Head of Music

Full-time, permanent, non-residential position for September 2024 or January 2025.The Music department at More House School transforms the lives of very many of our pupils. Young boys who arrive at our School with very little self-esteem experience exceptional opportunities, discovering their hidden natural aptitudes across all musical genres, empowering their confidence and self-belief.Following the department’s incredible success under the leadership of Mark Place over more than two decades, we seek an inspirational Head of Music to deliver transformative experiences for our pupils. Likely to hold particular experience and interests in jazz, musical theatre and music technology, our new Head of Music will be innovative in supporting children, who find learning difficult, to find their musical strengths, and will complement the skills of the existing departmental staff team.A beacon of best-practice in aspiration for children and young people with literacy and language-related learning weaknesses, and with excellent facilities, the More House Music department has performed on various international tours and local stages, boasting a large number of ensembles including an acclaimed jazz band, brass ensemble, concert band, chapel choir, junior band, woodwind group and senior choir. Class music is taught at all ages, including through our Junior Band Scheme (years Four to Six), GCSE and A’ Level Music. There is frequent collaboration with the Drama department to stage fantastic musical theatre productions, which have resulted in performances at the Edinburgh Fringe.Our new Head of Music will be an experienced teacher, who may hold Qualified Teacher Status or may be an ambitious graduate seeking QTS.Our School Values are: Kindness – Spirit - ResponsibilityThe School:Nationally celebrated, More House School provides an exceptional, mainstream education for intelligent boys with Specific Learning Difficulties and weakness in their developmental language skills. Providing a transformative education repeatedly recognised as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted over more than a decade, we offer a specialised learning environment for day and boarding boys from Year 4 to Year 13. Our pupils are taught to recognise their strengths and develop their self-belief so that they achieve independence and extraordinary results at GCSE, BTEC and A’ Level, above the national averages. A majority progress to university. The School has an 85-year history of supporting boys with additional challenge in their educational experience. Now with 500 pupils, the School has grown significantly in recent years and has the largest number on roll ever. It is recognised as being the largest SEND-specialist provision in the United Kingdom and is heavily involved in outreach work. More than half of pupils have their places funded by their local authorities.About the department:Our Music department is situated in the spacious Bradbury Music School. The department has been significantly developed and enhanced over the past 20 years, and the curriculum and courses offered too. The Bradbury Music school comprises a band-rehearsal room, dedicated classroom, Music I.T. suite, chamber-concert hall, studio and six practice rooms including an external purpose-built drum studio. The resources in the Bradbury Music School are excellent and include two grand pianos, as well as standard uprights and Clavinovas. The music classroom is equipped with a full set of keyboards, acoustic guitars and percussion. We have a full range of orchestral percussion and a steelpan orchestra. The Chapel of Christ the King houses a Wyvern Pastoral Chamber Organ, with which the Chapel Choir rehearse and perform weekly.About this post:At More House, Music is pivotal not just to the curriculum but also to the wider school. This is an extremely rare opportunity to work alongside our remarkable pupils and to lead the development of our Music curriculum, department and staff team in the years ahead. Our new Head of Music will be an exceptional teacher, inspiring pupils to feed their musical curiosities across the broadest range of genres and to engage in a rich array of musical activities. S/he will receive exceptional in-house specialist training, provided to all new More House School employees, to become expert in enabling our young people to excel musically, in spite of challenges associated with developmental language weakness and Specific Learning Difficulties, including attention deficit, weak Executive Function, high-functioning autism and Developmental Coordination Disorder.They will lead a staff team comprising two full-time teachers, including the Head of Department, and one 0.8 full-time equivalent experienced teacher, plus a large team of self-employed peripatetic instrumental music teachers. Through their leadership, s/he will energise colleagues towards a shared vision for the department’s work, aligned with the school’s vision, mission and values.The position includes the teaching of Music at all ages (Year Four to Thirteen), including involvement in the Junior Band scheme for Junior years pupils, classroom Music in years Seven to Nine, and the delivery of GCSE and A’ Level Music (alongside members of the current staff-team). The Head of Department will also take responsibility for the design of the Music curriculum at all ages, working collaboratively with departmental colleagues to ensure suitable schemes of work. S/he will ensure all elements of relevant examination syllabi are addressed effectively, communicating closely with departmental colleagues, the Deputy Head (Academic) and the Examinations Officer.Overseeing the arrangements for self-employed visiting instrumental-music teachers and strong involvement in leading extra-curricular music activities in the form of various ensembles are important aspects of the role. Such ensembles rehearse during morning assembly times, at lunchtimes and in the 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm after-school clubs and activities period. It is hoped the new Head of Music will assume direction of the jazz band – our principal ensemble.Involvement in leading and supporting performing arts events is an exciting element of the position, including collaborating with Drama department colleagues on musical theatre productions, delivering evening and less-formal lunchtime music concerts, and supporting the Carol Service, Easter Service and Founder’s Day. It has become a long-standing tradition for the jazz band and steelpan orchestra to perform at the annual Frensham Fayre, affording pupils valuable performance opportunities.In addition to the commitments of the teaching timetable, the postholder will be a form-tutor, supported and led by the Head of Year. This role requires the postholder to liaise with teaching staff and parents to support the emotional wellbeing and personal development of pupils, and to promote the development of pupils’ organisational skills. As with all teaching staff, the successful candidate will also participate in the supervision-duty programme, responsible within a team of staff allocated to duties at lunch and break-times, and other times as is necessary. The writing of reports and completion of other documentation, and attendance at parent-consultation evenings and other School events, are elements of the role.There is no Saturday school and Open Days take place during the normal working week.The above list of duties is not exhaustive, and the post-holder may be required to perform such other duties as may be, from