We are looking for an inspiring, Part time Music Teacher at Twyford Church of England High School, a comprehensive school with music specialist status, which is part of the successful 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. 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, we will also be making 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 21 studying A-Level Music, 30 studying A-Level Music Technology, 38 studying GCSE Music, and 68 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 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 Jazz Academy is the training ground for our youngest jazz musicians, with the Twyford Jazz Orchestra an auditioned ensemble for more experienced musicians, and a 6th form ‘jazz collective’ providing improvisation opportunities 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 (a capella group), Junior Gospel Choir and Senior Gospel 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 choir, 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 musicians: last year musicians from across the Trust 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 in July 2023. This year our students will be given the opportunity to take part in ‘side by side’ workshops and concerts with the Nonsuch Orchestra, Central Band of the RAF, The Band of the Scots Guards, 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 six teaching staff, as well as a dedicated music administrator. Being part of such a large teaching team is very unusual, and whether you have been teaching for 1 year or 10 years, it provides a fantastic opportunity for teachers keen to learn, develop and share good practice in a supportive and encouraging environment. 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 full-time AV staff.
Performance has a very 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.
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.
The role every Music teacher at the school is therefore an 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. You will work closely with the Head of Music, Head of Music Technology, and Trust Director of Music, and there will be opportunities for you to contribute something unique, making the most of your own particular skillset.
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 in order to visit ahead of submitting an application. This can be arranged by emailing: [email protected]
This role is suitable for ECT and RQT applicants.
We offer:
- Exceptional professional development and career progression
- Positive working relationships at all levels
- A supportive Leadership Team
- Opportunity to gain experience within four different Trust schools with a common commitment to professional collaboration
The successful candidate will have:
- A good degree and Qualified Teacher Status
- Ability to teach Music to at least KS4
- Knowledge of the requirements of the National Curriculum
- An understanding of recent curriculum / learning developments
- An understanding of the strategies required to motivate and enthuse all students across the ability range as part of a whole school approach to raising achievement
Desirable qualities:
- Ability to lead singing in the classroom / assemblies
- Ability to accompany singing lessons and performances