Head of Music

Godstowe

Job Description

Head of Music

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Introduction

Heads of Department and subject teachers are expected to be committed and enthusiastic teachers, able to
interest pupils of all abilities.  They should be able to communicate well with pupils and staff and have good
organisational abilities.  They should be receptive to new ideas and have a sense of humour.  They need to
be committed to all aspects of Boarding School life.  Specific Head of Department responsibilities are
described below.

The Head of Music

The Head of Music role requires the post holder to promote the enjoyment for and love of music
throughout the school, amongst the pupils, parents and staff

The Head of Music will be a highly competent and experienced musician and must have the ability to play
the piano to a very high level, for accompaniment, concerts, theatre productions, and recitals.

A significant part of the job is the management of the Music Department and all its dependent components.
There will also be a requirement to teach classroom music across the 4-13 age group taking on an agreed
proportion of a full timetable, as appropriate for a position of such responsibility.

Management

All staff should liaise closely with other teachers in the school. They should also liaise closely with the
Deputy Heads, who are all directly responsible to the Head.  The Deputy Head Academic is the line
manager for the Head of Music.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1.  To the pupils:

•  To prepare and give lessons in accordance with the programme of study laid down by the

department, requiring knowledge of the National Curriculum.

•  To mark and assess pupils’ work promptly and appropriately (as appropriate and necessary) using

the guidelines of the School and Department marking policies.

•  To ensure that pupils produce, present and preserve their work in the most appropriate manner.
•  To encourage and stimulate pupils to achieve the highest standards according to their ability by

using differing methods and resources.

•  To liaise with the appropriate staff members where a pupil is experiencing learning or other

difficulties.

•  To identify and support pupils who are specially gifted.

New Job Descriptions\Head of Music March 2026

•  To enable pupils to gain a broad educational base by working across the curriculum where

possible.

•  To monitor and record the progress of each pupil.
•  To offer guidance and advice to pupils and parents and to take appropriate action after

consultation with senior members of staff.

2.  To the Department and the School:

•  To be familiar with the School practices as set out in the Staff and Boarding handbooks.
•  To take part in Staff, Departmental, Parents’ and other meetings as required.
•  To work with the Deputy Heads in producing departmental policies, programmes of study,
maintaining records, books, equipment etc. and to accept advice over these same matters.
•  To attend in-service training for the subject and to continue at all times to develop professional

skills.

•  To set and mark exams and to complete reports as and when required, if appropriate.
•  To maintain high personal standards of work, behaviour, appearance and punctuality.
•  To maintain good order and discipline within the class and school and to safeguard the health and

safety of pupils and staff.

•  To liaise with the Deputy Head, Pastoral and boarding staff as and when necessary.
•  To offer lunchtime and/or after school music activities as a contribution to the school’s

Enrichment Curriculum. (Choir, Band, Orchestra etc. may utilise this time)

•  To participate in any arrangements for the Performance Review of staff.
•  To be responsible, if required, for a form (duties and responsibilities shown separately).
•  To carry out supervisions and to cover for absent colleagues as requested.
•  To request approval from the Head for any absence from school and to inform the appropriate

people in good time.

•  To carry out any other duties reasonably requested by the Head.
Most teachers will be responsible for a form as well as teaching their subject(s)

3.  Duties and Responsibilities of a Form Teacher (If applicable)

•  To be with the form between 08.25 – 08.40 and 16.00 – 16.10 each day.  During this time the

following activities may take place:

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the register taken, absences being recorded and investigated
desks, prep bags and lockers checked
check on clothing and general appearance
check that prep has been handed in
pass on information concerning that day’s or week’s events
discuss individual or group problems
check room tidiness

•  To monitor and maintain the discipline and conduct of the class and of individuals.
•  To maintain the displays and atmosphere of the form room.
•  To oversee the academic and pastoral care of the individual children by close communication with

both staff and pupils.

•  To appoint monitors each term to carry out particular jobs and to carry out the other necessary

tasks at the start of each term (see hand book).

•  To liaise closely with all staff and Deputy Heads over any concerns about pupils in the group.
•  To attend meetings with the Heads of Department on a regular basis.
•  To give the timetable for exams and help the class plan their revision and to remain calm.

New Job Descriptions\Head of Music March 2026

4.  Head of Department Responsibilities:

•  Demonstrate and apply strong leadership, organisation and communication skills and be able to

support new or junior members of the Department.

•  Hold regular departmental meetings and ensure that these are minuted and available for all staff to

read.

•  Liaise with other members of the department and with the Deputy Heads as necessary.
•  Produce an annual budget.
•  Purchase books, equipment and other resources within the budget.
•  Produce a forward-looking plan for the Department, which will include budget requirements.
•  Produce an up to date departmental policy and review the curriculum as necessary.
•  Keep up-to-date with developments in the National Curriculum syllabus and produce a current

Programme of Study (syllabus), which is available for all members of staff to read.

•  Produce a syllabus for all years from Beginners (Reception) up to Form IV (Year 8), liaising with

there relevant staff teams.

and specifically in relation to Music ….

•  To ensure Music retains a high profile within the school.
•  To advance and promote fun, enjoyment, participation and the highest possible standards in Music.
•  To co-ordinate and manage the peripatetic music staff, taking into account the school’s policy with
regard to the circulation of the timetable and permitted times for private lessons.  This will include
overseeing the peripatetic team and resolving any timetable clashes with sporting fixtures and other
school events.

•  To sympathetically understand the complex nature of the girls’ desire to participate in a wide

variety of school activities (often causing clashes) and maintain a sense of perspective and fairness
across the demands of all other departments.

•  To organise instrumental and singing exams and any relevant competitions.
•  To organise school events requiring Musical input, e.g. concerts, recitals, services.
•  To organise all musical input required for school productions, working hand in hand with the

production team and being available for rehearsals as required.

•  To lead the music in school assemblies.
•  To promote the further development of music and its overall standing within the school whilst

maintaining its high reputation.

Examples of the range of activities offered and led by the Music Department are, Choirs (3), Chamber Choir, Orchestra,
Wind Band, Rehearsals, Recital Concerts and, from time-to-time, individual events as necessary and required or where the
opportunity arises.

Review

The job description will be reviewed annually and may be subject to amendment after consultation.
The above is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations of
the school in relation to the post.

Child Protection

All members of staff are responsible for the promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children.  All
members of staff are required to participate in regular child protection training and to follow the child
protection policy at all times.  Any child protection issues must be referred to the designated person for
child protection and/or the Head.

New Job Descriptions\Head of Music March 2026