Network Lead For Secondary Music

Network Lead for Secondary Music

Reports to: Head of Creative and Extended Curriculum

Location: West London – currently operating an agile working policy with two core days (Mon and Weds) in the office

Contract: FTC (2 years)

Pattern: Full time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm), part-time will be considered

Closing date: 08/03/2024 at 12pm

Interviews: Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised

Salary: £60,000 to £70,000 (depending on experience)

Ark Secondary Music Programme:

High quality music education is unparalleled in its ability to stimulate personal, emotional and intellectual development, and motivate social change.  Given the right opportunities, we know that every child can be a musician, and enjoy improved life chances as a result. 

We strongly believe that pupils arrive to Year 7 as creative, talented young musicians and that our responsibility as teachers is to nurture and unlock this further through expert guidance and tuition. We also know that music teachers are often working in small departments, finding themselves needing to balance a myriad of competing priorities. That’s why we have developed the ‘Secondary Music Programme’ (SMP), a shared approach to curriculum and enrichment, designed to help prepare pupils for a life enriched by music and continued study if they wish, whilst supporting, enabling and enhancing the teacher as the professional expert in the classroom.

Through a unique relationship between teachers in Ark schools and previous Secondary Music Specialists, the SMP has become a powerful evidence-meets-practice approach which combines expert research together with classroom practitioner experience. As a network of music teachers, we have seen that there is real strength in working and learning together, and that it is through collaboration and partnership that we can have the greatest impact.

The Secondary Music programme includes:

1. A progressive curriculum for KS3 and working to the same exam board at KS4; a common assessment framework with opportunities for moderation
2. A diverse portfolio of Artists in Residence to bring the curriculum to life through connecting the world of professional music with school music departments
3. Enrichment activities and network events designed to support a range of interests
4. Extensive professional development for teachers, middle and senior leaders
5. Clear and accessible pathways for progression for pupils within the classroom and beyond

About the role:

As Network Lead for Secondary Music, you will work across our 39 schools, helping teachers to inspire pupils to participate in, excel at, and enjoy a range of music-making activities within the classroom and beyond.

We are now looking for an exceptional leader and teacher to join our team and help us bring the programme to its next phase. You will work closely alongside the Head of Creative and Extended Curriculum, Primary Music Specialist and Music Programme Manager, to ensure a joined-up approach to music education across the Ark network. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead the Secondary Music Programme (SMP), supporting schools to establish a core programme of ambitious yet inclusive curriculum and enrichment activity at KS3 through to KS4 and KS5
• Provide support to school and subject leaders to create the conditions in which the SMP can be implemented successfully, and seek to address weaknesses in specific classrooms/phases of underperforming schools
• Champion Ark’s community of practice including leading on Head of Department meetings, Network days and cluster-based moderation of coursework
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships both across SMP schools and the secondary network more broadly
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Assessment and Ark’s Heads of Music to drive a holistic approach to assessment in music which involves pupils in their own development
• Lead a programme of professional development for teachers at all stages of their careers that results in high quality learning experiences for pupils in the classroom
• Lead the development of an inclusive, financially viable model for school-based enrichment which sees every school having a successful vocal, instrumental and technology-based enrichment offer
• Train a diverse team of professional musicians to deliver this enrichment model
• Reference/link work to the Primary Music Programme as appropriate, ensuring pupils benefit from a joined-up learning journey
• Some evening and weekend work to facilitate the programme and to meet important deadlines
• Willingness to travel within the UK, using public transport whenever practicable

Key Requirements:

• Qualified Teacher Status
• An expert teacher with a genuine passion and belief in the potential of every pupil, regardless of their background
• A talented musician with an extensive appetite for music of all kinds and the ability to arrange and adapt music to suit the needs of pupils
• Experienced in leading and managing a diverse team of people to successfully achieve important goals. This will have included managing performance, providing direction and having high expectations
• Highly organised and efficient in completing a wide variety of work to tight deadlines
• A willingness and ability to be fully aligned to, and an advocate for, Ark Music’s purpose and ambition across all areas of work including a:
• Focus on championing the value of music in state school education
• Collaborative approach to our work that celebrates, encourages and recognises individuality and youth voice
• Commitment that every child should have a high-quality music education regardless of their background or ability to pay

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 30,000 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20^th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to TPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Friday 8^th March 2024 at 12pm but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org

Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.