Teacher of Singing

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the premier co-educational boarding schools in the country, which has an impressive academic profile and pupils who are eager and willing to learn. The magnificent 250 acre site just outside Wimborne in Dorset offers an inspirational working environment. Canford also offers an excellent benefits package.

We are seeking an outstanding and enthusiastic visiting teacher of Singing with significant experience to join our lively and flourishing music department. The willingness and ability to teach music of all styles will be required and availability to teach in the latter part of the afternoon and into the early evenings is vital.

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website www.canford.com/Job-Vacancies. For queries contact the HR Department on 01202 847590 or by email: recruitment@canford.com 

Closing date: 4th May 2026

Overall Purpose

Canford has a vibrant and friendly music department.  There are five full-time and twenty-three visiting staff covering all the major instruments. Approximately 300 individual lessons are taught each week, and there is a full complement of large-scale and chamber ensembles in addition to the class teaching. There is a busy programme of concerts, master classes and other similar events. The streaming of concerts has seen music reach a wide audience, and offer a window into the music-making of the department, via our Canford Music Youtube Channel. All pupils learning an instrument or voice are encouraged to participate in ensembles and solo concerts. The department is housed in a purpose-built building, with 14 teaching/practice rooms, 2 classrooms (which are available for individual lessons when not being otherwise used), a 200 seat Concert Hall, and a percussion studio. There is also a kitchen area for visiting staff to make tea and coffee.

Canford attracts pupils with a wide range of musical backgrounds and learning at a variety of levels. At the top end, Canford awards a number of music scholarships each year to some exceptionally talented pupils. These pupils sometimes continue on to further musical study after Canford. Many pupils who are not music scholars will also go on to achieve grade 8 or the ARSM diploma by the time they leave the school, often with distinction. At the other end of the scale, some pupils arrive and begin taking individual lessons at age 13. Canford students are committed and busy pupils who respond well to a challenge and to demanding teaching. Music lessons generally last 35 minutes. Although each music teacher organises their own timetable and attendance register, the music department deals with administration such as billing to parents.

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate that they are effective and knowledgeable teachers of singing with significant experience. We are looking for a ‘classical’ teacher with a sound technical approach to voice training, but the willingness and ability to teach musical theatre and contemporary styles and repertoire will be necessary. The ability to deliver appropriate lessons to pupils of all abilities is essential, as is enthusiasm and passion for singing. The successful applicant will share our passion for the encouragement of singing pupils to participate in choirs and on stage.

Duties

Teaching and assessment

• Inspire in their pupils a life-long joy in music-making
• Deliver high-quality lessons to their individual pupils and ensure that all have a well-planned programme of study that sets transparent short, medium and long-term goals
• Encourage their pupils to participate in the musical life of the department
• Prepare any of their pupils taking GCSE, or A level music for their examination performances (including their parts within GCSE ensembles) as requested by the department’s academic teaching staff.
• Prepare their pupils for graded face-to-face music exams
• Include the teaching of aural and sight-reading tests in lessons on a regular basis
• Include the teaching of theory if needed (or a suitable alternative) in their lessons on a regular basis
• Complete online, as required according to the school’s schedule, assessments including comment for all of their pupils. These currently occur once per term for each pupil
• Be observed teaching approximately once each year by the Director of Music or his Assistants
• Keep accurate records of each pupil’s progress
• Advise the Director of Music when more advanced pupils would benefit from longer lesson times

Lesson Timetabling and registers

• Teach individual music lessons on their specialist instrument(s) (or voice) as identified in the letter of appointment. Individual music lessons should last 35 minutes each. Longer lessons of 45 minutes or an hour may be taught with the permission of the Director of Music and the parents of the relevant pupil(s)
• Publish their teaching timetable a minimum of one week in advance by entering into SOCS and emailing all of their pupils a copy
• Maintain an accurate register of attendance of their pupils, flagging any non-attendance trends
• Follow the procedures outlined in the visiting staff handbook on the timetabling of lessons for different year groups, noting particularly the pupils in Shells and 4^ths identified on their pupil list who may not rotate lessons
• Maintain an accurate record of academic lessons missed by all pupils whose lessons rotate within the academic curriculum
• Maintain an accurate record of reasons given for pupil absence on SOCS
• Follow closely the department’s policy on the chasing up of missed lessons as laid out in the department handbook

Miscellaneous

• Observe and comply with procedures and policies identified in the visiting staff handbook, as well as any policies separately communicated (mobile phone policy, lessons during exams, etc). These policies are available to all staff via the department SharePoint.

Canford School is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our Community and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Canford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. 

The successful applicant will be required to undergo child protection screening.