Visiting Music Teacher- Cello

Introduction 

Blackheath Prep is an independent prep school for just over 370 boys and girls aged 3 to 11. Founded in 1996, it occupies a beautiful five-acre site close to Blackheath village. Its original Georgian and Victorian buildings have been extended and adapted to include large playgrounds and extensive playing fields, tennis courts, cricket nets and a Forest School area. 

It is a remarkable school with outstanding facilities, a formidable track record in academic success and impressive achievements in Music, Sport, Drama and Art.  

Children go on to a range of independent and maintained secondary schools, with a large proportion (at least 50% of the cohort over the last five years) being awarded academic scholarships at schools such as Alleyn’s, Colfe's, Dulwich College, Eltham College, James Allen’s Girls’ School, Sevenoaks School and City of London Schools and/or places at top Grammar schools such as Newstead Wood and St Olave’s. A large number of children are also awarded scholarships in Art, Drama, Music and Sport. 

The school was inspected in June 2019 and both the quality of pupils academic and other achievements and the quality of pupils’ personal development were judged to be excellent. Our website will give you a flavour of the school, its beautiful grounds and its superb facilities. 

The Role

Blackheath Prep is seeking to appoint a well-qualified, enthusiastic and engaging Visiting Cello Teacher to join our team of self-employed Visiting Music Teachers from January 2022. 

Music is a defining feature of Blackheath Prep and considerable time, resource, support and encouragement is given to the musical life of the school. All children (Nursery to Year 6) receive at least two timetabled music lessons a week. In Years 3 & 4, children participate in the school’s Strings and Wind and Brass Schemes and are given the opportunity to learn an instrument, fully funded by the school. Almost 80% of children learn one instrument with many learning more. In the current Year 6, 97% learn an instrument.

There is a thriving co-curricular programme and concerts are held regularly throughout the school year.

Ensembles and Choirs vary from year-to-year according to the musical skills and needs of the cohort. Currently,  the school has 4 choirs, an orchestra, wind band, jazz club and flute ensemble.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will possess first rate teaching and communication skills. They will have an excellent teaching record, an inclusive approach and commitment to fostering a love of music for all children.  

Experience of working with Pre-Prep and Prep age groups and success in preparing students for grade examinations, will be advantageous.

Terms of Appointment

• The post is available from January 2022

• All of our Visiting Music Teachers are self- employed, and fees are paid directly to the Visiting Music Teacher

• Fees: £43 per hour for instrumental projects and £25 for 35 mins lesson for one to one

teaching

• We have a Year 3 String Project on Tuesday and Thursday mornings

• There is also additionally approximately one half-day of one-to-one teaching per week in the first instance, but there may be scope to take on more pupils as enthusiasm for the Cello increases.

How to Apply

Please send by email a completed application form and equal opportunities form, to Asia Gibbs, HR and Compliance Manager: recruitment@blackheathprep.co.uk.  

Closing date for applications is at 9am on Monday 29 November 2021 

Interviews will be held on Monday 6 December 2021

***Please note that the recruitment campaign might end earlier as the applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so please do not delay in applying***

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.