Primary Woodwind Specialist

Simon Balle All-Through School, Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG13 8AJ

14 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  TBA

• Closing date

  6 October 2025 at 10am

• Date listed

  22 September 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 1, Key stage 2
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Casual
• Full-time equivalent salary: Competitive Salary
• Additional allowances:

  Competitive Salary

Primary Woodwind Specialist job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a woodwind teacher to join our busy and successful Music Department. We are looking for a clarinet, saxophone and flute specialist to work within our primary phase (‘The Larch’) where 60% of our two form entry phase learn an instrument. You will be embedded within The Larch, working with colleagues developing our woodwind offering. Teaching is mostly in groups, but there is scope for individual teaching as students progress. You might work with some KS3 students, nurturing them in their musicianship, confidence and participation. We have a bespoke teaching programme from Year 3 with woodwind which can be found here: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/music/in-the-larch/. You will work with secondary colleagues ensuring that the Larch musicians are thriving and inspired, ready for their secondary journey. Our Larch Wind Band has 45 musicians in and we work on some chamber music as we can when musicians are ready. The teaching might start with one day per week, but there is huge potential for growth, as we develop our musical enrichment in the Larch and in a ‘middle school’ phase of our all-through school. There could be an opportunity to also develop woodwind at a partner primary school in Hertford as part of the Trust. This position really is about inspiring our youngest woodwind players as they begin their learning journey on these instruments. The scope of the role is limitless with the right enthusiasm! If you can also teach primary brass, this would be another opportunity for us, however woodwind is the priority.

Music at Simon Balle, as part of the Laurel Education Trust, is thriving and is a beacon of musical inclusion and excellence. Our all-through curriculum, from Reception to Year 13 is ‘spiral’ and we are so proud of what our musicians are learning and achieving. We are continually looking to improve our musical experiences and how we inspire our musicians through our teaching. Our GCSE and A level students work with the Eduqas syllabus (our GCSE points score was +1.48 in 2024). We have large classes at GCSE and A level and our school is a destination for some in the 6th form with bespoke pathways. Across our all-through school, music is a very important part of our broad and ambitious curriculum, which is progressive and sequential from Reception - Year 13. We use chromebooks (all students have a chromebook) and chromeboxes for much of our teaching with Soundtrap, Focus on Sound and Noteflight. We are developing a programme for our most advanced musicians, many of whom work towards LCM diplomas. Most years have some of our Year 13 leavers going to music college or a music conservatoire. We have recently worked with the RNCM Popular Music Team. We are developing a partnership with the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Students support our ensembles, as well as taking part in our huge Rock School (which has over 12 bands rehearsing each week). Our primary wind band has 50 students taking part each week, as does our primary string orchestra. Our Junior Wind Band has 60. Our Concert Band is slightly smaller, but is growing again with our increasing numbers coming through. Both Junior Wind and Concert Band have full percussion sections. We have a Big Band and saxophone ensemble as well. We have 4 choirs across the all-through school. Our advanced musicians take part in an annual tour to Ghent - a huge music festival. Last year we launched our Simon Balle Concert Orchestra and Chorus performing 4 arrangements from the recent BBC disco prom. We perform each year at Saffron Hall. We are looking to develop a ‘middle school’ experience as well. Our teachers work as a team, so that all musicians receive consistent teaching and experiences.

For more details of our amazing music, where 30% of the school learn an instrument and 25% are in an ensemble or choir each week, please visit https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/music/

Our events are found here: https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/music/whats-on/

This is an incredible opportunity to be part of an amazing school where we aim to create lifelong musicians and music is so much part of who we are. We are Team Music!

If you have any questions or would like to visit, please email Mark Taylor, Director of Music on music@simonballe.herts.sch.uk.

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 Simon Balle All-Through School

• School type: Academy, ages 4 to 18
• Education phase: Through
• School size: 1561 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Simon Balle All-Through School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/simon-balle-all-through-school

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