THE SCHOOL & THE ROLE

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 its ten years since 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.

They 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, both in the classroom, 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.

JOB DESCRIPTION

All staff are expected to have a clear understanding of the aims, objectives, and ethos of the school, and an awareness of its role in the community. It is essential that the academic and pastoral frameworks in the school are seen as inter-related.

Core Accountabilities

• Ensure that the work of the Music department offers understanding and skills enabling all pupils to succeed and developing in pupils a lifelong passion for music.

• Ensure all members of the department understand, articulate and implement the core principles of the Music department.

• Responsible for raising standards of attainment and levels of progress.

• Responsible for self-evaluation and strategic development.

• Responsible for pupil wellbeing and their social, moral, spiritual and cultural development.

• Ensure that the school policies and strategies are embedded in the departmental schemes of work and operational plans.

Leadership and Management of Others

• Lead and manage the department, recruiting, inducting, developing, motivating and appraising members to ensure that they have clear expectations of their roles, and that high- performance standards are achieved and maintained

• Undertake Performance Reviews of all members of the department

• To be responsible for all aspects of peripatetic music lessons and provision

• In conjunction with the Head of Academic Music, plan for the deployment of staff into the curriculum in the most effective and efficient manner

• Demonstrate positivity, professionalism and the ability to motivate colleagues and pupils

• Chair departmental meetings to ensure that they are used effectively to review performance and that actions are recorded and implemented

Strategic Development and Planning

• Prepare and evaluate the annual Music Department Development Plan.

• Ensure that School policies and strategies are embedded in the departmental schemes of work.

• Produce and review the Departmental Handbook, including aims, objectives and methodology which are subject-based but reflect the School’s values.

• Manage, monitor and review the Department Budget.

• Responsible for efficient use of resources.

• To liaise with the Senior Deputy Head on all matters pertaining to Music within the school, delegating curriculum matters to the Head of Academic Music, who reports to the Deputy Head Academic.

• To organise regular department meetings in line with the meetings schedule and to follow agendas agreed with the Deputy Head Curriculum.

• To ensure a successful annual programme of music/performances commensurate with the reputation of the school to encourage excellence and participation in concerts.

• Keep up to date with developments in the department’s subject areas and education in general to ensure that best practice is adopted within the department.

Teaching

• To prepare for and undertake the teaching of courses across the ability range from Prep to GCSE and A Level.

• To contribute to departmental schemes of work and the coursework moderation process.

• To keep full records of attendance and achievement/progress of all pupils taught, including formative and summative assessment.

• To contribute towards the upkeep and updating of curriculum resources.

• To ensure appropriate course materials are available for pupils.

• To ensure individual needs are met through appropriate use of differentiation.

• To take responsibility for the classroom.

• To facilitate field trips as necessary for the delivery of Music.

• To promote use of IT across the curriculum.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Assessment

• To work with the Director of Academic Music to ensure that within the department individual pupil progress is regularly assessed, recorded and reported and used to inform future teaching.

Liaison

• To attend staff departmental meetings and other meetings as required or to delegate attendance to the Head of Academic Music.

• To attend INSET meetings and courses as required.

• To work as part of a subject team.

• To be responsible for participation and excellence in choir, orchestra, bands and ensembles.

• To work collaboratively with Drama/Dance to produce high-quality performances.

Pastoral

• To liaise with the SLT and Headmaster as appropriate on pastoral matters.

• To display commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people.

Marketing and external links, including public occasions

• Actively promote music within the school community to encourage pupils’ interest in the subject areas.

• Contribute to the positive promotion and marketing of the school in the local and wider community.

• Lead the music contribution to marketing events and external links.

Other Responsibilities

• To review performance annually in discussion with the Curriculum Group Leaders and the Senior Leadership Team.

• To attend/contribute to school working parties/review bodies.

• To undertake lunchtime, break-time and other duties as required.

• To contribute to discussions on curricular and co-curricular initiatives.

The successful candidate

The ideal candidate will be a highly qualified, excellent classroom practitioner. They will be positive, patient and helpful. The department has been extremely successful over a number of years, and you will want to continue and develop it in this vein. This is a perfect opportunity for an individual with exceptional credentials as a musician looking to further their career.

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified.

If you have any questions about the role, or for further information, please email: [email protected]

Ready to join us?

To apply, download and complete the Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form and send them to [email protected]

CVs will not be accepted in substitution, but may be submitted alongside the application forms.

Candidates should demonstrate how they meet the role criteria in their application form, supporting statement, and interview, including supporting tasks.

For more information about the school and our application process, please refer to our Candidate Information Pack.

Closing date: 12.00pm on Monday, 2 November 2026.

Kew House School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.