Head of Music

Aldridge School - A Science College, Walsall, West Midlands, WS9 0BG

3 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  20 March 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  16 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Subject: Music
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £32,916.00 - £51,048.00 Annually (FTE) MPS/UPS + TLR2B (£6,069)

Head of Music job summary

Head of Music

Responsible to: Faculty Leader of Design and Performance

Salary: MPS/UPS + TLR 2b

The post-holder will be expected to undertake duties in-line with the professional teacher standards for qualified teachers. 1 Set High expectations which inspire, motive and challenge pupils

Establish a safe and stimulating environment for pupils, rooted in mutual respect

Set goals that stretch and challenge pupils of all backgrounds, abilities and dispositions

Demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour which are expected of pupils 2 Promote good progress and outcomes by pupils

Be accountable for pupils’ attainment, progress and outcomes

Be aware of pupils’ capabilities and their prior knowledge, and plan teaching to build on these

Guide pupils to reflect on the progress they have made and their emerging needs

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how pupils learn and how this impacts on teaching

Encourage pupils to take a responsible and conscientious attitude to their own work and study 3 Demonstrate good subject and curriculum knowledge

Have a secure knowledge of the relevant subject(s) and curriculum areas, foster and maintain pupils’ interest in the subject, and address misunderstandings

Demonstrate a critical understanding of developments in the subject and curriculum areas, and promote the value of scholarship

Demonstrate an understanding of and take responsibility for promoting high standards of literacy, articulacy and the correct use of standard English, whatever the teacher’s specialist subject 4 Plan and teach well-structured lessons

Impart knowledge and develop understanding through effective use of lesson time

Promote a love of learning and children’s intellectual curiosity

Set homework and plan other out-of-class activities to consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired

Reflect systematically on the effectiveness of lessons and approaches to teaching

Contribute to the design and provision of an engaging curriculum within the relevant subject area(s) 5 Adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all pupils

Know when and how to differentiate appropriately, using approaches which enable pupils to be taught effectively

Have a secure understanding of how a range of factors can inhibit pupils’ ability to learn, and how best to overcome these

Demonstrate an awareness of the physical, social and intellectual development of children, and know how to adapt teaching to support pupils’ education at different stages of development

Have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs; those of high ability; those with English as an additional language; those with disabilities; and be able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them

Make accurate and productive use of assessment

Know and understand how to assess the relevant subject and curriculum areas, including statutory assessment requirements

Make use of formative and summative assessment to secure pupils’ progress

Use relevant data to monitor progress, set targets, and plan subsequent lessons

Give pupils regular feedback, both orally and through accurate marking, and encourage pupils to respond to the feedback 7 Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment

Have clear rules and routines for behaviour in classrooms, and take responsibility for promoting good and courteous behaviour both in classrooms and around the school, in accordance with the school’s behaviour policy

Have high expectations of behaviour, and establish a framework for discipline with a range of strategies, using praise, sanctions and rewards consistently and fairly

Manage classes effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to pupils’ needs in order to involve and motivate them

Maintain good relationships with pupils, exercise appropriate authority, and act decisively when necessary 8 Fulfil wider professional responsibilities

Make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school, including extra-curricular provision.

Develop effective professional relationships with colleagues, knowing how and when to draw on advice and specialist support

Deploy support staff effectively

Take responsibility for improving teaching through appropriate professional development, responding to advice and feedback from colleagues

Communicate effectively with parents with regard to pupils’ achievements and wellbeing Personal and Professional Conduct A teacher is expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct. The following statements define the behaviour and attitudes which set the required standard for conduct throughout a teacher’s career. Teachers uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school by:

Treating pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position

Having regard for the need to safeguard pupils’ wellbeing, in accordance with statutory provisions

Showing tolerance of and respect for the rights of others

Not undermining fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Ensuring that personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law

Teachers must have proper and professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which they teach, and maintain high standards in their own attendance and punctuality

Teachers must have an understanding of, and always act within, the statutory frameworks which set out their professional duties and responsibilities.

Person Specification Qualification Criteria

Qualified to degree level or above

Possesses QTS status or equivalent Experience

Evidence of successful practice as a teacher in a secondary school

Experience of continually improving teaching practice to increase student achievement and progress

Evidence of continually improving the teaching and learning of their subject through assisting with schemes of learning and extra-curricular/enrichment activities Knowledge

Up to date knowledge in the curriculum area (Inc. A Level/GCSE specifications)

Understanding of the teaching strategies needed to establish high aspirations with regards to results and behaviour

Evidence of working with educational research to facilitate learning

Knowledge of the current legal requirements, national and school policies and guidance on the safeguarding and promotion of the well-being of children and young people Leadership

An ability to lead by example

Effective team worker and leader

Possesses high expectations for accountability and consistency

Motivation to continually improve standards and inspire excellence

Possesses an empathy and the ability to listen

Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all students Teaching and Learning

Effective and adaptable ICT skills

Numerate so that data analysis can be facilitated

Effective communication skills

Possesses energy, enthusiasm, resilience and perseverance

A commitment to educational research in order to facilitate learning

Excellent classroom teacher with the ability to reflect on lessons and continually improve their own practice

Effective and systematic behaviour management, with clear boundaries, sanctions, praise and rewards

Thinks strategically about classroom practice and tailoring lessons to student's needs

Understands and interprets complex student data to drive lesson planning, achievement and progress

Excellent planning and organisational skills

The ability to produce correspondence/documents, appropriate for a specific audience and in well-written English, ensuring the tone is appropriate to the purpose

The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Policies can be found on our website. This position is subject to appropriate vetting procedures including a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions as part of the recruitment process.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Aldridge School - A Science College

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1585 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Aldridge School - A Science College website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/aldridge-school-a-science-college-walsall

We are a comprehensive school of over 1500 students situated near the centre of Aldridge village. We believe that it is our responsibility to work to meet the needs of every individual student, challenging them to achieve their best, supporting them to become responsible young adults and preparing them for their next steps into the world of work or further education.

Aldridge School is a good school (Ofsted 2022).  It is a school which is proud of its traditions and successes which have been achieved through hard work and high expectations. In particular, we encourage our students to be Respectful, Responsible, Resilient and Ready to learn in order that they will be happy and successful at school and in the wider world beyond.

 Aldridge School has a dedicated, talented and conscientious team of staff who work together to provide a high standard of teaching, excellent pastoral care and professional support services. Our broad curriculum is designed to meet national expectations, be relevant and interesting, support our students in achieving the best possible standards in external examinations and to equip them with the skills they need to be successful in adult life.

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