THE PERSE SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE
Appointment of DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
January 2015
The Perse School is looking to appoint an inspirational leader to manage and develop all aspects
of musical activity at the School. The opportunity has arisen due to the appointment of the
current Director of Music, Mr Gavin Richards as Assistant Head from September 2014. Full details
about the School, its locality, teacher benefits and current teaching staff profiles can be viewed
and downloaded from the school website http://www.perse.co.uk/job-vacancies/
The Role
This is a key appointment for the School and, at its essence, is the expectation to be the principal
representative and ambassador for all musical activity within the School. Through their previous
experience and track record, and from their approach to leading the Department, the successful
candidate will need to command the respect of a talented and loyal teaching and peripatetic
staff, a high-achieving pupil cohort, and a supportive parent body with high musical expectations
of the School.
The post-holder will need to draw upon and deploy effectively the skills of his/her team and have
the skills and judgement to delegate responsibility, combined with the resilience and
determination to take personal control of significant projects. A sensitivity and regard for the
traditions and past achievements of the Department will need to be combined with the vision to
seek out new ideas and inspire the confidence of colleagues in pursuing them.
Above all, our aim is to foster a culture of inclusivity and ‘music for all’ but with a mindfulness for
realising the potential of our most gifted pupil musicians. The successful candidate will have
considerable flexibility as to how this is achieved on a day-to-day basis, but it is expected that
s/he will be working in sympathy with these core values. It is also envisaged that the post-holder,
although based at the Upper School, will be working collaboratively with colleagues across the 318 foundation with a view to making our overall musical provision as cohesive as possible.
The Department
The post arises at an exciting time in the School’s history as we approach our 400th anniversary in
the academic year 2015-16 and music will feature prominently in the 400 celebrations. Music is a
dynamic and growing department with a rich and varied programme of high quality events
throughout the School year.
The current structure of the Department is as follows: the Director of Music, two full-time
classroom teachers (one of whom leads Music as a curricular subject and one of whom has some
significant defined extra-curricular responsibilities), a specialist part-time teacher and 26
peripatetic teachers who collectively teach around 500 instrumental lessons and coach
approximately 80-85 groups per week. The whole range of orchestral/band instruments plus
keyboard, organ and singing are taught within the Department. Five of the (selfemployed/peripatetic) instrumental staff assume additional roles as Head of Keyboard, Strings,
Wind, Brass and Vocal studies respectively and there is a weekly co-ordination meeting to look at
both short-term planning and longer-term strategy. The department’s work is also supported by
a term-time administrator. There is a separate Department at the Prep School (7-11) with its own
Director of Music and a thriving music tuition programme at the Pelican Pre-Prep School (around
5 minutes walk from the Upper School) overseen by a Music co-ordinator.
As suggested by the number of individual lessons and groups running each week, the
Department reaches out to a large number of students and currently we are running around 5060 concert/extra-curricular events throughout the academic year. We act as an ABRSM centre,
holding around 80-100 exams each term for our Upper School pupils. There is a wide-ranging
programme of aural and theory tuition which supports pupils in their ABRSM preparation.
By visiting http://www.perse.co.uk/upper/extra-curricular/music/overview/ a calendar of the
current term’s events and opportunities can be downloaded, and you can also access recent
pupil/parent newsletters that give a flavour of the Department’s breadth.
The Department had a significant extension built in 2003 and its space/resources were further
enhanced in September 2010. There is currently a large rehearsal hall/performing space, two
large classrooms (equipped with networked PCs running Sibelius/Cubase), a smaller 6th form
classroom/library with digital screen, recording studio, ten acoustically-treated
teaching/rehearsal spaces and a number of other spaces that can be used as occasion demands.
We are looking at the possibility of a storage/practice room extension for Summer 2015 and the
School has recently appointed an architect team to begin designs for a major Performing Arts
Centre building, which has an aspirational opening date of 2017.
A number of offsite venues are used for regular annual performances such as the University
Concert Hall at West Road, OLEM Catholic Church, Emmanuel United Reformed Church and
various college chapels including St John’s College Chapel for our senior Carol Service.
