Pre-Preparatory Music Teacher (Part-Time)
- Job title: Pre-Preparatory Music Teacher
- Job Type: Part Time, 1 Term FTC
- Salary: Teacher Pay Scale £37,343-£62,975 (pro rated to length of contract and hours)
- Department: Pre-Prep
- Reporting to: Principal, Pre-Prep School
- Location: Highgate, North London
- Start: April, 2024
- Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 3:00 pm
We are excited to offer a part-time position to a highly skilled and passionate Music Teacher with a solid foundation in EYFS and/or Key Stage 1 education. This is an exceptional opportunity for an accomplished practitioner who is eager to work in a dynamic and thriving school environment. The role is for one and a half days a week.
The ideal candidate will possess excellent communication and team-working skills and be able to quickly adapt to a new environment. They should be enthusiastic about contributing their own ideas to promote thoughtful curriculum development and innovation, which are central to teaching at Highgate.
At Highgate, music is a vital part of both academic and extra-curricular life, with a strong and popular reputation. In the Pre-Prep, all classes receive a weekly music lesson that focuses on musicianship, composition, performance, and listening skills. Each class participates in termly events, including workshops with parents, mini-shows, and a whole school winter production. The Music Teacher will work closely with the Drama Teacher on larger productions, such as the winter show, which is always a highlight of the Pre-Prep year.
If you are a motivated Music Teacher looking to make a positive impact in the lives of young learners and be part of a vibrant community of educators, we encourage you to apply.
Highgate Pre-Preparatory School teachers enjoy a collaborative approach to teaching and learning. For all teachers new to Highgate, regardless of experience, there is a strong and supportive framework of induction to the School.
The Pre-Preparatory School
“At Highgate, we constantly think of creative ways to make our whole learning experience inspiring. If we develop this pattern early on, we ignite a spark for the love of learning which can be taken through life.“
-Sally Hancock, Principal
Highgate Pre-Preparatory School is an academically selective, co-educational school with approximately 160 pupils. In 2021 we began the transition to a three-form entry and by the September 2023 intake, we will be a three-form entry school from Reception to Year 2 (180 pupils altogether).
Teachers enjoy a collaborative approach to teaching and learning and all class teachers are expected to lead a subject across the Pre-Preparatory School. Teachers work collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team to drive standards within their area and significant professional development opportunities are offered to Subject Leads. For teachers new to Highgate, regardless of experience, there is a strong and supportive framework of induction to the School.
The Pre-Preparatory School is housed in its own building in Bishopswood Road, Highgate, adjacent to the School’s playing fields. The Pre-Preparatory building was recently extended to provide additional classrooms, a new library and a medical room.
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Essential Professional Criteria
- A good honours degree or equivalent and a teaching qualification
- The ability to teach at EYFS Stage and Key Stage 1
- Experience of teaching music
- Excellent communication skills
- The ability to establish good relations with colleagues and pupils
- Knowledge of and sympathy with, traditional British values
- Awareness and understanding of safeguarding and welfare of children
- Desirable Professional Criteria
- An EYFS qualification or degree covering EYFS is desirable. Knowledge of, and experience of teaching at Early Years Foundation Stage and/or Key Stage 1
- A willingness to be involved in the wider life of the department (e.g. Musical Productions, visits) and school
- Singing or another instrumental specialism
- A willingness to be involved in the wider life of the Pre-Prep School
- Personal Attributes
- Well-grounded and continuing interest in education, particularly in EYFS and KS1
- Capacity for industry and initiative in both independent work and as part of teams of colleagues in academic work and pastoral care
- Good judgement about people and situations, and discretion
- The depth of knowledge and agility of mind to allow flexibility in lessons, adapting delivery as appropriate in the light of pupils’ responses
- Empathy with and warmth towards pupils across the age and ability spectrum at Highgate
- The ability to implement a range of teaching strategies to cater for each individual pupil
- Awareness and understanding of matters relating to the personal, social, health, and emotional development of Highgate’s pupils
- General knowledge of Child Protection issues and good practice, particularly relating to professional obligations on safeguarding the welfare of each child and avoiding guarantees of confidentiality in any disclosure
- Capacity to deal sensitively with problems raised by pupils, in line with Highgate’s pastoral policies
- Willingness and ability to liaise effectively and professionally with staff and parents when required, making accurate records of these exchanges
- Patience and thoughtfulness to see any issues that may arise with pupils, parents or colleagues from a variety of perspectives
- The ability to de-fuse difficult situations using different strategies such as careful listening, sensitive use of humour, praise and recognition
- Retention of a sense of perspective and, on occasion, the invaluable ability to laugh at oneself
Benefits
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 21% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 11% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).
Holidays | Generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods.
Lunch | A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
Help with sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependant leave.
Working at Highgate
A culture of community, kindness and belonging
Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”
Staff wellbeing
Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Charitable work and sustainability
As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.
Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.
As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.
Application procedure
- Closing Date: 1st May 2024
- Timing of interviews: Thursday 2nd May
Contact: The Recruitment Team are happy to answer any questions about this post.
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
Apply hereInclusion
We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
Safeguarding
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.
Please read before you apply
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities. DBS Privacy Policies
Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. DBS Code of Practice
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.