POSITION:  TEACHER OF MUSIC

PAYSCALE: INNER LONDON PAYSCALE (with negotiable TLR)

START: September 2026

Closing Date: 19th March 2026. Interviews will take place w/c 23rd March 2026.

Purpose of the role:

The Music Department at Sydney Russell School is a large, vibrant, and dynamic department that delivers an ambitious and inclusive curriculum across our all-through setting, from primary through Key Stages 3, 4, and 5, while also leading a thriving co-curricular programme.

As a proud Music in Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST) school, every Year 7 student receives an orchestral instrument as part of their curriculum entitlement, supported by a team of specialist visiting music teachers. Students are then encouraged to continue their instrumental studies through our growing Music Scholars programme from Year 8 onwards.

Our ensemble provision is extensive, ranging from senior and junior orchestras to chamber choir, boys’ barbershop, a variety of bands, and numerous other ensembles, each led by a member of the team. The department stages a large-scale musical production each year, most recently a sell-out run of Beauty and the Beast, and organises a rich programme of trips, concerts, and performance opportunities throughout the year, ensuring that music is highly visible and central to school life.

We seek to appoint a subject-specialist teacher who will be responsible for the academic progress of the students they teach, continually driving and improving student achievement. A Teaching and Learning Responsibility (TLR) is negotiable for the right candidate, whose remit would be agreed on the candidate’s strengths and complimenting those of the existing team.

The appointed candidate, working under the direction of the Head of Department, will be committed to their own professional development and actively contribute to a positive, collaborative working atmosphere that promotes the highest standards of teaching and learning, supporting both student achievement and staff development.

Main purpose

The teacher will:

1.       Fulfil the professional responsibilities of a teacher, as set out in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document

2.       Meet the expectations set out in the Teachers’ Standards

During the course of the academic year, it is expected that you will take on the following duties and responsibilities:

·         Planning

·         Teaching & Classroom Management

·         Agreed Whole School Procedures

Planning

As a class teacher, you will be expected to plan your teaching with regard to the school’s strategies and programmes of study. You will be expected to achieve progression in student’s learning by:

·         Identifying clear learning and teaching objectives and content and specifying how these will be taught.

·         Setting tasks for class, group and individual work, which challenge students and ensure high levels of student interest. This includes teaching through “challenges” where children’s learning is not capped and they have greater ownership of the work they undertake.

·         Planning, setting and responding to homework, in line with the agreed policy for each year group.

·         Setting high expectations for students’ learning, motivation and presentation of work.

·         Setting clear targets for students’ learning, building on prior attainment and ensuring that students understand what is required of them for any given task.

·         Identifying students with Special Educational Needs and knowing where to seek advice to give positive and targeted support.

·         Planning in the short, medium and longer term lessons which provide pace, motivation and challenge for students.

·         Using assessment of students’ attainment to plan future lessons.

·         Planning for students’ personal, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

Teaching and Classroom Management

As a class teacher, you will be expected to:

·         Ensure that teaching and learning objectives are met through effective teaching, high expectations, sound learning and discipline and a purposeful working atmosphere in the classroom.

·         Establish and maintain good discipline, by following the school strategy for behaviour management.

·         Establish a safe learning environment in which students feel safe, secure and confident.

·         Use a variety of teaching methods which will foster and stimulate enthusiasm for learning, and maintain motivation.

·         Differentiate appropriately for all abilities in the class, setting high expectations for all but not cap student learning.

·         Give clear instructions, presentations and question students effectively to ensure participation.

·         Respond to all students’ work effectively, in line with the school’s assessment strategy so that students are clear about how they have achieved and their next steps.

·         Keep effective records of students’ progress.

·         Use opportunities to develop students’ personal, spiritual, social, moral and cultural development.

·         Establish positive working relationships with all support staff who may work in your classroom and ensure they are informed of lesson planning and your expectations.

Agreed Whole School Procedures

As a class teacher, you will be expected to:

·         Attend the agreed Parents’ Evening sessions.

·         Keep parents informed of their child’s progress during the year, through positive links with parents and in the form of an end of year report to them.

·         Participate in meetings at the school which relate to the curriculum for the school or the administration or organisation of the school, including pastoral arrangements.

·         Look to improve performance through continued professional development and feedback to other members of staff.

·         Ensure that student welfare duties are carried out, including playground duty and forward any student concerns to the relevant person.