Visiting Teacher of Drums and Percussion

We are seeking an outstanding and enthusiastic visiting teacher of drums and percussion 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.

Canford has a lively, successful 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 the school runs about 10 major and numerous 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 are encouraged to participate as a soloist in at least one concert every year. 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 seminar room, a 200 seat Concert Hall, and a percussion studio.

Broader school life

Canford is a successful co-educational boarding and day school with 650 pupils aged 13 - 18, of whom about a third are day pupils.  It is set in over 250 acres of parkland just outside Wimborne and is a very enjoyable and dynamic place in which to work.  All members of staff are encouraged to play a full part in the co-curricular activities of the school, whether in sport, theatre, music, or art.  The pastoral side of the school is very strong, and over half the staff are involved in some way with house duties. 

Applications

Please ensure you include details of referees in your application. Please also upload a covering letter and full curriculum vitae. For queries contact the HR Department on 01202 847590 or by email: recruitment@canford.com. 

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 23rd September 2026.

Teacher Job Description

Canford is ‘a school community where all are inspired to explore, empowered to express and challenged to excel’. 

• 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
• 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 comments 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

All staff are expected to promote the safeguarding, wellbeing and welfare of all pupils at all times.

The core teaching hours take place from 0800 to 1800 Monday to Saturday, with wider contribution required for pastoral and co-curricular activities during evenings and weekends.

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.