REDMAIDS' HIGH SCHOOL

FOR GIRLS·BRISTOL

GDST GIRLS'DAY SCHOOL TRUST

Graduate Music Assistant

1 Year Fixed Term Contract Closing Date: Monday 1 June 2026

THE SUNDAY TIMES

Redmaids' High School GDST: A company limited by guarantee, company number 6400. Registered address: 10 Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DH. Registered charity number: 306983

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About The Role

We are seeking a talented and enthusiastic musician to join our Music Department. The successful candidate will be someone who can enhance the work of an already thriving department, supporting the wide range of musical provision across the school. There is scope to adapt the role to suit the successful candidate’s strengths, although recruitment of an excellent pianist is a priority.

This position would suit those with an undergraduate music degree from a university or music college. Candidates would be expected to have excellent piano playing and accompanying skills, including strong sight-reading skills, as well experience of playing an orchestral instrument and/or singing to a high standard. Experience of leading rehearsals and conducting ensembles, as well as a working knowledge of Sibelius software, would also be beneficial.

Job Details and Remuneration

Hours: Part-time. 21.5 hours per week during term time, which will be timetabled across 3-4 days, usually within the hours of 8am-5.30pm. Attendance at scheduled evening events, such as concerts, is an important part of the role, for which daytime hours can then be taken off in lieu.

Contract: 1 year fixed term

Salary/Scale: Band 3 - £27,171 up to £30,720 pro rata

Starting salary for new joiner will be on the GDST teacher pay scale and will depend on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package and a strong professional development programme.

Benefits:

Competitive salaries and pay progression.

Access to extensive professional development opportunities.

Training grants for qualifications.

Generous contributory pension scheme (Flexible Pension Plan administered by Aviva).

Free life assurance benefit.

Free school lunches.

An Employee Assistance Programme with free helpline and counselling provision plus financial guidance and support.

Retail and lifestyle discounts.

A discount of up to 50% (based on your FTE) on fees for children at GDST schools.

About the Department

Redmaids’ High School has a strong musical tradition. The Graduate Music Assistant will work alongside three full-time staff – the Director of Performing Arts, the Assistant Director of Music, and a Music & Drama Technician. In addition, we are fortunate to have a part-time Music Department Tech/Administrator and 19 visiting music teachers covering piano, strings, woodwind, brass, percussion and voice.

In the curriculum, Music is taught to all year 7 and year 8 students, with students having the option of Music or Music Technology (or both!) in year 9. At KS4 we offer the Edexcel GCSE course, and at KS5 we offer both the AQA A Level Music course and the RSL Music Production graded examinations as part of our Electives programme. The department has the privilege of teaching many talented and enthusiastic musicians, with a significant number choosing to pursue the subject further at degree level.

There are many opportunities for extra-curricular activities, catering for a range of musical tastes and levels of experience. In addition to several choirs and orchestras, we have two Percussion Ensembles, a Swing Band, a School of Rock and instrument-specific groups, as well as a strong chamber music programme.

As a school, we are proud to host regular masterclasses with renowned musicians across a range of disciplines. Visitors in recent years have included The Ayoub Sisters, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Pippa Cleary, Sarah Class, Andy Tweed, Elin Manahan Thomas, Nicola Benedetti CBE, and, most recently, Dame Evelyn Glennie in October 2025.

The Music Department itself is housed in a converted ‘stable’ block, and part of the ground floor has been converted into a purpose-built music technology suite with computers, recording equipment and keyboards for class-teaching. There are also several practice rooms, a rehearsal room and a separate class-teaching room. Our large performance space, “Redland Hall”, includes a Model D Steinway Grand and acts as a venue for many school concerts and productions, as well as a key venue for performers from across the city and beyond.

The Music Department works as part of a Performing Arts Faculty, which is a friendly and collaborative team, focused on inspiring enthusiasm for Performing Arts. The school has an outstanding reputation for its theatrical productions, with recent highlights including our musical theatre productions ofAnnieandSingin’ in the Rain, as well as our 4* Edinburgh Fringe productions ofHedda GablerandAntigone. Most recently, our autumn 2025 productions of Macbeth and As You Like It were a real triumph, incorporating music composed, directed and accompanied by our own students, alongside student-led choreography and outstanding dramatic performances.

