of the Department for Education (DfE) in "Safeguarding Children and Safer Recruitment in Education" and the school’s Child Protection Policy. A copy of this procedure is available on request.
Subject to statutory provisions, no applicant will be treated less favourably than another on the grounds of a protected characteristic. Ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration.
In line with our Safer Recruitment Policy, all shortlisted candidates will be subject to online searches including social media and third party Safehire.
Registered Charity No: 312766
Attached documents
About Channing School
The School
Awarded ‘Excellent’ in all areas inspected by ISI in 2022, Channing School is summed up by its vision, ‘Girls Enjoying Success’.
Girls at Channing enjoy academic success from a tailored educational programme that encourages confidence, independent thinking and provides girls with life skills to take on the next stage of their education as thoughtful, responsive, socially aware adults, prepared for the challenges of the world today.
Founded in 1885 by Unitarian sisters Emily and Matilda Sharpe, supported by Reverend Robert Spears, Channing School, named after notable American Unitarian William Ellery Channing, has been known as a successful, happy community. Remaining true to our Unitarian foundation, the School is an inclusive community that values the individual skills, spiritual beliefs, achievements and contribution of all members of the school community.
Academic achievement
Academic results are excellent – GCSE and A Level results consistently place us amongst the top-performing schools in the UK and London. Virtually all our sixth formers go on to HIgher Education, some after a gap year. Girls also excel in a very wide range of co-curricular and extra curricular activities, and especially in Music, Drama, Sport and Art.
Community spirit
The Head and members of staff know every girl personally and as an individual. We have a strong family tradition and an enthusiastic and supportive parents' association. The atmosphere is calm, focussed and purposeful. We set high standards emphasising concern and respect for the needs of others. A major feature of the school is the huge diversity of the extracurricular activities on offer to pupils and it is expected that all staff will contribute to this side of the life of the school. Opportunities exist for involvement in cultural, dramatic, sporting and intellectual pursuits and we like staff to assist in areas where they have a genuine interest and enthusiasm.
Exceptional setting
The school is in an attractive part of Highgate, with convenient transport links by road and underground. Visitors are often surprised at how light, green and open our site is. We have preserved the character of the older buildings, but completely refurbished and redesigned them to provide bright and spacious teaching rooms. Our ambitious £13m building programme, completed in 2017, has provided us with excellent dining facilities, a Music School, a new Sixth Form Centre, Sports Hall with fitness suite and a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre.
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