Head of Music (January start)

Head of Music Ark Elvin Academy In September 2014 Ark Elvin Academy in Wembley joined the Ark network. We are now looking to recruit an outstanding Music teacher to deliver exceptional teaching and learning, helping students to achieve excellent results. You will design an engaging and challenging curriculum that inspires children to appreciate Music, instilling in them a love for the subject and a desire to learn. The school is an important part of its local community, but it has faced recent challenges including an inadequate Ofsted judgement and a falling school roll. We are working hard to give all pupils at the school an excellent education, and we hope you will build on this. This will be a challenge. But it's your chance to make a real difference to a school and its community. By joining Ark, the successful candidate will have access to a range of tailored professional development opportunities within the academy and across the network, including accredited middle and senior leadership development programmes. You will need to: • be an outstanding teacher, with a resilient character and a strong personal drive • have experience of managing others and supporting others to develop their teaching practice • understand the difference that a great education can make to pupils - especially to those from disadvantaged backgrounds • have achieved high rates of progress and attainment in your current school • exude a passion for the subject which is evident in your day to day classroom practice • be a 'learner' and reflective practitioner Salary: Ark MPS / UPS (Inner London) depending on experience, plus TLR. Ark is committed to safeguarding children; successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. Job Description: Head of Music Reports to: Assistant Principal Start date: January 2016 or sooner if available Salary: Ark MPS / UPS (Inner London) depending on experience plus TLR. The Role: To develop, lead and manage the exceptionally effective delivery of an outstanding Music curriculum to ensure all our pupils make excellent progress. Key Responsibilities • Be held accountable for the progress of all pupils in Music learning across the school • Constantly improve the quality of teaching and learning, where necessary holding teachers to account • Lead the design and implementation of Music curriculum and assessment including controlled assessment and examinations • Be a role model of outstanding teaching in the department • Observe, mentor and provide guidance to teachers in the department. Outcomes and Activities Teaching and Learning • Meticulously plan and teach engaging and challenging lessons that pave the way for success in school and life • Meet the needs of all learners by consistently planning and teaching carefully differentiated lessons • Set and mark appropriate homework • Use regular, measurable and significant assessments of their teaching • Complete all reporting on time • Closely monitor progress and attainment of their pupils and use it to inform their teaching • Provide content for and where necessary deliver high quality pupil interventions with direction from SLT member responsible for behaviour. • Ensure that all pupils achieve or exceed academy targets • Maintain regular and productive communication with parents about their child's progress, behaviour and development, including attending after school parent meetings as required • Organize and participate in exciting and motivating trips and events. Leadership of subject • Develop innovative schemes of work which are inspiring for learners and teachers alike and feed into standards based assessments • Produce half termly assessments with marks schemes • Ensure assessments are moderated internally and externally • Ensure end of year assessments reflect each pupil's overall level which is both externally valid and provides an accurate baseline for the next academic year • Analyse progress and attainment data to make data-driven changes to curriculum design, and pupil interventions • Work in collaboration with colleagues to ensure pupils receive high quality interventions • Through regular observation and feedback, mentor subject teachers to ensure excellent teaching and learning in all lessons • Ensure that classroom teachers are utilising best pedagogical practice for their subject • Conduct half termly evaluations of the quality of teaching and learning of individual classes and as a department, agreeing implementing and holding teachers to account to changes to teaching and learning • Create and sustain a positive department culture, where teammates feel collectively supported and developed. Other • Undertake professional development as agreed with school leaders • Perform additional duties and tasks required for the effective operation of the school • Undertake other various responsibilities as directed by the Principal. Person Specification: Head of Music Qualification criteria • Qualified to degree level and above • Qualified to teach in the UK • Right to work in the UK Experience • Experience of raising attainment in a challenging school • Evidence of continually improving the teaching and learning of their subject through schemes coaching or staff Skills and attributes We are looking for these skills and attributes or at the very least, a clear, demonstrable capacity to develop them: Alignment with Elvin vision • Relentless drive to do whatever it takes to ensure all pupils succeed. • Embody our core values - integrity, courage, community and mastery - in all aspects of work and conduct. • The belief that with the right environment all of our pupils are able to excel at university, or in a meaningful alternative. • The courage and conviction to make a difference. Leadership • Effective team worker and leader • High expectations for accountability and consistency • Vision aligned with Ark's high aspirations and high expectations of self and others • Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every student • Motivation to continually improve standards and achieve excellence • Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils. Teaching and Learning • Excellent classroom practitioner • Effective and systematic behaviour management, with clear boundaries,sanctions, praise and rewards • Has good communication, planning and organisational skills • Demonstrates resilience, motivation and commitment to driving up standards of achievement • Commitment to regular and on-going professional development and training to establish outstanding classroom practice. Communication skills • The ability to listen and communicate effectively • Empathy and the ability to understand the needs, aspirations and motivation of diverse individuals and groups • The ability to influence and motivate others Problem solving • Identify, analyse and resolve problems and issues • Develop plans with concrete outcomes and effective solutions • Evaluate results and identify necessary actions • Make fact-based decisions. Resilience • Sustain energy, optimism and motivation in the face of pressure and setbacks • Stay calm in difficult situations and maintain clarity of vision • Be adaptable in the face of adversity. Results and learning orientation • Commitment to ongoing improvement and learning • A passion for teaching subject • Focus on achieving challenging goals and results • Resourcefulness and flexibility in delivering outcomes. Other This post is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure.. Date posted: 11/07/2015