Head of Performing Arts
Bedminster Down School is looking for an excellent teacher and leader to join our performing arts team on a full time basis from September 2021 as the Head of Department. The school is rated as good by Ofsted, and we are looking for an enthusiastic and energetic person to help us support every one of our students to make the very best progress that they can. The successful candidate will be leading a friendly, hardworking and forward-thinking department which is always looking to improve. They will teach across the ability range, delivering lessons to students in both KS3 and KS4.
An increase in the amount of time given to drama and music in the Bedminster Down School curriculum is the driver behind the recruitment for this post, which will mean the school has three dedicated members of performing arts staff. Both Drama and Music are taught as separate and discrete disciplines to all students throughout KS3 and we run KS4 options classes in both Drama and Music in year 10 and year 11. As a head of department, you would be joining our curriculum team leaders group, who meet fortnightly with senior leaders to drive school improvement. You will be line managed by an experienced senior leader who will give you the support you need to make performing arts teaching one of the biggest strengths of the school. As we emerge from the restrictions that coronavirus has imposed on education, developing our extra-curricular offer and making school a place that students love to spend their time, including outside of lessons, is one of our greatest ambitions. Performing arts is a vital part of that agenda and a passionate and inspiring head of department is key to bringing this to fruition.
We operate a Ready to Learn behaviour system in the school and classroom behaviour is truly exceptional. Our consistent approach to behaviour management across the school ensures that any low-level disruption is dealt with rapidly and effectively. Our senior and pastoral teams manage the rare incidents of highly challenging behaviour, take all whole-school detentions and permanently staff the behaviour support rooms. This means that, as a teacher at Bedminster Down School, you have the ability to spend your work time on planning and delivering lessons which maximize engagement and progress.
As a school we have developed new ways to assess progress and to feed back to pupils; we are putting more time into planning and differentiation and turning our backs on hours of book marking. Delivering live marking and impact marking strategies allows us to know exactly what our students need to do to progress and target appropriate work to deliver outstanding lessons. Our approaches are innovative, effective and time efficient.
We welcome applicants who are excited by challenge, including those for whom this would be their first leadership role. As a school and Trust we provide staff with a wide range of professional development opportunities and work hard to support colleagues in becoming the very best teachers and leaders. Our middle leadership development programmes allow staff to work with people from across the local area and to build a strong professional network. The support and development we offer to those new to leadership is exceptional. Our Trust benefits platform also brings a number of fantastic advantages to our staff, giving you access to free healthcare and significantly reduced prices at a number of major retailers. We take staff well-being exceptionally seriously and are always looking for effective ways to support our staff both inside and outside of school.
We are keeping the application and interview process dynamic and will progress any application from suitable candidates as they apply. We want to hold interviews on the school site; however, if you are unable to attend work at the moment we have set up systems to ensure that alternative options are still available via video conferencing.
We are keen to ensure that you have as much information to proceed with your application as possible, so if you would like a conversation about either the academy or the position please contact Matt Eagon, Vice Principal, on 07809-762145 or by email. Full contact details can be located within the 'Apply Now' section; please log in or register to view.
The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 23rd May.
Interviews will be held before the end of term 5, which concludes on Friday 28th May.
No CV's or Agencies please.
To apply:
- Download the Job Description/Person Spec and Application Form + Candidate pack Trust Job Pack
- Click on the 'apply' button within the vacancy advertised on the WMAT iTrent Jobsite and complete and submit your online application before the closing date.
Futura Learning Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Your suitability to work with children and young people will form part of the selection process. For this post, prior to appointment Futura Learning Partnership will apply for a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring check, a Children’s Barred list check, two satisfactory references, satisfactory pre-employment health screening and for Teachers, a Prohibition Check in relation to the children’s workforce. In some settings a Declaration will be required in order to meet our obligations under the ‘Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006.