Music Lead/ Teacher of Music
Reports to: Director of Music and Big Band
Start date: September 2021
Location: Isaac Newton Academy, 1 Cricklefield Pl, Ilford IG1 1FY
Salary: Ark MPS/ UPS (£30,663-£47,600) plus TLR2b (£4,784)
Closing Date: 9am, Monday 14th May 2021
Isaac Newton Academy is a non-denominational, non-selective school, welcoming students of all backgrounds from the local community. We opened in 2012 with our inaugural cohort of 180 year 7 students. Isaac Newton Academy is an all through school with students from Reception to Year 13. Our mission is to equip every student with the knowledge, learning power and character necessary for success at university and beyond, and to pursue their passions and interests.
The school was founded on the belief that all pupils can make dramatic progress within the right environment. Students, teachers, staff and parents are committed to making Isaac Newton a vibrant and inclusive learning community in which everyone can succeed.
We offer a rich curriculum emphasising core academic subjects, whilst providing the facilities, time and specialist staff to ensure students develop across a range of subjects. Music is at the heart of our school, with every student learning an instrument and all secondary students having the chance to be part of our Big Band ensembles.
Our school won Secondary School of the Year in the 2018 Shine a Light Awards for its commitment to developing pupils’ communication skills and was shortlisted for Secondary School of the Year in the 2018 TES Awards.
We are delighted to announce that INA has just been named the “Outstanding School Music Department” at the national Music and Drama Education Awards 2021. Last year we were identified by OFSTED and the DFE as being “clearly in the top 5 comprehensives nationally for quality and consistency of music GCSE results.” External recognition like this is nice, but what truly sets us apart is our vision for a truly inclusive music education.
The opportunity
We are looking for inspirational music teachers of any experience. There is the scope for an experienced teacher to be appointed to our new post of Music Lead. The Music Lead will work alongside the Director of Music & Big Band to lead and develop one of the most successful music departments in the country. However, we are also interested in less experienced teachers and we are open to outstanding NQTs.
Our Key Stage 3 students receive two hours of music teaching per week, one hour of core music and one hour of group instrumental tuition.
Music is exceptionally well resourced: We have two Mac Suites, a large set of practice rooms, a recording studio, three full-sized classrooms and a large department of seven teachers.
During KS3 core music lessons we workshop a variety of styles of music from all over the world. We perform and compose as a whole class through singing, drumming and using a range of other instruments as authentically as possible. At KS3, classes become a beat-boxing troop, a choir, music technicians, African drummers, dhol groups, film composers, protest song-writers, Romantic Orchestras, band members and much more. This curriculum is also geared towards developing students’ musical identity in one or more areas along well-planned and well-trodden roots of progression from absolute beginner to expert A level proficiency without the requirement for additional peripatetic support.
Our GCSE uptake and results place us in the top 5 comprehensive schools in the country. This year we have over 100 GCSE music students, an incredible number for a school with a cohort like ours, and we are always aiming to attract more.
We have a large A level class this year in which all students relying on instrumental skills developed free-of-charge within classroom music lessons.
The successful candidate must demonstrate a growth mindset and deeply believe in the capacity of all children to develop musically. They would be expected to line manage, develop and support multiple music teachers. They must be able to teach exemplary KS3, GCSE and A Level music lessons. It would be desirable for the candidate to be a confident vocal performer and inspiring choir leader.
To get a better flavour of music at INA watch these videos:
The successful candidate will:
- be an outstanding teacher with a proven track record of securing excellent outcomes
- have up-to-date knowledge of subject curricula and assessment requirements for Music
- be passionate about Music education and the development of our students
- have some experience of leadership within a secondary school
- have the potential to move into senior leadership in the future
To apply
For further information on this brilliant opportunity as well as the fantastic benefits available, please see the job description and person specification below.
If you would like to have an informal discussion with the Principal about the role, please contact his PA Sam Jones at s.jones@isaacnewtonacademy.org. If you have technical questions about the application process, please contact our HR advisor Ingrida Macenkiene i. Macenkiene@isaacnewtonacademy.org. We look forward to receiving your application.
Applications will be reviewed periodically, and the school may close the vacancy early if high numbers of applications are received so early applications are advisable.
To read more about Ark, please visit https://arkonline.org/about-us/what-we-do
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in our academies. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process which will include questions about safeguarding.
This process is outlined here, but can be provided in more detail if requested. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service