Teacher of Music

The Aims of the School

Hutchesons' Grammar School aims to provide boys and girls with a broad Scottish education, with the emphasis on academic excellence.

Founded in 1641, Hutchesons’ is a famous school which has always been at the forefront of teaching and learning in Scotland. Nowadays, it is a large and dynamic school of great vitality and diversity, where around 1,250 pupils from Pre-School right through to S6 follow a broad curriculum, blending the traditional and the modern. Experienced teachers are one of Hutchesons’ greatest strengths, along with the resources they need to do their job to the highest possible standards.

Hutchesons’ pupils excel in a wide variety of sports both nationally and internationally, and the quality of performance in music, drama and the arts is equally high. All pupils can follow a structured programme in and out of the classroom which broadens their outlook and helps them develop their interests and enthusiasms. There are many opportunities for involvement in clubs and societies, community work and charity fund-raising, visits and tours both within the UK and abroad, and for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

 As individuals, Hutchesons’ pupils are encouraged to develop confidence, self-discipline, integrity, courtesy and consideration for others. They are part of a large community of learners, where every individual is important. They learn to be thoughtful, articulate and well-read and to have a clear idea about how they want to live their lives beyond school and university.

Scots have always valued education very highly, and for nearly four centuries Hutchesons’ has sent young men and women out into the world secure in the knowledge that they are part of that tradition.

Hutchesons’ prides itself on being an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. If you have what it takes, we really want to hear from you.

Vision for Performance

Our strategic aim is to be known as a school where every pupil is able to flourish and reach their potential academically, physically, creatively, spiritually and socially.

Performance has a central and exciting role with opportunities to perform developing time management, focus and poise, self-confidence, teamwork, technical skills and camaraderie.

As pupils develop their skills within the Performing Arts, it allows them to respond with maturity as they analyse and interpret the artistic communications of others.

Performance requires pupils who are keen to work under the spotlight and, of equal importance, the chances for those who wish to work backstage and in productions. All pupils will be able to perform in curricular time with lessons in drama and music, but extra-curricular opportunities are crucial in showcasing the variety of the pupil’s skills, talents, and abilities to the widest audience.

There is a family feel to the performing arts at Hutchesons’ Grammar School and this fosters a passion for theatre and live music and provides a lasting attachment to the school, memories of much fun and the strongest connections to those friends and staff involved and in the audience.

Ethos and Aims of the Department

‘Music for all’ is an underlying principle as well as striving to achieve excellence in performance. The current staff consists of five classroom teachers, teaching across the whole age spectrum in both our Primary and Senior sites. The Music Department is led by the Director of Music & Performance who will have responsibility for the day-to-day running of the department. There is currently a Head of Primary Music (Senior Teacher), responsible for Primary School Music (taught at the Kingarth Street site) and a Senior Teacher with responsibility for the Music and Music Technology Curriculum at the Senior School site (Beaton Road). There are 2 further Music Teachers and a Music and Performance Administrator.

Class music is taught through the practical idiom, and the curriculum follows the guidelines laid down in the ‘Curriculum for Excellence Document’. All pupils are given the opportunity to choose Music and / or Music Technology as an academic option for public examinations at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels. A good number of our pupils gain places to read Music at Oxford, Cambridge, Russell Group Universities as well as Music Conservatoires both here in the UK and oversees.

 In addition to its place in the academic curriculum, music plays a significant and vital part of life at the School, in public concerts, informal workshops, competitions and drama productions. Simply put, Hutchesons’ has a flourishing extra-curricular life, and the Performing Arts play a huge and positive part for pupils and staff alike.

Orchestras, wind bands, choirs and lots of smaller ensembles provide opportunities for many pupils and staff. Opportunities to tour are also given to pupils and staff, including “offsite” residential weekends which are hugely popular. There is a developing Pipe Band with specialist bagpipe and side drum tuition on offer, and there are many public concerts and events given throughout the School Calendar.

It is expected that all members of the Music Department will willingly involve themselves in supporting, leading and playing in ensembles both at Kingarth Street and Beaton Road as well as attend and assist at school concerts.

Virtually every instrument is offered for tuition. There are on average 250 private lessons taught each week through the School Instrumental Scheme, with a department Music Administrator assisting with the coordination and liaising with the Visiting Music Teachers and Director of Music.

The Music Department is housed in a purpose-built Music School, comprising classrooms, a Music Technology Studio, a 350-seat Auditorium, a 120 seater hall and a suite of practice rooms.

The Role

The Department seeks an enthusiastic, excellent Teacher of Music to join our Music Department. The candidate should have a keen academic interest in music and be willing to teach the full range of Primary and Secondary classes. The ability to deliver Music Technology and / or strong keyboard skills will be advantageous, although not mandatory. The applicant should be well versed in current teaching trends and promote a largely practical approach to music teaching.

All staff are expected to contribute to the wider life of the school, and this could be in the form of assisting with Duke of Edinburgh, Sport or a lunchtime activity.

This is a full-time position starting August 2023. 

Please see full JD attached.

Interviews will be held w/c 8 May 2023.

To comply with new regulations under The Education (Scotland) Act 2016, all teachers who commence employment at any Scottish Independent School on or after 1 October 2017 must be registered, or eligible to register, with the General Teaching Council of Scotland (GTCS); either Provisional, Provisional (Conditional) or Full. Further information can be obtained from the GTCS website.