Lead Teacher of Music

To apply, please visit: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/information/work-with-us/current-vacancies/

OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE POST

To be an integral part of the academic team as the lead teacher for music at White Lodge, delivering top quality teaching to exceptional standards.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

This role is responsible for the successful running of the music department, leading and managing peripatetic staff within the department effectively. The post holder is required to play a full and active role in the broader School life, such as weekend activities. All new academic staff, who are non-residential, are required to commit to one evening duty every two school weeks in one of the boarding houses by arrangement with the Assistant Principal (Pastoral & Welfare).

CONTRACT TERMS

Salary: The School has its own pay scale and the starting salary point will take into consideration knowledge, skills and experience.

Hours: 0.8 FTE (approx.). This is a part time post based on a normal working week of Monday to Friday throughout term time. The school will try to accommodate all teaching into 4 days each week, but cannot guarantee this in any particular year. 

There are no academic lessons on Saturdays however all staff are expected to undertake weekend activities in line with the details below and applicants should be aware that there are a number of parents’ meetings and other formal school events at the weekend.

Start Date: January 2025

MAIN DUTIES

Role purpose:

• To be responsible for the successful running of the department
• To lead and manage peripatetic members of staff as appropriate
• To teach (Key Stage 3 and 4 music to include (I)GCSE Music and ABRSM Grade 5 Theory) in line with the prevailing curriculum offer
• To contribute to the highest academic standards at The Royal Ballet School
• Support the aims and ethos of the School
• To lead the School Choirs and prepare students/ensembles for a range of performance opportunities across the academic year. 

Curriculum:

• Producing an annual Departmental (Curriculum) Review and Handbook in line with the School’s objectives
• Selecting appropriate specifications (where relevant) and devising, producing and updating Schemes of Work for these
• Promoting and monitoring student progress
• Ensuring appropriate preparation for public (external) and/or internal examinations
• Providing up-to-date information on the subject for the School’s website, and for current and prospective parents
• Ensuring that subject provision is in line with current best-practice and developments in the subject.

Administration:

• Managing the departmental budget
• Ensuring appropriate resources to support delivery of the subject
• Ensuring that department noticeboards have relevant and current displays
• Ensuring all examination records and entries are accurate and timely
• Maintaining good general administrative ‘housekeeping’ for the department.

Management (of self & staff):

• Ensuring that departmental staff understand their responsibilities and carry them out effectively
• Ensuring high teaching and learning standards are maintained
• Ensuring the quality of departmental reporting and assessment is in line with departmental and School policy
• Promoting relevant CPD and peer observation internally and externally
• Delegating appropriately (where possible)
• Managing effective academic induction for staff where appropriate
• Managing staff performance including undertaking annual Development Reviews where appropriate
• Communicating with parents as needed including the handling of departmental/curriculum concerns.

Tutoring:

• Being the prime point of contact for all academic matters
• Monitoring and supporting academic attainment and effort
• Meeting regularly with tutees to set and review targets on a half-termly basis
• Reporting on academic progress at Progress and other relevant meetings
• Liaising with house and artistic staff over academic progress as needed
• Writing reports as required by the Reporting & Assessment Policy
• Proof-reading reports for all tutees’ reports
• Proactively communicating with parents on academic matters
• Delivering PSHE/RSE as per timetable during tutor sessions and assemblies.

Teaching:

Teachers are encouraged to take a full and active part in the life of the School departmentally, pastorally and artistically. This would include attendance at all significant school events, functions and performances, parents’ meetings, Inset (up to 6 days) and so on. The expectations below are all assumed to be in line with relevant School and departmental policies

• Planning & preparing lessons with due regard for the need for differentiation
• Setting and marking work and recording marks as required
• Promoting, monitoring and encouraging student progress
• Maintaining good order and discipline in line with the School’s Behaviour Policy
• Producing accurate, timely reports as required
• Preparing students for public (external) and internal examinations
• Attending staff, academic and progress meetings and assemblies
• Contributing to departmental activities such as displays, trips, curriculum resources, Schemes of Work etc. 

General:

• Contribute to School House events
• Undertake student supervision as needed, including on school trips
• Provide cover as needed
• Registering students
• Communicating with parents as needed
• To undertake prep/boarding duties once every two weeks
• To contribute to the weekend activities programme approximately twice per term.

Person Specification:

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

• Well-qualified Music (or closely related subject) teacher
• A recognised teaching qualification
• Good degree in Music (or closely related subject)
• Strong communication skills and able to develop effective relationships with young people, their parents and colleagues
• Capable of maintaining correct professional etiquette and courtesy with students, parents and colleagues
• The flexibility and proactivity of approach needed to contribute effectively to the running of a small school
• Excellent IT skills with experience in using Microsoft Office programs and interactive teaching applications, (e.g. MSTeams)
• The commitment to teaching in an all-ability environment where differentiation is key
• The desire to motivate excellent achievement for students requiring SEN/EAL support
• The passion and dedication to set the highest standards for all the young people you teach
• Empathy with the aims and ethos of the School
• Own transport (the school is not on any public transport network). 

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Strong keyboard and choral experience
• Ability to offer extra-curricular activities
• A desire to be involved in boarding
• Experience of teaching with SMART boards and other digital technologies