Curriculum Leader of Performing Arts
Backwell School, Bristol, BS48 3BXThis job expired on 24 January 2022 – see similar jobs
Job start date
1 September 2022
Closing date
24 January 2022 at 9am
Date listed
7 January 2022
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- View all Musicjobs
Working pattern
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £25,714 - £41,604
Additional allowances
TLR allowance 2C £7,017
Curriculum Leader of Performing Arts job summary
Backwell School has a fantastic opportunity for a creative and driven teacher to lead our Performing Arts Department – which has one of the best reputations in the South West. This is a full time position from 1 September 2022. The current post holder is leaving at Easter so there is the possibility of an earlier start if convenient for the right candidate.
The successful candidate will be able to teach Music at all key stages, lead and manage Music as Subject Leader as well as the wider Performing Arts department as Curriculum Leader. It would be beneficial if the successful candidate has experience of teaching another subject within Performing Arts but this is not essential.
We are looking for someone has a proven track record of providing excellent outcomes for students and leading and developing staff along the way to improve the quality of education. You will work with all staff in the department, especially the Drama subject leader, and the post includes responsibility for leading teaching and learning within the area as well as managing staff (including organisation of peripatetic lessons), resources and budget, modelling and ensuring participation in school initiatives and processes. Compliance with Health and Safety rules, regulations and school guidelines is particularly important within this department. Curriculum Leaders at Backwell School have a specific member of the Senior Leadership Team to work with for support. The Performing Arts Curriculum Area covers Drama, Music, Music Technology and Dance and the Subject Leader for Drama is already in post at the school.
The Curriculum Area is a small but passionate team of six dedicated staff and a department technician. At KS3 students have both Music and Performing Arts (Dance and Drama) lessons on their timetables and Drama and Music subjects are popular at both GCSE and A Level. We are the only school in the local area to offer Music Technology at A Level. Performing Arts at Backwell School has a strong reputation in the wider community.
Co-curricular activities connected to Performing Arts are popular, wide ranging and very important to the school. Staff run multiple orchestras, bands and drama clubs during and after school hours for all ages. Concerts are held at least three times a year and the department managed to move these online during previous periods of lockdown; these are well attended popular events enjoyed by the local community. The Performing Arts Department is the lynchpin to our biennial whole school production with staff filling producer, director, musical director and choreographer roles. Again our school productions are incredibly popular, highly regarded and of very high standard. Our most recent production was The Sound of Music and our next production is Billy Elliot (February 2022).
Backwell School students are polite, friendly and many are very enthusiastic and talented performers. We strongly believe that the skills and benefits gained by partaking in performance activities thoroughly enhance a young person’s sense of self and improve confidence. For example all year 7 students take part in a concert within their first few weeks at Backwell School.
This is an exciting time to join our school as a Curriculum Leader. Our school development priorities focus on establishing a shared ‘toolkit’ of research-based pedagogy, effective use of assessment, the progress of vulnerable students and a whole school ethos around anti-discrimination. The successful candidate should be excited by the prospect and challenge of developing a curriculum and culture which enables pupils of all abilities to excel in this essential aspect of their education.
Backwell School is a large comprehensive school with over 1700 students of which 350 are in the Sixth Form. Judged by Ofsted as Good in January 2020 the school has an excellent reputation in the local area and is oversubscribed in regards to student applications. Our latest Ofsted report can be read here.
Backwell School offers its staff a vibrant and stimulating teaching environment and there is a broad range of professional support available for new members of staff both within the department and in the wider school. At Backwell School, we prioritise staff wellbeing; planning time is generous with full time teachers teaching a maximum of 51 lessons out of 60. There is considerable support available from other Curriculum Leaders as well as the Senior Leadership Team.
We also provide a fantastic benefits package to our employees including a contributory pension scheme, a broad employee assistance programme and benefits (offering discounts on shopping), cycle to work scheme and on-site parking.
Backwell School is part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership. This offers us curriculum collaboration and support opportunities with Chew Valley and Gordano School. We also have a Trust wide Professional Development Team organising a wide range of staff training and development.
All members of teaching staff are expected to act as tutors within the pastoral unit system. We have a 20 minute tutor period at the start of each school day which comprises of student wellbeing checks, administration and teaching of Personal Development (PSHE) materials as well as assemblies from the Heads of House and the School Leadership Team.
Before making an application candidates are asked to match their qualifications, experience, skills and abilities against the criteria listed on the job and person specification below.
We are committed to providing a comprehensive education for all our young people and this ethos is summarised in the Backwell School Charter.
To make an application please visit the: Backwell School Eteach page
The closing date for applications is 9.00 am on Monday 24 January 2022. Those who are successful following shortlisting, will be contacted regarding interview arrangements. Interviews will take place before the end of Term 3.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation prospective visits to the school, prior to application, are being limited. You are welcome to contact the Head’s PA ecapeldavies@backwellschool.net to arrange an informal phone conversation, or possible visit, if you so wish. We are also happy to arrange an online meeting for candidates based outside the local area who wish to know more about the school and the role. Please be assured that all shortlisted candidates will be given the opportunity to look around the school as part of the interview process.
Commitment to safeguarding
The Lighthouse Schools Partnership - Backwell School are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all in its community to share this commitment. Suitability to work with children and young people will form part of the selection process. As part of the shortlisting process an online search will be carried out. All appointments will be subject to vetting, including an enhanced DBS check.
We are also committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, particularly those from underrepresented groups.
Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Backwell School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- View all Secondaryjobs
- School size
- 1687 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
- School website
- Backwell School website (opens in new tab)
- Email address
- recruitment@backwellschool.net
- Phone number
- +441275463371
Backwell School is a large, vibrant, very popular mixed comprehensive school situated in Backwell, North Somerset, about 6 miles south of Bristol. We have a long-standing reputation for combining academic success for students of all abilities with a fully rounded and enriching educational experience. In 2008 and again in 2013 both the school and the Sixth Form were rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted.
Backwell School became an academy in 2011 and joined the Lighthouse Schools Partnership (LSP) multi-academy trust in January 2018. The LSP currently consists of two other large local secondary school as well as many primary schools in the local area. We have strong links with colleagues in the Trust which allows us to create CPD, collaboration and information sharing opportunities. For many years, Backwell has placed great importance on providing high quality teacher training and professional development. It became a Training School in 2003 and a Teaching School in 2012, leading the North Somerset Teaching Alliance.
Backwell School is situated in an attractive semi-rural location to the south of Bristol. Backwell itself is a village with a strong sense of community and the school is located next door to the leisure centre with swimming pool. Other nearby towns include Nailsea, Yatton and Portishead (listed in the top 10 suburbs in the UK) and staff live in locations such as these or in Bristol itself. The South West is a beautiful part of the world with excellent links to London and the North. Devon, Cornwall and Wales are within easy reach and Bristol Airport is only 3 miles from Backwell.
Arranging a visit to Backwell School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@backwellschool.net.
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