Job Description

Job Title: Head of Percussion (CYM)
Department: Centre for Young Musicians - GSMD
Grade: E
Location: Morley College, Oasis Southbank Primary School and other venues linked
to the Centre
Responsible to: Head of Centre for Young Musicians
Responsible for: Departmental Tutors

Appointed Candidates Signature:
Please sign and date here upon receiving your offer of employment
I confirm I have read the Job Description below:

Full Name: ………………………………………………………….

Signature ………………………..………. Date: …………………

Purpose of Post

Heads of Department play a pivotal role at CYM, providing leadership within their department and
contributing to the Centre’s broader development and success. They are responsible for creating
a safe and inclusive learning environment, maintaining high standards of teaching, and ensuring
students make excellent progress. Additionally, they oversee departmental resources and foster
strong relationships with parents, students, and staff, addressing issues as needed to maintain a
positive and productive environment.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Department Leadership and Management

•  Set the strategic direction for the department, ensuring provision is inclusive, effective, and

aligned with student and Centre needs, as well as CYM’s culture and goals.

•  Provide  leadership  to  all  tutors  within  the  department,  ensuring  consistent  high-quality
tuition.   Monitor tutor performance, offer guidance and feedback and address any issues
or concerns.

•  Work with the Management and Admin team on all aspects of departmental administration,

providing reports and updates as required.

•  Lead  the  recruitment  and  induction  of  departmental  staff,  including  creating  materials,

shortlisting candidates, arranging and conducting interviews and follow-up tasks.

•  Work  with  the  Head  of  Centre  and  Management  and  Admin  Team  on  timetable
creation.   Advise  on  and,  where  necessary,  undertake  timetabling  tasks,  including
assigning  tutors/students  and  ensuring  that  departmental  and  cross-departmental
ensembles are appropriately populated.

Teaching

•  Attend CYM on the 32 Saturdays of the CYM teaching year, teaching students individually
or in groups/ensembles as required, demonstrating expertise and passion for music.

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Student Progress and Assessment

•  Monitor  student  progress  across  the  department,  addressing  issues  or  concerns

proactively.

•  Oversee  and  quality-assure  annual  reports,  ensuring  tutors  provide  accurate  and

constructive feedback.

•  Oversee  and  support  exam  preparation  across  the  department,  ensuring  alignment  to

syllabus requirements.

•  Advise on suitable progression pathways for students, which might include further and/or

higher education, or routes into the industry.

•  Conduct auditions for CYM and other activities managed by the Centre (e.g. the London

Schools Symphony Orchestra and London Youth Wind Band holiday courses).

Events, Concerts, and Public Engagement

•  Plan,  coordinate,  and  attend  departmental  events  and  performances  throughout  the

academic year.

•  Ensure the department is represented at both public and internal events, such as the CYM

annual concert, chamber concert, junior concert etc.

Instrument and Resource Management

•  Manage departmental resources, including instruments and sheet music.  Oversee storage

and rentals and keep accurate records.

•  Audit instruments and equipment annually and coordinate maintenance, repair and renewal

as needed.

Collaboration and Communication

•  Foster positive relationships with students, parents, staff, and other external stakeholders.
•  Serve  as  the  main  point  of  contact  for  departmental  inquiries  and  concerns,  addressing

issues promptly and effectively.

•  Promote the centre and recruit students through active involvement with schools and other

contacts.

•  Act as a primary contact for students, parents and staff on Saturdays.

Broader Growth and Development

•  Stay

informed  about  developments
opportunities for professional growth.

in  music  education  and  pedagogy,  seeking

•  Contribute  to  the  Centre’s  development  by  offering  insights  to  enhance  educational
outcomes, Centre effectiveness and efficiency, and actively participating in CYM/GYA-wide
initiatives.

•  Attend half-termly meetings with the Head of Centre and termly department meetings.

Student Support, Inclusion and Wellbeing

•  Monitor  student  attendance  and  conduct,  addressing  issues  and  concerns  in  line  with

relevant policies.

