Head of Music

Priestnall School, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 3HP

7 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  1 May 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  24 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Head of department or curriculum
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Subject: Music
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: MPS/UPS: £32,916 - £51,048 + TLR 2b - £6,028

Head of Music job summary

“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education.” - PlatoLaw - “Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.”  - Lord Hewart

Priestnall School are looking for an exceptional, enthusiastic, and dedicated Head of Music to join our highly ambitious and successful department. The ideal candidate will help drive our ongoing success in delivering excellent teaching and learning outcomes. Students benefit from the exceptional teaching and care given to them by our current team. If you are an experienced teacher looking for your next step in your career, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Our aims are for every student, regardless of background or circumstance, to be inspired, and to make progress to achieve the highest standards of musicianship. Our curriculum endeavours to achieve our aims in the key areas of singing, listening, composing and performing. We aim to develop powerful knowledge of musical concepts and creative skills through the study of a broad range of genres and through critical engagement with historical, social, moral, spiritual, and cultural contexts. Our curriculum teaches beyond what is required to pass examinations. It enriches the lives of our individual students and enables them to develop mature musical understanding and a lifelong appreciation of music.

For further details on the role, including key skills and experience required, please see the Job Description and Person Specification attached below.

To learn more about what the Trust offer, including our wide range of employee benefits and access to further professional learning, visit our Careers page. The Laurus Trust recognises the importance of employees' work/life balance.  A better work-life balance can increase staff motivation, reduce employee stress, improve performance and productivity and make employment more accessible for more people. Where it is possible and practical, we will accommodate flexible arrangements from day 1, which may involve job sharing, part-time working, bespoke timetabling or a nine-day fortnight.

If you would like to join our Laurus family in a rewarding role that changes the lives of our students by empowering them to become the best that they can be then we would love to hear from you. 

To complete an application form please click ‘Fast Apply’. A full application must be submitted as CV’s will unfortunately not be accepted in line with our safer recruitment process. 

We reserve the right to interview prior to the closing date.

Disability Confident Employer

We value diversity and are committed to equal opportunities. We are an inclusive employer and welcome all applications. Disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria on the person specification will be guaranteed an interview. If you require any reasonable adjustments for an interview, please highlight this to our Recruitment Team in advance.

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 Priestnall School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1285 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Priestnall School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/priestnall-school-stockport

Priestnall is situated in Heaton Mersey, a suburb in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, bordering the Manchester Local Authority – notably, Burnage. The school serves the communities of the ‘Four Heatons’: Mersey, Chapel, Moor and Norris. Priestnall is a non-selective, non-denominational, ten form entry 11-16 secondary school, there are approximately 1278 students roll. The school is part of the Laurus Trust (September 2023), a multi-academy trust, whose shared vision provides the framework and core values for our secondary schools.

The Class of 2024 have secured themselves the best GCSE grades the school has ever seen. Almost 40% of all grades awarded are at Grade 7 or above – a fabulous achievement – and an incredible 75% of grades are at Grade 5 or above. In both GCSE English and Maths, a superb 64% of grades are Grade 5+, and a mighty 81% are at Grade 4+.

Priestnall is very much a part of the wider community and the partnership between students, staff and parents/carers is vital to the continued success of the school. We endeavour to provide students with the best possible opportunities to succeed and develop a love of learning that will last and that will support them as they take their next steps in life.

We have high expectations of all members of our school community, and we provide opportunities for students to engage with the wider life of the school and, importantly, to develop the qualities, attitudes and habits which will allow them to flourish. At Priestnall School, we place the professional development of staff at the very core of what we do.

Providing high quality learning opportunities – and removing any barriers – is at the centre of what we want to achieve for our students, and we remain committed to ensuring all our students can get the very best out of their time at Priestnall School.

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