Head of Performing Arts

Grace College are looking to recruit a Head of Department (Performing Arts) who will enthuse pupils to learn with a combination of great subject knowledge, energy and dedication.

We have high expectations for our students as they grow and develop and all our staff provide important role models to them in terms of positive attitude, work ethic and diligence.

The Head of Performing Arts is responsible to the Director of Arts and Events:

The rapid progress and exceptional academic achievement of all students in music and drama with a particular emphasis on:

• being a visible example of our ethos, the core virtues and leadership expectations that we hold;
• ensuring decisions are driven by data relating to quality of provision and student progress;
• building a cohesive staff team where the development of staff as teachers (both subject knowledge and quality of instruction) and leaders (career development and succession planning) is a core part of your practice.

Implementing an exceptional music and drama curriculum and providing opportunities for students to experience an inspiring co-curricular programme, that develops creative talent, whilst also ensuring students have opportunities to engage in the arts in the region.

• ensuring the curriculum contains a clear progression through the key-stages and beyond and that all staff can articulate what is taught, why it is taught at that point in the curriculum and what it will lead to next for the students;
• leading and developing opportunities for students to engage with high quality co-curricular activities through supporting the development of our current ensembles; orchestra, Glee Choir, drama club, College band and annual college productions.
• working with the Director of Arts and Events to ensure our collective whole school events Christmas Carol Service, Easter Service, Presentation Evening and House events are of the highest quality with student involvement at their core.
• implementing schemes of work that clearly define the substantive and disciplinary knowledge and vocabulary that students need to master, and which lead to consistently exceptional teaching;
• building meaningful curriculum links to local arts organisations, as well as a wide range of enrichment opportunities to engage all groups of students and build their cultural capital.

Ensuring music and drama teaching is consistently exceptional with a particular emphasis on:

• ensuring that schemes of work and lesson resources support consistently exceptional teaching and are regularly reviewed and improved through collaborative planning;
• leading regular quality assurance of effectiveness of teaching across the department, continually identifying examples of best practice to be disseminated and areas for improvement to be addressed through collaborative planning and support;
• creating a culture of reflective practice and improvement and professional dialogue across your team so that staff are motivated and supported to develop their own skills and subject knowledge, and to support each other

Further information is available in the job description and person specification.

Join us and in addition to working with committed and helpful colleagues, the Trust can offer access to the following benefits:

• Defined benefit pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Daily lunch allowance
• Access to our exclusive Benefits Hub
• Free parking
• Employee centred and family friendly policies and practices that support you in and beyond the workplace
• Enhanced sick pay, maternity leave and paternity leave (dependent on length of service)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Funded eye tests and glasses for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)

Grace College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff to share this commitment. Where the post is engaged in regulated activity, and/or an opportunity for contact with children the position will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. In addition, as part of the shortlisting process, and in accordance with statutory guidance, we may carry out an online search (for publicly available material) to help identify any incidents or issues that have happened which we may want to explore with shortlisted applicants at interview.