time to time, deemed necessary by the Headmaster. This is a non-residential post.A comprehensive induction programme is offered, and ongoing professional development is supported through INSET days and training opportunities. Lunch is provided free of charge, daily, as is parking within the School’s beautiful grounds.Training:Teachers with a genuine wish to develop their skills in realising transformative learning opportunities for neuro-diverse learners thrive at More House School.The School provides staff with extensive, specialist training in developing classroom and wider practice effective in supporting intelligent pupils with literacy and developmental language weaknesses, and associated special educational needs, to succeed and to transform their futures. Within their first year, new members of the staff are supported through a programme of weekly induction-training sessions, delivered on Monday afternoons from 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm. During this first year, new staff also complete the School’s fully-funded and CPD nationally-accredited Level 3 Award ‘Effective SEND Support’; a twelve-week, tutored and supported study course with opportunities for further progression. The above training complements the School-wide, continuous programme of INSET training and preparation days, and other ongoing training and development opportunities. The School is strongly committed to supporting teachers’ career development.More House School offers an Initial Teacher Training (QTS) package to appropriate employees. Where applicable, such an employee would receive close mentoring and support during their first year in the School; after the first year of employment the School will fund, and support the unqualified teacher to complete their PGCE with accredited Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with Buckingham University, allowing them to progress to the Early Career Framework (previously Newly Qualified Teacher) programme within the School afterwards. For experienced teachers, there is a speedier assessment-only route.Person SpecificationUndergraduate Music degree or degree demonstrating relevant interest, knowledge and skillStrong subject knowledge that affords confidence in delivering the syllabi for Key Stages 2, 3, 4 and 5 Music, including the requirements of GCSE and A’ LevelExperience directing youth musical ensembles, including in preparation for recorded or live performancesExpertise with musical technology, including software applications to support musical composition, and with recording-studio equipmentAbility or potential to teach and differentiate for intelligent pupils with different learning challenges (much guidance and training is provided)Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), or Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS)Experience of classroom teaching for Key Stages 2-5 Music, including evidence of excellent student progress. Experience of leading A’ Level Music teaching.Experience of Music curriculum designExperience leading and rehearsing jazz ensembles.Experience as musical director for youth musical theatre productionsExperience using Sibelius and Cubase software.Experience teaching aspects of music technologyExperience in teaching and supporting pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD), Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and associated special educational needsExperience of delivering extra-curricular activities, including educational visits and musical toursHours:8.20am until 4.30pm three days a week during term-time and 8.20 am until 5.30 pm two days a week during term-time. Additionally, within the first three terms only, new staff attend the Monday afternoon induction training programme, from 4.30 pm until 5.30 pm).There is no Saturday provision other than for the very few full-boarders, and there is no requirement for teaching staff to attend School during the weekend, other than once a year, for Founder’s Day. School open days typically take place during the normal working week; not at weekends.(Note: academic terms are typically shorter than those in the state-maintained sector, and School holidays are therefore significantly longer).Attendance at school events outside these hours from time to time, as well as a few INSET days towards the beginning or end of school holidays. It is expected that some time will be spent during school holiday periods in developing the department and preparing teaching opportunities and materials.Remuneration and support:Annual salary, paid in monthly instalments: extremely competitive recognising the seniority of the post, and in accordance with qualifications, experience and recognised skills;Pension (defined contribution scheme with employer’s contribution at 21.3% including Death In Service and Income Protection benefits – there is a different option: eligible employees may choose to remain in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) but make up the difference in employer’s contribution from a cap of 21.3% to the TPS requirement, through adjustment in salary – further information is available);Sick-pay;Employee Assistance Programme;Cycle to Work Scheme;Parking –free on-campus parking within the School’s beautiful grounds;Meals – excellent meals whilst working, at no cost in the School’s refectory;Fitness gym – free use of the School’s fitness gym facilities;Comprehensive induction programme offered, including fully-funded and nationally recognised L3 SEND Award, and ongoing professional development supported through INSET days and training opportunities.Diversity statement:More House School is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences – including people with disabilities and ethnic minority candidates. Our aim is that our employees will be representative of all sections of society and each person feels respected and able to give of their best.Safeguarding:This role is deemed to be one of working in regulated activity, meaning that the post-holder may expect to come into unsupervised contact with children and young people frequently in the discharge of their duties on-campus. As such, the expectations of conduct, required of all adults working at More House School, apply to this position, as does a full Safer-Recruitment vetting process of any appointee. A key responsibility of all adults working within the School is that of ensuring the effective safeguarding of all children and young people, through adherence to the School’s policies; full-training is given.Please visit our website www.morehouseschoo.co.uk , and complete the online application form. If you seek a part-time position, please make this explicit in your application.Closing date for applications: 3rd May 2024Interviews expected to be held on: 14th May 2024Interested candidates are welcome to make an appointment to visit the school for an informal visit.The School reserves the right to interview appropriate candidates in advance of the above-named dates, and to appoint. Interested candidates are therefore strongly urged to submit their application as soon as possible.This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS clearance and the receipt of satisfactory references before a formal job offer is confirmed.More House School is firmly committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.Job Summary 03/05/#####
Location:
More House School, Frensham, Surrey
Competitive, depending on experience
More House School, FrenshamFrenshamFarnhamSurreyGU10 3APEngland
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