Other recent initiatives have included biennial large-scale performances at St John’s, Smith
Square (involving around 140 musicians) and we intend to repeat this in November 2014. We
have also been fortunate to attract eminent musicians such as Natalie Clein, Ruth Palmer, Mark
Bassey, Charles Mutter, Andrew Marriner, Sarah Fox, Roderick Williams and Martin Roscoe to
give masterclasses to groups or individuals. Regular lunchtime recitals also taken place – given
by members of the teaching staff, university students or the pupils themselves.
The curriculum presents a number of opportunities for students to pursue a musical pathway
that is most suitable for their needs. Music is taught to all in Years 7 and 8 and the subject
becomes a popular option in Year 9. For GCSE, pupils can take the subject as an extra-curricular
‘fast-track’ option in Year 10, or a curricular fast-track in Year 10 with school-devised extension
course following in Year 11. Alternatively, pupils can take GCSE as a two-year course within the
curriculum. Our recent track-record at GCSE has been 100% A*-A. Since its inception in 2010, we
have taught the Pre-U course to 6th form students, and the first cohorts have been successful
with the overwhelming majority of pupils achieving a ‘distinction’ grade. Music Technology is not
currently taught as a discrete A-level subject, but a high emphasis is placed upon its importance
through the delivery of the regular curriculum.
Timetable
The School operates to a ten-day timetable cycle. Most members of staff, who are tutors, teach
approximately 59/80 periods per two week cycle including games and enrichment sessions.
There will be a significant timetable remission for the post-holder. The successful candidate will
be expected to undertake a normal allocation of supervision duties and cover periods consistent
with their status as a member of the teaching staff.
Applicants without formal teaching qualifications or experience
Applicants without formal teaching qualifications will be considered for this position and indeed
the Perse has a successful track record of training and developing teachers in situ. For applicants
without a teaching qualification we would be looking for: a demonstrably high level of musical
skill and experience, enthusiasm, patience, an empathy with young people and the
communication skills to work successfully with a number of different stake-holders including the
pupils, teaching colleagues, and parents both current and prospective.
2010 ISI Inspection Report
The Pelican, Prep and Upper were inspected during the spring of 2010. The inspection report can
be viewed at http://www.perse.co.uk/about-us/our-approach/inspection-reports/
This job description is specific to the post of Director of Music at The Perse School.
Applications
The Application Form can be downloaded from the school website http://www.perse.co.uk/jobvacancies/. Applications must be made using the school’s Application Form. Any queries
regarding the application process should be directed to the HR Co-ordinator, Ms Jane Gregory,
recruitment@perse.co.uk. Please send completed application forms to the HR Co-ordinator.
The Perse School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young
people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment
are subject to an enhanced DBS check.
Interviews
Candidates will be invited to spend a day at the School and to meet the Head, members of the
Senior Management Team and colleagues within the Music Department. Candidates will be
asked to lead a musical activity as part of the appointment process and further details will be
available from the current Director of Music (Mr Gavin Richards) for those candidates who are
shortlisted. We will be assisted in the final stages of this appointment by Mr David Swinson,
Director of Music at The Trinity School in Croydon.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 14th May at 2.00pm and first-round interviews
will take place in the week beginning 19th May.
Daniel Cross
Senior Deputy Head
drcross@perse.co.uk
Tel: 01223 403860
Gavin Richards
Director of Music
garichards@perse.co.uk
Tel: 01223 403831
DIRECTOR 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.
Accountability
The Director of Music is ultimately accountable to the Head through the Deputy Head (staff) but
day to day accountability will be to the Deputy Head (extra-curricular).
The following duties shall be deemed to be included in the professional duties which the post
holder may be required to perform:
Job Description
It is intended that this post should allow for flexibility and opportunity for development and
initiative by the post holder. The Department is a large and complex one, and many roles and
responsibilities will be shared and delegated around the team as the Director of Music sees fit.
