Head of Music
Meols Cop High School, Southport, Merseyside, PR8 6JSThis job expired on 20 April 2026
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
20 April 2026 at 9am
Date listed
19 March 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher or lecturer
- Head of department or curriculum
- View all Suitable for early career teachers (619)jobs
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Subject
- Music
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- MPS 1 TO UPS 3
Additional allowances
TLR2A at a rate of £3,527
What skills and experience we're looking for
Meols Cop High School is seeking to appoint an inspirational Music Subject Leader to join us from September 2026 or sooner. We are keen to hear from candidates who are exceptional classroom practitioners and innovative leaders of people and teams, with a track record of working collaboratively to bring out the best in others and to create and develop an inspirational curriculum.
This is a truly exciting appointment for us; Subject Leaders are the key drivers of school improvement at Meols Cop. You would be joining a team of strong, aspirational middle leaders who have an incredible impact on our young people. We are looking for an adaptable, strategic, and committed leader who will inspire our students and our Music team as part of our wider Performing Arts team.
At the core of our mission to Broker Aspirations is a Music department that is central to school life. We believe in an ambitious, sequenced curriculum that empowers students to find their voice through high-quality composition and performance. From intimate recitals to large-scale collaborative productions with our wider Performing Arts team, we ensure our students gain the skills and confidence to excel. As our Music Subject Leader, you will drive an inspiring culture of creativity, overseeing a wide-reaching calendar of concerts and collaborative Performing Arts showcases. We are looking for an ambitious leader ready for a career-defining role—someone who can ensure our students develop the values and artistry that provide a passport to their future success.
Our Performing Arts team are incredibly committed and share our whole-school vision to empower students, and Music is central to this team and the wider school. The Subject Leader for Music will be innovative, creative, and strategic, with a commitment to both curricular and extra-curricular music, and will be able to lead the team of peripatetic tutors with integrity and assurance. They will have a proven track record of driving improvement at Key Stages 3 and 4, and considerable strength in curriculum development and improving outcomes in Music. We are looking for a Subject Leader who will develop and lead our exceptional Music team to even greater success. The right candidate will be supportive and collaborative, able to develop and enhance the skillset of the staff, be research-informed in their thinking, and have a genuine love for Music.
Music sits at the centre of life at Meols Cop High School. A remarkable number of pupils choose to be involved—whether through sound and production work, peripatetic lessons, our large choir, or the much loved school shows and productions. This enthusiasm continues into examination years, with a consistently strong uptake at KS4 that reflects how deeply students value the subject.
For many young people, Music is where they find their tribe. They buy into the department’s energy, creativity, and sense of belonging, making it a vibrant and rewarding place to teach. The wider Performing Arts team is collaborative and supportive, and our dedicated peripatetic staff bring expertise that enriches every aspect of the curriculum.
The right applicant will recognise how special this environment is: a school where Music thrives, participation is high, and students are genuinely passionate about their craft. The successful candidate will fully immerse themselves in the rich culture of extra-curricular Music as well as classroom teaching. At Meols Cop High School, Music is a special place to teach because the students give as much back as you put in. It is a department fuelled by passion, technical skill, and a genuine love for the arts.
Meols Cop High School is a truly special place to work. Please don’t just take our word for it—interested applicants are strongly encouraged to visit us, meet our team and, most importantly, get to know our incredible students. To organise a tour ahead of application, please contact Sarah Byrne, PA to the Leadership Team, at recruitment@meolscop.co.uk.
What the school offers its staff
- Effective, supportive and dynamic leadership – where music is central
- Constant opportunities for continued professional development
- A positive approach to innovative ideas – a culture where leaders say ‘yes’ to opportunities for our young people
- Enthusiastic students who are keen to make good progress
- A wellbeing charter that ensures workload is reasonable and fair so that staff can flourish
- A welcoming team who work hard, share a mutual determination for our students and will always support one another
Further information about the job
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.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Meols Cop High School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 916 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- recruitment@meolscop.co.uk
Meols Cop High School is in the heart beat of Southport and plays an integral part within the local
community. We prioritise more than just academic achievement; we instil a profound sense of values and
ethics in all our students, as part of our school motto ‘Brokering Aspirations’. Anchored by its four
foundational pillars: Academic Excellence, Values Driven, Professional Standards, and Skills and
Experiences, Meols Cop fosters a holistic learning environment that prepares students for future success.
Meols Cop is a successful school at the heart of the local community. We are committed to providing
stimulating, challenging and engaging learning experiences for our students and invest heavily in
professional development as we believe ‘Teacher improvement is school improvement’. Meols Cop High
School will offer you extensive career development and bespoke CPD opportunities. Staff are specialists
in their areas with strong links to Maths Hubs work, STEM and Research school training programmes.
Moreover, we are keen to ensure the wellbeing of our staff, and our Workload Charter highlights our
commitment to this.
At Meols Cop we celebrate and support collaboration with local businesses, charities and community
groups within the local area, creating meaningful partnerships that benefit both our students and the
broader community. We believe that instilling values such as honesty, empathy, respect, and resilience is
essential for students to succeed not just academically but also in their personal and professional lives.
At Meols Cop we are committed to ensuring that our young people have the skills, qualifications and
characteristics to lead a successful life. We provide a curriculum that will challenge them academically,
that will allow them to develop as citizens of the world and to undertake experiences that will allow them
to explore passions and make informed choices about their futures. The successful candidate will take a
lead role in making this become a reality through developing a culture amongst our staff and students of
high expectations and high standards.
We would encourage you to look at our website, performance tables and OFSTED reports to ensure that
Meols Cop High School is a school that you feel would be suitable for your professional development.
Meols Cop High School is part of Southport Learning Trust and benefits of working within the Trust
include access to Merseyside Pension Fund, a cycle to work scheme and a private health and wellbeing
service. In addition, as part of Sefton’s admissions policy children of staff where the member of staff has
been employed at a school within the Southport Learning Trust for two or more years at the time at which
the admission application for the school is made, their children will be considered for a priority placement
at Meols Cop High School.
Meols Cop High school is a truly special place to work. Please don’t just take our
word for it - interested applicants are strongly encouraged to visit us, meet our
team and most importantly, get to know our incredible students. To organise a
tour ahead of application, please contact PA to the leadership team, Miss Sarah
Byrne on byrne-s@meolscop.co.uk
Arranging a visit to Meols Cop High School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@meolscop.co.uk.
School location
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