Job Description: Head of Music – MIIST School

Post Title:                                          Head of Music – MIIST School

 Start Date                                        September 2026 or asap

 Hours of Work:                               Full Time/ Permanent, 37.5 hours per week

 Salary Grade:                                   United Learning PayScale plus TLR  (Dependent on Experience)        

 Responsible to:                               Music Department

 Conditions of Service:                   United Learning Contract

Purpose of post

The purpose of the Head of Music is to ensure that the standard of teaching and learning in all areas within their remit and responsibility is of the highest quality for all students so that they are able to achieve to the best of their ability.  To have a strategic overview of progress, standards, and student engagement at KS3/4.

To lead and deliver an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant curriculum for students 

·        To monitor and support the overall progress and development of students as a teacher, form tutor and leader across the Music Department

·        To lead on a learning experience which provides students with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential in Music

·        To lead on teaching and learning initiatives across the department

·        To lead on supporting the work of the department in seeking to continuously improve the quality of classroom teaching 

·        To lead on the raising standards of achievement and maximising student attainment in Music

·        To lead within the department and support the Academy responsibility to provide and monitor opportunities for personal and academic growth

·        To support and be a mentor to trainee teachers who join the department

·        To be committed to the safeguarding of children

 Areas of Accountability

High Standards  

·        To role model effective teaching and learning strategies

·        To monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum provision for students

·        To develop an ethos of striving for excellence by the students  

·        To have a secure knowledge of the developments and the opportunities within the curriculum for students  

·        Use effective and detailed data analysis to raise the attainment of all students and students who are looked after and any other group of students needing specialised support

·        To assist in the planning and implementation of a personalised learning strategy for students in Music

  Main Core Duties:

·        To plan and prepare courses, schemes of work and individual lessons, appropriate to the needs, interests, experience, and existing knowledge of students

·        To lead on the development of appropriate syllabuses, resources, schemes of work, marking policies and teaching strategies in the Department

·        To link with other leaders within the Academy in sharing best practice

·        To link with other United Learning schools within the Salford Cluster to maximise the departments achievements

·        To role model and uphold the values and expectations associated with leaders at the Academy and across United Learning

·        To lead on the whole Academy planning activities which in turn leads to a consistently high performing classroom experience 

·        To lead on the Department process of self-review, evaluation, and improvement planning activities

 Staff Development:

·        To take part in the Academy staff development programme by participating in arrangements for further training and professional development

·        To continue personal development in the relevant areas including subject knowledge and teaching methods across Music

·        To engage actively in the appraisal review process and line manager relevant members of the department in this process

·        To work as a member of a designated team and to contribute positively to effective working relations within the Academy

Quality Assurance:

·        To adhere to and to help to implement Academy quality procedures

·        To lead on the process of monitoring and evaluation of the department in line with Academy procedures, including evaluation against quality standards and performance criteria

·        To identify improvement required to the teaching and learning demonstrated within the department and hold staff to account for the improvement.

·        To take part, as may be required, in the review, development and management of activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the Academy

Management Information:

·        To quality assure and complete the relevant documentation to assist in the tracking and intervention of students across the department

·        To track the progress of assigned students and use this information to inform teaching and learning and intervention programmes across the department with the support of other leaders in the department

Communications:

·        To communicate effectively with the parents of students as appropriate

·        To communicate and co-operate with persons or bodies outside the Academy, where appropriate.

·        To attend United Learning subject leader meetings for Music

·        To follow agreed policies for communications in the Academy

·        To attend meetings in accordance with the Academy policy

 Teaching:

·        To teach students according to their educational needs, including the setting and marking of work to be carried out by the student in school and elsewhere

·        To use teaching strategies which will engage, and challenge students appropriate to their needs and the demands of the syllabus

·        To assess, record and report on the attendance, progress, development, and attainment of students and to keep such records as are required

·        To provide, or contribute to, oral and written assessments, reports and references relating to individual students and groups of students

·        To ensure a high-quality learning experience for students which meets internal and external quality standards

·        To prepare and update subject materials

·        To maintain good order, discipline, and respect for others; to promote understanding of the school’s rules and values; to encourage good practice with regard to punctuality, behaviour, standards of work and homework; to safeguard health and safety and to develop relationships with and between students conducive to optimum learning

·        To undertake assessment of students as requested by external examination bodies, department, and Academy procedures

·        To mark, grade and give written, verbal, and diagnostic feedback to students of individual work and group work they have undertaken in line with the department policy for assessment and marking

 Other specific duties:

·        To play a full part in the life of the Academy, community, to support its strategic commitment, purpose, and intent and to encourage staff and students to follow this example

·        To promote actively the Academy policies

·        To continue personal, professional development

·        To actively engage in the Academy self-review and evaluation processes

·        To actively engage in the Academy appraisal processes

·        To comply with the Academy Health and Safety Policy and undertake risk assessments as appropriate

·        To attend meetings as determined and directed by the Principal

·        To undertake any other duty as specified by the Principal not mentioned above

·        To comply with the Academy procedures concerning safeguarding and to ensure that training is accessed

The Head of Music will be required to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and follow school policies and the staff code of conduct.

 The information contained above is to help staff understand and appreciate the work content of their post and role they are to play on the organisation. However, it should be noted that whilst every effort has been made to outline all the duties and responsibilities of a post, a document such as this does not permit every item to be specified in detail. Broad headings may therefore have been used: in which case all the usual associated duties are included in this job description. 

 Please note that this list of duties is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks that will carry out. The postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role. This job description will be reviewed as and when necessary, in accordance with the needs of the academy.