Post Graduate of Music/Choral Partnership

Harrow School is situated in Harrow on the Hill in north-west London. The School is located on a 324-acre estate which encompasses much of Harrow on the Hill and is one of the best-known schools in the world. Around 837 boys study at Harrow and live in the School’s 12 boarding houses. Employees particularly value the School’s beautiful green estate, the positive working environment, and good relationships with their colleagues.

An opportunity has arisen at Harrow for a Post Graduate Assistant Teacher (PGAT) of Music/Choral Partnership from September 2024. The post comes with a generous package, including rent-free accommodation and health cover provided free of charge for you and at a reduced rate for any members of your immediate family that you may wish to add. All meals are provided free of charge during term time.

PGAT appointments are fixed term contracts and are typically for one academic year, with the possibility of the contract being renewed for a second year. These positions give successful candidates the opportunity to experience life at a leading independent boarding school, to acquire and develop teaching skills, and to make a significant contribution outside the timetable to the School’s extra-curricular activities and in the super-curricular programme for academic extension. PGATs teach a reduced timetable, typically no more than 20 timetabled lessons of 40 minutes’ duration per week and assist in departments more generally in ways appropriate to their experience and ability. In addition, the School provides training in skills both related to teaching and transferable to other professions. The role of PGAT will allow those interested in pursuing a career in teaching to gain directly relevant experience and training, and those more likely to move into another profession beyond the end of their time at Harrow to acquire skills beneficial for their future careers in other areas, including banking, consultancy and the law.

Music is an important part of life at Harrow School. Forty percent of pupils take individual music lessons from the five full-time and 40 part-time staff. There is an impressive array of choirs, orchestras, chamber, jazz and rock groups, and these perform in concerts at School and elsewhere. 80 concerts, ranging from lunch-hour events at St Mary’s Church to the Choral Society Concert in Speech Room with over 300 performers take place in a typical year.

Over half of our pupils learn an instrument, and there are normally more than 60 Music Scholars at Harrow at any one time. We offer tuition in all orchestral instruments, as well as the piano, organ, guitar, bagpipes and singing, and prepare boys for practical examinations with the Associated Board and advanced diplomas such as the LTCL, DipABRSM and ARCO. Most musicians are involved in ensemble work through choirs, bands and orchestras; there are more than 80 concerts and productions each year, with many solo performance opportunities.

Harrow's Music Schools have Unique to Harrow is its famous Song Book, containing over 50 Harrow Songs that former or present Masters wrote specially for the School. These Songs are an important part of Harrow life and are sung by the whole School at end-of-term concerts, at House and Old Harrovian events, as well as once a year in Speech Room and every five years in the Royal Albert Hall. Many of our music teachers are professors at conservatoires and play with London’s top orchestras. In addition to their regular teaching, luminaries often offer the boys ad-hoc masterclasses.

The successful candidate will:

 Shaftesbury Enterprise

• Lead Music Partnership work at local primary schools (including successful launch of a choristership scheme).
• Nurture and develop relationships with primary schools, primarily through music.
• Signpost beneficial workshops and opportunities for the children at these primary schools which could be facilitated by Shaftesbury Enterprise.
• Organise and participate in community events. Workshops and performances to engage diverse audiences.
• Build strong connections with community members, schools, and families to promote musical involvement.

Co-Curriculum

• Help with the music co-curricular programme, including direction of our second Chapel Choir and assistance with House music competitions.

Curriculum

• Assist with Academic Music, including shadowing and covering music lessons;
• Teach theory and support pupils in preparing for examinations;
• Support and supervise pupils preparing for university or conservatoire applications;
• Possibly run a Music-related elective course in an area of individual specialism.

Please visit the School’s website at https://www.harrowschool.org.uk/contact/work-at-harrow Or click on the 'Apply on School website' button for more detailed information about the role, and to complete our online application form

Informal enquiries about the role would be welcome: please contact David Woodcock, Director of Music – dnw@harrowschool.org.uk

Closing date: 8am, Wednesday 12 June 2024.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening including checks with any past employer and the DBS.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are values that are important to us at Harrow. We believe in diversity of thought and actively welcome anyone regardless of their background to bring their valuable and relevant skills to our community.