Director of Music
Kew House School
Chiswick/London
- Expired
- Salary:
- Competitive, commensurate with experience
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- January 2025 (later for an exceptional candidate)
- Apply by:
- 18 October 2024
Job overview
Kew House School was established in the conviction that there exists an opportunity for a different kind of independent secondary school in London – academically demanding but with a forward-thinking approach to selection criteria, the flexibility of the curriculum, the shape of the school day, and recognition of creativity and talent. A character-selective school, we pride ourselves on the support and care we extend to our 600 pupils whilst striving to add value to their success in all fields of academia, sport, and creativity. Having successfully grown over the ten years since its foundation and recently awarded the ISI “Excellent” grading, the Music Department has expanded its provision to offer both A Level and BTEC Level 3 teaching since September 2023.
Music forms one of the core pillars of Kew House School’s creative pupil engagement and achievement. Music permeates the wider school environment and offers an extensive range of opportunities for students to involve themselves in. We are proud of the number of pupils who actively participate and the standard of performance they attain.
We are looking for an inspirational, dynamic, innovative, and well-qualified Director of Music to lead our highly successful, vibrant department.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the ability to model and promote outstanding teaching and learning.
You will have the skills to support and empower their team and will have the vision to play a key role in the strategic leadership of Music in the classroom, in co-curricular clubs, and throughout the wider school community.
Facilities
The buildings are equipped with modern facilities, including performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, a dedicated Music IT suite running Sibelius and Cubase, Art and Design studios, flexible teaching suites, and meeting rooms.
Curriculum
Our curriculum starts with a two-year Key Stage 3 in which Music is taught to mixed-ability classes in Years 7 and 8 for 90 minutes every week. Music lessons in Year 7 involve the school’s USP of giving every child tuition in playing orchestral instruments; the project is delivered by specialist instrumental teachers alongside the classroom teacher. Music is a popular option at GCSE and is taught across three years. The post-16 curriculum provision advises students to take appropriate combinations of A Level and BTEC subjects, plus an EPQ. The school’s aim is to provide a rich and broad education to all students, whatever their specialism. Whilst we aim to achieve the highest academic results for each student, we do not serve as an examination “factory”.
Co-Curricular
The Music Department is central to the school’s co-curricular provision, with a wide range of performance opportunities for the Senior Choir, Junior Choir, Chamber Choirs, String Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Senior Soul Band, and several Junior Rock Bands, in addition to annual Musical Theatre productions.
For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.
Please note that we are recruiting for this position on a rolling basis; immediate applications are encouraged and will be considered on receipt.
Kew Green Preparatory School is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment and work in accordance with our child protection policies and procedures. All posts are subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check. The safeguarding responsibilities of the post are as per the job description and person specification. Please also see our safeguarding policy.
About Kew House School
Kew House School is a co-educational independent senior school for students aged 11-18 years in West London, near to Kew and Chiswick. The school opened its doors for the first time in September 2013 with 63 students and now has over 550 on roll. It is the sister school to Maida Vale School, Ravenscourt Park and Kew Green Preparatory Schools and is owned by The Gardener Schools Group Ltd, a family company founded by Maria and Edward Gardener.
Kew House School takes a modern and pioneering approach to every aspect of school life. The key characteristics upon which the school was founded are:
Ethos and aims
Individualised attention both pastorally and educationally for all students. KHS benefits from having a smaller student roll than many independent senior schools and provides the flexibility needed to enable students to fulfill their potential.
Selection criteria
We seek inquisitive, intelligent students displaying a recognisable talent. Although we use entrance testing, greater emphasis is placed on interview, and feeder school reports. We select each year group as a whole cohort seeking a balanced mix of aptitudes and personal attributes.
Ethos
We recognise and enhance the individual abilities of each child, welcome students with varying academic profiles and place emphasis on confidence, self-esteem and creativity. We believe this approach will produce excellent academic results. We operate a true “open door” policy welcoming parents and members of the wider community. The school has developed the feeling of a family and social hub giving emotional support and security to all students and employees, achievable due to its size.
The curriculum
We pursue excellence in all areas whether examinable or not. Our aim is to provide a rich and broad education to all students whatever their specialism. While we aim to achieve the highest academic results for each pupil we do not serve as an examination “factory”. Our “Individuals in Society” (IS) course focuses on personal development, emotionally, practically, and intellectually, throughout each student’s life at the school via regular, time-tabled sessions and extensions of the school day.
Community involvement
The school is outward looking taking full advantage of the wide variety of cultural, scientific and business organisations in London as a resource for academic and non-academic learning as well as fostering opportunities for service to the local community. Visitors regularly hold seminars and workshops at the school.
Modern and Pioneering Approach
The school takes a fresh approach to all areas of school life and will not be bound by current conventions and practice. Whilst retaining the core traditional values in place at our preparatory schools, we have made bold decisions about curriculum, timetabling, the length and shape of the school day and term, aligning the school with the lives of students and parents. The school operates as an educational and social centre for students in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays when core, extension or one-off learning courses will operate and social events take place.
Creativity and excellence
The school exists to foster individual and group creativity in all areas and to allow talent to bloom. We encourage individuality of thought and self-motivation in all areas of study and exploration.
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