Teacher (Music)
The Thetford Academy, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1LH14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
April 2026 (September start will be considered for the right candidate.)
Closing date
5 February 2026 at 12am (midnight)
Date listed
22 January 2026
Job details
Job role
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Music
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- Salary: Qualified Teachers Pay Scales: Main Pay Scale (MPS) to Upper Pay Scale (UPS)
Teacher (Music) job summary
Salary: Qualified Teachers Pay Scales: Main Pay Scale (MPS) to Upper Pay Scale (UPS)
Start Date: April 2026 (September start will be considered for the right candidate.)
We are seeking to appoint an inspiring Teacher (Music) at Thetford Academy. If you are an excellent teacher, who is passionate about education and are excited about continuing to develop your practice, then we want to hear from you. Applications from Early Careers Teachers are welcome.
Music at Thetford is exceptional and the school has over several years established a reputation as a leading music school, both within the region and nationally. We were shortlisted as the Outstanding Music Department of the Year in a national competition in 2024, and we are the lead music school in Breckland for the Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub. Laura Hodges, our Head of Performing Arts, was the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year for 2025. We have large and stable numbers of students studying music at KS4 and in the Sixth Form where we offer BTEC Music and A-Level Music Technology.
There is extra-curricular music taking place every day at Thetford with high levels of participation. Our Music Scholars are a vertical tutor group of around 40 students who have additional music every day, including taking part in our wide range of groups including choirs, bands, instrumental groups and a full orchestra. Student leadership in music is very strong with lots of students taking on leadership responsibilities. Our assemblies begin with an instrumental performance by students, and we run a programme of performances and productions ranging from a piano recital to a gig night, all of which are well attended by parents and - most pleasingly - fellow students who come to support one another.
We have excellent partnerships. For over two years we have worked closely with the Britten Sinfonia, with many of their staff and professional musicians regular attendees at the school. We have a good link with Breckland Brass Band who are taking on several of our students. We run musical theatre productions twice a year with recent performances including Return to the Forbidden Planet and Bugsy Malone - this year we are performing Six and Moana.
We are looking for a musician who is looking to join a vibrant music scene and who is absolutely committed to the idea that the limits of musical ambition should not be set by a student’s personal circumstances when growing up.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Maintain professional conduct and actively engage in performance management and professional development activities.
- Collaborate effectively with colleagues, external agencies, and the Senior Leadership Team.
- Participate in meetings, quality assurance processes, and school events outside normal hours.
- Promote and uphold the Trust and Academy’s ethos, policies, procedures, and Health & Safety standards.
- Ensure pupil safeguarding, welfare, attendance, punctuality, and behaviour are monitored and supported.
- Serve as a form tutor, delivering pastoral programmes and supervising pupils as required.
- Teach the curriculum, prepare pupils for examinations, and provide additional support such as interventions and revision lessons.
- Plan collaboratively, set homework, adapt teaching for SEND/EAL students, and maintain high standards of pupil work.
- Assess pupil progress, evaluate teaching approaches, and provide reports and references to support pupil development.
- Actively contribute to school life, including enrichment activities and departmental discussions on teaching methods.
About You
The successful candidate will have strong communication skills, empathy, patience, and creativity in teaching. You will also be adaptable and passionate about your students' success. You will act as a positive role model, foster a supportive learning environment, and is committed to your own continuous learning and professional development.
Essential:
- An appropriate degree and other qualifications required for the award of QTS.
- Qualified Teacher Status (trainees should be on track to achieve QTS before taking up the post).
- Knowledge of the statutory requirements concerning Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, SEND and Child Protection
- Ability to communicate effectively and build positive relationships with students, parents, colleagues, and the wider community.
- Knowledge and understanding of the subject to at least undergraduate degree level and different teaching approaches.
- Experience of teaching the subject in a secondary school across the 11-16 age range.
- Experience of the wider role of a teacher in the personal development of pupils, including the main responsibilities of a form tutor.
Desirable:
- Postgraduate qualification in the subject or in the teaching of the subject.
- Experience teaching the subject in a Sixth Form or Further Education setting.
- Experience as a form tutor, supporting the wider personal development of pupils.
- Experience examining the subject for an appropriate exam board.
- Ability to offer extra-curricular or enrichment activities and use digital platforms to create and share teaching and assessment resources.
Why Join Inspiration Trust
At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You’ll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration, and innovation. We provide opportunities for growth and empower you to make a real impact in schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. As part of our thriving network of talented teachers, leaders, and support staff, you’ll receive a varied professional development programme designed to help you be the best you can be.
We offer:
- Generous annual leave, and access to the Teachers' Pension Schemes (TPS) with excellent employer contributions
- Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
- Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
- Free parking at most sites
- Personalised CPD and development programmes
- A structured and specific induction programme.
* Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.
About Us
Thetford Academy is a remarkable place to work and sits at the academic and cultural heart of its community. Our pupils follow a curriculum designed to prepare them for future challenges while fostering a deep appreciation and understanding of the world. They are supported in developing strong values and habits that empower them to make meaningful contributions to their community and beyond.
Joining Thetford Academy means becoming part of a committed, supportive, and ambitious team. Staff benefit from excellent professional development opportunities, collaborative networks, and the chance to make a real difference in the lives of young people. If you are passionate about education and inspiring students to achieve their full potential, this is the place to grow your career.
We are part of the Inspiration Trust, twice ranked as the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress, and strongly believe in the importance of giving the widest educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background. We have strong networks across the Trust, with opportunities to work with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to offering excellent professional and learning opportunities for our staff, with a busy programme of continuing professional development courses delivered by some of the country’s best educational thinkers and practitioners.
The Inspiration Trust is a Multi Academy Trust, committed to delivering the very best educational experience for the young people of Norfolk and Suffolk, across 17 schools. We are ambitious for our schools and communities and want to create Britain’s highest performing federation of 3-19 schools and transform education in the East. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.
For information on what it is like to live and work in Thetford, click here. In its 2025 inspection, Ofsted confirmed that The Thetford Academy has continued to provide a high-quality education, with excellent behaviour, a well-sequenced curriculum and impressive personal development opportunities. Pupils are proud to attend the school, feel safe, and benefit from committed staff and strong leadership.
Next Steps
Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.
If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact Ilona Haye, PA to Principal (ilonahaye@inspirationtrust.org).
To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.
Closing date for applications: 12pm on Thursday 5th February 2026
Interview date: Thursday 12th February 2026
Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities
Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and all staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced DBS checks. You will be required to provide references and undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are an equal opportunities employer.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About The Thetford Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1361 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Thetford Academy website
Thetford Academy is a community secondary school and sixth form, close to the Norfolk-Suffolk border. We help our students get the best possible GCSE results, and guide them through A Levels and vocational studies that prepare them for university and the world of work.
We are part of the Inspiration Trust, a close-knit family of schools in East Anglia, dedicated to providing high-quality education for all of our young people, combining academic attainment with rich cultural experiences.
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