Job Title: Head of Performing Arts

Location: Walsall Studio School

Walsall Studio School & Sixth is a deliberately small, forward-thinking school for young people aged 14–19 who are passionate about creative pathways in performance, music, and media.

We offer a unique learning environment that mirrors a modern creative workplace, with flexible studio spaces and industry-standard facilities.

Traditional schools don’t work for everyone, that’s why we built something different.  Where others teach theory, we give you networks and experience, so that you are ahead of the game professionally.

With just 60 places in Year 10 and 11 and 90 in Sixth Form, every student is known, supported and challenged to succeed.

Our aim is simple: to provide a curriculum that gets you hired. We work with industry experts to design learning that is real, relevant and future-focussed. Students don’t just sit in classrooms – they collaborate, create, problem-solve and present like professionals.

Students achieved a phenomenal average grade of Distinction+ in 2025, but we know that life is more than just qualifications. We prepare you for responsibility, leadership and resilience - skills that you will need for life.

Everything we do is shaped by our MAGIC values - Motivation, Aspiration, Grit, Independence and Collaboration.  We are a place where you can be yourself, push boundaries and become unmissable.

Find more information here: Walsall Studio School

Want to make a difference to young people?

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey within an educational community that values increasing opportunities, improving outcomes. We are looking for a Head of Performing Arts to join our team. Reporting to the Assistant Headteacher you will undertake:

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

·        Provide effective leadership of the Performing Arts Department, setting clear expectations and strategic direction.

         Lead departmental self-evaluation, curriculum review, and improvement planning in line with school priorities.

         Model high standards of professionalism and pedagogy, inspiring staff to deliver consistently excellent teaching.

         Line manage and support departmental staff, overseeing appraisal, professional development, and performance.

         Monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment through regular learning walks, practical reviews, and data analysis.

         Build on the existing strengths of the Performing Arts department, driving continued excellence and innovation.

Pay range: MPS/UPS 

Qualifications and Skills: 

·       Qualified teacher status

         Degree or equivalent qualification relevant to Performing Arts

         Evidence of further professional development and leadership training

         Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)

        Ability to inspire, motivate, and lead others with clarity and purpose

        Ability to analyze data effectively to inform planning and intervention

        Strong organizational skills; able to plan, delegate, and prioritize effectively

        Ability to manage and communicate effectively within a team

        For full details of the post please see attached Job Description and Person Specification

Why The Mercian Trust?

As one Trust we share a common purpose.  We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education.  When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community. Our recent achievements include:

Sustainable Growth - becoming one of the largest and most diverse trusts in the region

Social Mobility & Social Justice - National recognition for the Trust’s two selective grammar schools who the most successful on the number of local disadvantaged students passing the entrance and joining the schools

Increasing Opportunities – Opening brand-new purpose-built campus in Walsall Town Centre including an alternative provision for students at risk at permanent exclusion from mainstream schools alongside a Digital Skills Hub to provide professionals and employers

Pioneering Spirit – National recognition for pioneering work around youth mental health, including establishing an in-house multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and allied health professionals delivering interventions and providing support to vulnerable students

Outward Looking – Organising and hosting the region’s first Youth Suicide Conference (2023) and Youth Violence Conference (2024) at Villa Park

Innovation and Improvement – A multi-million-pound investment in the digital infrastructure of Trust schools and our Digital Skills Hub underpinning the ongoing transformation of how staff teach, students learn, leaders lead and the whole Trust operates in readiness for the AI-supercharged careers and workplaces of the future.

Want to be a part of something extraordinary? Find out more:  The Mercian Trust - Home

What can we offer you:

Benefits: 

Financial, Health and Lifestyle

• discounts on everyday purchases (Eden Red)
• a comprehensive free of charge health plan (UK Health Care)
• a cycle to work scheme via Halfords
• Access to the Blue Light Card

For further benefits including education sector leading CPD: The Mercian Trust - What we can offer you

The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.

The Mercian Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Please take time to read our policies attached to this advert.