Head of Music (from January 2023) – South Island School

Key Responsibilities

South Island School seeks to appoint an outstanding Head of Music. Your role will be to lead the team within the Music Department, ensuring a high standard of Music both within the academic curriculum, and within our extra-curricular Values in Action programme. You will be line-managed in this role by the Head of Creative Arts and will carry out this role in close collaboration with the other Heads of Department within the Creative Arts faculty.

It is essential that applicants are fully qualified to teach music within a school setting, and previous experience of our IBMYP, IGCSE and IB Diploma curricula would be helpful. As a Head of Department, you will be a member of the Academic Leadership Team (ALT), a role which involves ensuring that the Music Department is at the forefront of new initiatives at SIS, and is represented appropriately in collaborative academic decisions. 

The successful applicant will be a highly skilled teacher, with the ability to motivate, inspire and engage with students in creative and innovative ways, both within and outside the classroom. You will be a skilled manager and leader, as you work with the department team towards our overall goal of ensuring excellent educational outcomes for all of our students. You will also be a highly competent Musician, with strong performance skills in at least one musical instrument, and with the experience to conduct and lead orchestras and other Musical ensemble groups.

Like all staff, you will additionally be a tutor within our Pastoral Learning Curriculum (PLC), and will be expected to contribute effectively to our Values in Action and Making a Difference extra-curricular programmes.

Ideally, we would require the successful applicant to commence the role in January 2023. The position will be a full-time renewable contract. The role carries an additional TLR 3 allowance, as per the ESF Terms and Conditions.

Interviews will be held in late August, following summer break

Closing date is Monday, 15 August 2022.

Teachers of Music at SIS are expected to:

• Demonstrate an innovative and creative approach to providing an outstanding music education;
• Plan and prepare lessons in relation to individual students' needs and examination syllabuses;
• Teach music theory, aural skills and practical techniques to students preparing pupils for assessments and examinations;
• If possible, have the capacity to play the piano to accompany students of Grade 6 level and above; 
• Lead music groups as part of the after school activities programme;
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in the planning of music curricula;
• Possess excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish good working relationships within the Music Department, the Creative Arts Faculty and across the school community.

As Head of Music, you are expected to be committed and flexible. Regular duties include:

• Leading the Music Department strategically, to develop and sustain high standards and a culture of collaboration and learning;
• Line-managing colleagues within the department, to facilitate high achievement and efficiency across all facets of the department;
• Representing the Music Department as a whole within the Academic Leadership Team (ALT), attending meetings and leading whole school initiatives as required – and ensuring an appropriate cascade of information to the department as a whole during weekly planning and meeting time;
• Overseeing the planning, development and evaluation of Music schemes of learning for all courses to maximise positive outcomes;
• Maintaining a learning climate that is inclusive and safe, yet challenging and innovative, ensuring appropriate differentiation to meet the needs of students with all learning profiles;
• Leading and managing the development of learning and teaching strategies within the Music department, ensuring department staff develop innovative and effective pedagogical expertise, facilitating appropriate development opportunities for colleagues as necessary;
• Ensuring that resources are managed effectively within the department, in compliance with school-wide and foundation-wide requirements relating to budgets, procurement processes and facilities management; 
• Ensuring appropriate assessment practices across the Music department, to support student progress and attainment;
• Ensuring regular celebration of achievements within the Music department, in liaison with the communications team;
• Working as a tutor for a group of students, within the Pastoral Learning Curriculum;
• Engaging actively with the Values in Action and Making a Difference extra-curricular programmes, ensuring that Music-related activities are represented appropriately within these curricula.

Requirements

• A relevant degree and postgraduate qualification, including internationally recognised school teaching qualifications;
• A strong commitment to taking an inclusive approach to meet the needs of all students;
• The ability to lead and inspire others and to manage a team effectively, showing excellent leadership, management and administrative skills;
• The ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with teachers and other relevant professionals, parents and students;
• An understanding of current developments in teaching;
• Experience of a range of assessment strategies for identifying students’ needs and supporting learning;
• A commitment to pastoral care within the school;
• A commitment to developing students’ skills through extra-curricular opportunities.

For more information about South Island School, please click HERE .

Teaching in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a premier destination for expatriate and local teachers! ESF Teachers enjoy an extremely lucrative salary package and a very high standard of living overall, in an exciting and vibrant world city. The teaching profession is highly respected, student motivation and outcomes are excellent, and all teachers receive considerable support from ESF and SIS with settling into Hong Kong, as well as with their professional development. Please feel free to contact us in advance about life in Hong Kong if you feel a conversation on this topic would be helpful.

To Apply

Please submit your applications via the ESF online recruitment system at:

http://recruit.esf.edu.hk 

Further Information

Further information can be found in the following locations:

South Island School website: https://www.sis.edu.hk

English Schools Foundation website: https://www.esf.edu.hk/

Please email the Principal’s PA, Ms Cecilia Lo, if you have any questions: celo@sis.edu.hk

Thank you again for your interest in this role.

Closing Date: By 8am Hong Kong Time on Monday 15th August 2022