About Redmaids’ High School GDST

Occupying a spacious, green and open site near to Bristol city centre, Redmaids’ High School is the oldest girls’ school in Britain with a history that dates back to 1634. Formed out of a merger between the Red Maids’ School and Redland High School in 2016, we are one of the leading independent day schools in the UK. We offer an exceptional educational experience for girls and young women from 7 to 18 years, focused on aspiration, inclusivity, happiness and support for others. This has earned us year on year placement in the top schools’ rankings for our GCSE and A level results. A true all-through school, there is an incredibly close link between Junior and Senior Schools, with the vast majority of junior students (90%+) moving into Year 7 each year.

A proud member of the Girls' Day School Trust, the leading family of girls’ schools in the UK, we share a common ethos and commitment to fearless, girls’-first education, supporting staff and students alike through collaboration and empowerment across the network.

We are fortunate to have superb facilities across our interlinked Junior and Senior School sites. Our dedicated Sixth Form Centre provides first-rate quiet study and recreation space, while the main hall provides an outstanding venue for productions and concerts. We are equally proud of our sporting facilities including ‘The Lawns’, our specialist sports site for hockey, netball, cricket, tennis and athletics, which underpins our teams’ regular sporting successes at regional and national level.

Redmaids’ High is an inclusive environment, and we continue to take steps to enhance and improve our diversity and equality of opportunities. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

Mission Statement

Redmaids’ High is an inclusive community, based on happiness, aspiration, and support for others.

Our statement is supported by our Values, which outline the core aspects that will help us fulfil our mission. These are:

To know and understand each individual student.

To help students to understand themselves and their strengths.

To inspire students to forge a future of lifelong learning, in all its guises.

Our mission and values are simple, and deliberately so. We are proud of the achievements and destinations for all of our students, and this is the result of the hard work by all members of the community to ensure that students feel known and valued for who they are, as well as inspired about what they can be. We want all students to leave with the strong sense that they can go on and make a difference in their world, whatever they go on to do. A student’s definition of success is their own, but what we instill in them is a feeling that their sights should never be lowered by external forces.

Key Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Director of Performing Arts

Regular accompanying work as part of the school’s busy performance calendar. This will include accompanying ensembles in rehearsal and performance (particularly choirs), playing the piano for the school musical, and accompanying individual students in our termly soloists’ concerts.

Accompanying students for music exams (such as ABRSM and Trinity exams) as well as for GCSE and A Level recordings.

Leading and supporting extra-curricular ensembles at the school, relevant to the successful candidate’s musical specialisms. This may include directing instrumental and/or vocal groups, as well as supporting other ensembles through sectional work.

Playing the piano for assemblies (usually twice each week).

Accompanying candidates as part of our music scholarship application process.

Supporting and encouraging chamber music in the school through coaching chamber groups, such as string quartets and piano trios, dependent on demand.

Assisting with preparing and arranging music for ensembles. This may include writing/transposing parts on Sibelius.

Supporting the preparation and delivery of public performances, such as school concerts.

Organising further musical opportunities for our students, such as trips to see external performances and booking masterclasses with visiting professionals.

Running an Aural Club for students working towards Grades 1-5

In the Curriculum

Supporting GCSE and A Level students in their academic studies, particularly with elements such as Performance and Composition.

Some support of Key Stage 3 students, which may involve working with smaller groups of students in need of additional help, or groups in need of further challenge.

Providing regular feedback to students, in-line with the school and department marking and feedback policies.

Participating in department-specific trips or enrichment opportunities.

The timetable at Redmaids’ High is constructed on a two-week basis.

All school staff are expected to:

Work towards and support the school vision and the current school objectives outlined in the School Development Plan.

Support and contribute to the school’s responsibility for safeguarding students.

Work within the school’s health and safety policy to ensure a safe working environment for staff, students and visitors.

Work within the GDST’s Diversity Policy to promote equality of opportunity for all students and staff, both current and prospective.

Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous relations with students, parents and colleagues.

Engage actively in the performance review process. Adhere to policies as set out in the GDST Council Regulations, Notes of Guidance and GDST circulars.

Undertake other reasonable duties related to the job purpose required from time to time.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will demonstrate the following skills and competencies:

A well-qualified and experienced musician

Strong piano playing and accompanying skills

Passionate about education

Keen to be involved in enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom, including trips

Able to juggle the demands of a busy and varied working week

Attentive to ongoing developments, debates and training relating to the development of teaching and learning in Music and Performing Arts

A warm communicator

A team player

A creative thinker

Well-organised and with a keen eye for detail

The closing date for applications is Monday 1 June 2026 at 9am.

Interviews will be held during the week commencing 8 June 2026.

The GDST are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection checks appropriate to the post, including online searches, and checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all qualified individuals. To be eligible for employment, candidates must provide proof of their right to work in the UK.