Head of Drama

Oxted School is seeking an inspiring and innovative Head of Drama to join our vibrant faculty. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and dedicated educator to lead and nurture a dynamic learning environment committed to unlocking the full potential of every student.

As a key leader within the school, this role provides a fantastic opportunity to deliver high-quality teaching and learning, lead a high-performing team, and ensure outstanding outcomes for our students. You will work closely with the Head of Faculty to develop and promote innovative teaching practices, enrich curriculum provision, and set high standards for staff and students alike. This position allows you to lead on school improvement priorities, manage faculty resources, and foster a collaborative and supportive learning environment.

As a school, all teachers embody the powerful learner characteristics in every lesson, in every subject; students being creative, collaborative, courageous, resourceful, resilient, reflective learners.

 The Creative Arts are an innovative and thriving faculty with consistently excellent outcomes for our students. We are a fun and supportive team, all specialists in our artistic fields and a large and popular faculty within our school. We comprise of Dance, Drama, Music and Art and Photography departments. Each department is well resources with dedicated spaces. These include one purpose-built Drama Studio with lighting rig, auditorium, departmental offices, costume and prop store and full black out. There is also a large, adapted rehearsal style room with black-out and two smaller spaces also with blackout. There is a very large and well-equipped Dance Studio, with mirrors, projector and Bluetooth speakers. We have three Music classrooms, two of which are resourced with Mac computers, including for Sibelius and GarageBand. All Music rooms have keyboards, numerous instruments and interactive TV whiteboards. We have a dedicated Music Studio for recording and four recently re-furbished practise rooms. We also have a Main Hall, with specialist lighting and sound installation for performances.

 All students in KS3 are taught the equivalent of one lesson per week in mixed ability groups (years 7 to 9). In KS4, there are a number of GCSE classes in Year 10 and Year 11. Currently, we offer A-level Drama and Theatre Studies, A-level Music and BTEC L3 Performing Arts at KS5.

 The whole faculty contributes to the annual whole school production in November/December along with many staff from other departments across the school. There is also a KS3 Drama Club, as well as regular professional workshops, theatre trip and visits from professional companies. There is a thriving extracurricular programme in the Creative Arts throughout the year, including Gym and Dance Show, Music Concerts and Creative Arts Festival Week in the summer term, all teachers in the faculty contribute and get involved in these. Microsoft Teams is used widely, with a range of online learning tools.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide inspirational leadership to the faculty and ensure excellence in teaching and learning.
• Develop and implement robust curriculum plans and enrichment activities.
• Monitor and evaluate student progress, implementing intervention strategies as needed.
• Lead and inspire professional development within the department.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues across THPT schools to share best practices.
• Maintain open and effective communication with parents, carers, and feeder schools.

What We Offer:

• A supportive leadership team and opportunities for extensive CPD.
• Career progression within The Howard Partnership Trust.
• A stimulating and collaborative work environment focused on excellence.
• Effective PPA allocation to support work-life balance.

Who We’re Looking For:

• A qualified teacher with strong subject knowledge and a commitment to CPD.
• Demonstrable experience in improving student outcomes and inspiring staff.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• A passion for creating engaging and effective learning experiences.

As a Partnership School, we are committed to professional development through our extensive CPD programme and ensure a healthy work/life balance with effective PPA allocation.

We welcome informal meetings or tours of the school. Please contact the HR team to arrange a visit.

All adults employed by the Trust have a responsibility for data protection and have a duty to observe and follow the principles of the GDPR Regulations.

The Howard Partnership Trust is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all individuals, regardless of gender, marital status, disability, race, age, or sexual orientation.

All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. As part of our need to comply with UK immigration rules, you will be required to provide Home Office stipulated documentation prior to interview.

Early applications are encouraged. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date of this advertisement.

As well as verification of identity, we ask all successful candidates to undertake an enhanced DBS disclosure. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance, we may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

SAFEGUARDING AND FURTHER INFORMATION

The successful candidate will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The Howard Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment

Due to the nature of this role, it will be necessary for the appropriate level of criminal record disclosure to be undertaken. In making your application, it is essential you disclose whether you have any pending charges, convictions, bind-overs or cautions and, if so, for which offences. This post will be exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Therefore, applicants are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are ‘spent’ under the provision of the Act, and, in the event of the employment being taken up; any failure to disclose such convictions will result in dismissal or disciplinary action. The fact that a pending charge, conviction, bind-over or caution has been recorded against you will not necessarily debar you from consideration for this appointment.