Teacher of Music
Saffron Walden County High School, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4UH24 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
17 April 2026 at 9am
Date listed
24 March 2026
Job details
Job role
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Subject
- Music
Working pattern
- Full time, part time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- MPS/UPS
What skills and experience we're looking for
You will:
- Teach outstanding music lessons across KS3 and KS4, where appropriate KS5.
- Bring joy, creativity and rigour to KS3 classroom teaching in particular.
- Direct one or more of our musical ensembles and support our extensive concert and events calendar.
- Use data effectively to ensure all pupils make excellent progress.
- Contribute to the development of schemes of work, resources and innovative projects.
- Work closely with parents, carers, colleagues and visiting professionals.
- Embrace the energy and spontaneity of a busy, thriving music department with resilience, flexibility and excellent time management skills.
Essential Qualifications and Qualities
We are seeking someone who is:
- A qualified teacher (QTS or equivalent).
- An excellent classical or jazz musician with strong practical skills.
- An inspiring and innovative classroom practitioner, committed to excellence in music education.
- Passionate about enabling every child to access and enjoy music, regardless of background or starting point.
- Able to motivate young people and nurture their musical confidence.
- Deeply committed to the transformative power of music.
- In possession of excellent communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills.
- Ability to teach Music Technology, or a willingness to train.
- Willingness to direct additional ensembles or lead new ones.
Desirable:
- Ability to teach Music Technology, or a willingness to train.
What the school offers its staff
We welcome applications from those interested in full-time or part-time work. Both experienced and recently qualified teachers are very welcome to apply.
We operate a Bike to Work scheme and there is an early years nursery on our site.
Employee Assistance Programme
Support for Early Careers Teachers: Saffron Walden County High School was an early adopter of the Early Career Framework. We are also an accredited Appropriate Body for Early Career Teachers. We are therefore extremely well placed to be able to provide the best quality mentoring, coaching and CPD in your formative years of teaching.
Further information about the job
Our school has an outstanding reputation for both academic and extra-curricular music, with a rich musical heritage and an environment where creativity truly flourishes. Music at SWCHS sits at the heart of a vibrant local community and benefits from a wealth of unique partnerships and facilities, including:
- Saffron Hall, our world-class, award‑winning 740-seat concert venue, located at the centre of our school site. It hosts an exceptional professional performance programme each year, offering students unparalleled opportunities to experience live music at the highest level.
- Saffron Centre for Young Musicians (SCYM), a thriving Saturday morning music school hosted on site, attracting young musicians from Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridge.
- Our status as an Essex Lead School for Music, working closely with the Essex Music Hub to deliver outstanding opportunities across the county.
- A diverse and exciting concert calendar supported by the whole department, with over 200 students involved in extra‑curricular music and 18 ensembles and choirs. We enjoy an annual Music tour to Europe for senior bands and choirs.
- The prestigious Music Academy Programme for Grade 6+ musicians in our sixth form, which includes masterclasses, professional workshops and outreach projects.
If you are an enthusiastic, skilled musician and an inspirational classroom teacher who thrives in a dynamic environment, we would love to hear from you.
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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Saffron Walden County High School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 2119 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Saffron Walden County High School website
- Email address
- jking@swchs.net
- Phone number
- 01799 513030
At SWCHS, we believe that every child deserves to go to an excellent school. It should be a school that understands them, allows them to flourish and be happy, and helps them to achieve in order to make the best possible academic progress whatever their ability or circumstances. It can do this by providing them with inspiring teaching, a secure and caring environment, expert advice and guidance, and rich and motivating enrichment opportunities. Our objective is to develop the skills, talents and values of every individual so that they can achieve impressive levels of personal success and go on to make a positive contribution to society. All the evidence demonstrates that SWCHS is such a learning environment and can confidently call itself a local school of exceptional quality.
Arranging a visit to Saffron Walden County High School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email jking@swchs.net.
School location
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