Administrative support will be provided by the Music Administrator.
Key features of the role which are likely to fall under the Director of Music’s personal remit
include:
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Developing the strategic direction of the Department through consultation with
colleagues, and in sympathy with the overall aims and ethos of the School.
Direction of one or more principal School groups/ensembles and a significant personal
contribution to the School’s extra-curricular music programme.
Developing a musical programme for the 400th anniversary celebrations in 2015-16 which
showcases the School’s strengths and maximises participation across the age range. We
have a key concert event booked for King’s College Chapel in March 2016.
Recruitment of peripatetic staff (through liaison with the HR Department) and ensuring
a universally excellent quality of provision in our instrumental teaching and group
coaching.
Overall line management for music as a curricular subject (though the day-to-day detail
of this is led autonomously by an experienced colleague).
Organisation of major external events, trips and tours. Oversight and co-ordination of
smaller events, delegating these as appropriate to achieve maximum benefit of
Department team resources.
Forecasting growth areas in instrumental tuition and meeting these needs appropriately;
allocating tuition for new pupils each year in consultation with the Heads of Instruments.
Community and charitable links with music.
Chairing of weekly Heads of Instruments meeting which should have an agenda and brief
minutes.
Recruitment and selection of music scholars, including liaison with local feeder Prep and
primary Schools to maximise high-quality links.
Management of the extra-curricular music budget, which includes a substantial subsidy
for concerts, events and specialist peripatetic coaching. Consultation and agreement
over the annual hourly rate that is charged for tuition and group coaching.
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Meeting prospective parents and acting as the principal ambassador for the Department
on occasions such as Open Day.
Liaison with the Pelican and Prep School to maximise cohesion across the 3-18
foundation, and working with colleagues on joint musical ventures across the three
Schools.
Playing a role in major plant/building work developments that are related to musical
activity, for example the development of the Performing Arts Centre.
Organisation of Associated Board exams on a termly basis.
Overall co-ordination of the music calendar, in consultation with key colleagues;
attendance at the extra-curricular calendar meeting.
Organisation of masterclasses and recitals from visiting musicians.
Organisation of and participation within competitions as appropriate (we have made a
significant entry to the Pro Corda Chamber Festival in recent years).
Working with the Deputy Head (extra-curricular) to devise a programme of musical
activity for the Perse Summer School in the summer holidays.
Mentoring and encouragement of music scholars; advising our most gifted musicians and
identifying suitable opportunities for their development both within and outside of
School.
Oversight of external lettings and Department associations with outside groups and
organisations.
Ensuring the Music Department is a high-quality aesthetic environment where the healthand-safety needs of both pupils and teaching colleagues are held in high regard.
An annual report to the Senior Management/Leadership Team and Governors’ Education
Committee concerning musical initiatives and achievements and outlining aims and
aspirations for the year(s) ahead.
Person Specification
Qualifications
 High class Honours Degree in Music and/or high-level performance/teaching diploma
qualification
 PGCE desirable but by no means essential
Skills and Experience
 A vision for the future of Music in a leading independent school
 An outstanding, reflective teacher with a genuine passion for the subject
 Capacity to lead and inspire a department
 Capacity to inspire pupils of varying but high ability and enhance pupil learning
 Proven communication and interpersonal skills
 Empathy for pupils, parents, staff and the community
 Committed to continual personal and professional development
 High order organisational skills, effectively manages commitments and deadlines
 ICT competence and willingness to learn and use new technologies
 Works collaboratively and supportively with colleagues within school and with
colleagues in other organisations
 Respects and values the different experiences, ideas and backgrounds others can bring
to work and to teams
 Ability to motivate and encourage participation in activities both inside and outside the
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classroom and a willingness to take part in and/or organise trips and visits
A generosity of spirit and a willingness to contribute to the extra-curricular life of the
School
Review
The job specification will be reviewed biennially as part of the professional development cycle.
Any changes can only be made by agreement with the Senior Deputy Head and Head.
Daniel Cross
Senior Deputy Head
April 2014