We are looking for a Head of Music Department for Twyford Church of England High School, which is part of the Twyford CofE Academies Trust. The Twyford Trust is made up of 4 exceptionally high achieving schools in Ealing which have the benefit of being very close geographically and being able to benefit from shared curriculum support. There is a Trust music service which co-ordinates teams of peripatetic teachers and central support for concerts and performances. The unusually high profile of music in all four schools is the outcome of this commitment.
Twyford became a Specialist Music College in 2005 and, since then, has established a local and national reputation for high-quality music. Twyford is the beacon school for the Trust. As a music specialism, the school offers A-levels in both Music and Music Technology and offers two KS4 pathways (Music GCSE - following the AQA specification) and Edexcel BTEC Music in Practice (Music Technology). 10% of students at the school are awarded places based on musical aptitude. The school also attracts students to its 6th Form from a wide area based on the post-16 offer, and from 2024 onwards we have made a minimum of 10 conditional offers to prospective students who sit a Music Pre-Admissions Test for the 6th Form.
Class sizes are very healthy and significantly exceed the national averages (currently 20 studying A-Level Music, 36 studying A-Level Music Technology, 51 studying GCSE Music, and 54 studying BTEC). The extracurricular offer at the school is correspondingly ambitious and impressive, with a fully inclusive programme providing a pathway of progression for musicians from beginners to advanced. For orchestral instruments, we offer a Junior Orchestra (G1-5), Concert Band (G3+), String Orchestra (G3+), with Twyford Philharmonia as the flagship orchestra of around 70 players (grades 6-8+). The Twyford Big Band is an invite only ensemble for more experienced musicians, and a 6th form ‘jazz collective’ provides improvisation challenges for the most advanced jazz musicians.
The school also runs an ambitious, inclusive and high-quality choral programme of six choirs, with 15% of the student body currently choosing to sing in at least one choir: KS3 Junior Choir, Senior Choir (Y9-13, non-auditioned), Chamber Choir (invite only), 6th Form Vocal Ensemble (acapella group), Junior Gospel Choir & Sacred (our Senior Gospel Choir) led by Karen Gibson from The Kingdom Choir.
There is also a thriving programme of chamber music offered, led by our peripatetic team. This includes flute choir, clarinet choir, double reed ensemble, saxophone ensemble, saxophone quintet, string quartets (for KS3, KS4 and KS5), and guitar ensemble. Additionally, a programme of band mentoring provides opportunities for students in KS3 who want play in a band to be supported by 6th Form students to develop their skills.
Being part of a Trust offers us fantastic opportunities to challenge and inspire our student: musicians from across the Trust have performed with the Gabrieli Consort at Westminster Cathedral, performed at a local theatre with Ealing Music Service, and a Trust Choir went on tour to Belgium. Most recently Twyford Trust musicians have performed at the Royal Albert Hall with Ealing Music Service, with Twyford Sacred choir performing at Westminster Abbey and the Barbican with the Kingdom Choir.
In the last year our students have been given the opportunity to take part in ‘side by side’ workshops and concerts with the Nonsuch Orchestra, Central Band of the RAF, the jazz department at Trinity Laban College of Music, the woodwind department at the Royal College of Music and Ealing Symphony Orchestra.
The department team has 6 teaching staff, as well as a dedicated music administrator. Just under 300 students undertake music instrumental lessons at the school with a team of 19 specialist peripatetic staff. There are four specialist teaching rooms (three of which have computers with Sibelius and Cubase), a suite of practice rooms and two performance spaces supported by AV staff.
As a Church of England school, music also plays a significant part in the worship life of the school, each year group has its own communion band and most importantly there is a tradition of whole school singing which is supported by weekly singing lessons in Years 7 and 8. Performance has a high profile at the school ranging from live music played by students in every assembly, through informal popular music platforms, showcases offering opportunities for students to perform as soloists, both junior and senior popular music and classical music competitions, three large-scale ensemble/choral concerts as well as an annual carol service and a school musical every year.
The role of Head of Music is therefore a very important one, contributing significantly to the ethos of the school which is proud of its strong faith identity, its pastoral care and its outstanding academic outcomes.
The best way to experience the musical life of our school is to visit the Music Department, meet the staff and see the students perform. Candidates who are interested in the role are encouraged to make contact with the HR department or Trust Director of Music in order to visit ahead of submitting an application. This can be arranged by emailing the HR department: [email protected] or [email protected]
We offer:
- Exceptional professional development and career progression
- A creative and high energy environment with very high standards of student engagement & behaviour.
- Positive working relationships at all levels
- A supportive Leadership Team, including Trust Director of Music and Headteacher who is also a Music Teacher
- A full range of Trust services providing support and development
- Opportunities to work with the Teach West London Teaching School Hub which is based at the school and supports CPD / ITT in the wider area
The successful candidate will have:
- A good degree and QTS
- Proven record of outstanding results
- Experience of curriculum development & subject leadership
- Experience of quality assurance and of leading and managing a team
- Outstanding skills as a classroom teacher and as a tutor
- An excellent record of developmental work in current role
- Some experience of managing or implementing curriculum systems and initiatives
- Ability to be reflective and driven towards self-improvement
- A commitment to the ethos of the school