•  Ensure the safety and well-being of all students, reporting any concerns in line with CYM

policies.

•  Follow  all  safeguarding  policies  and  procedures,  acting  as  Deputy  Designated

Safeguarding Lead as required.

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•  Promote inclusivity, diversity, and equality within the department, ensuring all students can

access provision and necessary support.

Health and Safety Compliance

•  Adhere to and regularly review health and safety practices within the department. Follow

and enforce risk assessments and other health and safety policies.

Other

•  Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy in
relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the health and safety
of both themselves and others when carrying out their duties.

•  Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Equal Opportunity Policy and the objective

to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post.

•  To deputise for the Head of CYM when necessary.
•  To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested appropriate to the grade.

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Person Specification

Job Title: Head of Percussion (CYM)
Department: Centre for Young Musicians - GSMD
Grade: E
Trent Position number: 19B0097/001
DBS Criterion: Enhanced DBS with children’s barred list
Security Vetting Criterion: No security vetting is required
Politically Restricted Post Criterion: This post is not politically restricted

Please find below the qualifications, experience and technical skills required to undertake this post.
Each criterion will be assessed at application (A), interview (I) or test (T) as indicated below.

Professional Qualifications / Relevant Education & Training / Technical Skills

•  Degree  in  Music  (or  appropriate  professional  experience)  with  a  focus  on  percussion

instruments. (A, I)

•  Extensive  knowledge  and  experience  of  teaching  pedagogy  across  a  wide  range  of
percussion instruments, with a proven track record of working successfully with students of
different ages and abilities. (A, I)

•  Considerable experience of directing ensembles and small groups. (A, I)
•  Comprehensive  knowledge  and  understanding  of  safeguarding,  health  and  safety
regulations,  data  protection,  duty  of  care,  with  the  ability  to  conduct  and  act  on  risk
assessments. (A, I)

•  Strong  leadership,  communication  and  organisational  skills  with  proven  experience  in
managing programmes and priorities, inspiring teams and working collaboratively. (A, I)

•  Ability to co-ordinate and programme musical performances. (A, I)
•  A passion for music and the creative arts and an understanding of the issues and practice

of specialist pre-conservatoire music education. (A, I)

•  Demonstrated  commitment  to  inclusive  education  and  workforce  diversity,  ensuring  all
students and staff, regardless of background or ability, have access to opportunities and
support. (A, I)

•  Strong written communication and IT skills (including Microsoft 365). (A, I)
•  Highly motivated and articulate individual with a sense of humour and the desire and ability

to contribute and deliver new and creative ideas. (A, I)

Other Skills and Experience Required

•  Experience of communicating with a range of stakeholders including parents, students and
external  partners,  with  the  ability  to  navigate  sensitive  relationships  and  situations
effectively. (A, I)

•  Adeptness at managing complex schedules and timetables, ensuring the smooth running

of a busy department. (A, I)

•  Experience  in  conducting  auditions  and/or  assessments,  with  the  ability  to  provide

constructive feedback. (A/I)

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Other Relevant Information

Days to be worked: 1 day per week, which must be a Saturday during CYM term time.

It should be recognised that occasional attendance at evening concerts will be expected, with time
given in lieu.

Recruitment – Note to Applicants

The qualifications, experience and technical skills will be used in the decision-making
process for recruitment. Please give examples of how you have exhibited these
behaviours in your previous role(s) and experience.  It is essential you address the
criterion marked as (A) on your application form in the section for supporting information,
this will be the minimum criteria for shortlisting.

Be  as  specific  as  possible, we  cannot  guess or  make  assumptions, but  will  assess  your
application  solely  on  the  information  provided.      Try  to  provide  evidence,  by  examples,
where possible, of skills, knowledge and experience contained in this person specification.

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Summary of Terms and Conditions of
Employment

This summary is given as a guide and is not intended to form part of an individual’s contract
of employment.

Contract

The position is offered on a permanent basis.

Salary

The salary range for this job is £47,620 - £53,310 per annum inclusive of all allowances, pro-
rated to £9,524 - £10,668 per annum for 0.2 FTE. This figure will be reviewed annually from
1 July in line with the pay award for other salaried staff within the City of London
Corporation.

Pension

The  pension  scheme  provided  by  the  City  of  London  is  the  Local  Government  Pension
Scheme  (LGPS).    The  LGPS  is  a  public  sector,  statutory,  funded,  defined  benefit  pension
scheme.  Benefits are accrued based upon scheme member’s salary and the length of time
for which they are a member of the scheme.

You  will  automatically  be  admitted  to  the  City  of  London  Corporation’s  Pension  Scheme.
Member contributions are based upon the rate of pensionable pay received by the scheme
member.  Members  contribute  between  5.5%  and  12.5%  of  their  pensionable  pay  to  the
scheme, depending on salary. Please see here for the contribution bands. There is also an
option to join the 50/50 section of the scheme where members pay half the contribution rate
and accrue benefits at half the accrual rate.

The current employer contribution rate for the City of London is 21%.

Further details can be found on the national LGPS website and/or the City’s pension website.

If you do not wish to join the Scheme you must make a formal declaration stating you wish to
opt out.  You may contact the Pensions Office directly should you have any queries relating to
the Local Government Pension scheme and your entitlements under this scheme.

Hours of Work

Normal  hours  of  work  are  7  hours  (1  day)  per  week  excluding  lunch  breaks,  which  is  a
Saturday  during  CYM  term  time,  but  the  post  holder  shall  be  expected  to  work  the  hours
necessary to carry out the duties of the position.

Frequency and Method of Payment

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This is a monthly paid appointment and salaries are credited to a Bank or Building Society
Account on the 11th of each month.

Annual Leave

There is an entitlement of 7.5 days annual holiday inclusive of Public/Bank Holidays.  There
are subsequent increases to entitlement to annual holiday according to length of service.

Continuous Service

If  you  join  the  City  of  London  Corporation  without  a  break  in  service  (subject  to  certain
exceptions)  from  another  body  covered  by the  Redundancy  Payments (Local  Government)
(Modification)  Order  1999,  your  service  with  that  institution  will  count  for  the  purpose  of
continuous  service.  The  amount  of  continuous  service  which  you  have  will  affect  your
entitlement to certain contractual benefits; for example, annual leave, sick leave and maternity
leave. A full explanation of Continuous Service is contained within the Employee Handbook.

Probationary Period

You will be employed initially on a six-month probationary period.  Should either party wish to
terminate the employment during this period, then one week’s notice will be required on either
side, except for summary termination for gross misconduct.

Notice Period

One full academic term by either party after satisfactory completion of probationary period.

Learning and Employee Development

The City of London provides for financial support and time off for staff to study for appropriate
qualifications  which  relate  to  their  duties  or  undertaking  professional  skills  update  training.
There is also an in house programme covering more general training needs.

City Benefits

As an employee of the City Corporation, you have access to exclusive discounts and privileges
through a combination of internal offers from our departments and an external service we have
subscribed to from Reward Gateway.

Employee Volunteering Programme

The  City  Corporation,  in  line  with  its  aims  to  contribute  to  a  flourishing  society,  shape
outstanding  environments  and  support  a  thriving  economy,  offers  employees  paid  special
leave time during normal hours to encourage employees to volunteer their time and skills to
Volunteer  Involving  Organisations  (VIOs)  operating  within  the  Square  Mile,  London  and
beyond.

Full-time employees may take up to 2 days or 14 hours per year in which to volunteer, between
1 January and 31 December. For temporary and part time employees these hours are adjusted
pro rata. Volunteering time can be taken in smaller bite size e.g. 2 hours a week over 7 weeks,

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where this can be accommodated by the City Corporation and meets the requirements of the
volunteer organisation

Sickness Absence and Pay

The City of London Corporation has a comprehensive Occupational Sick Pay scheme, details
of which can be found in the Employee Handbook which will be made available to you upon
commencement.

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