Head of Drama

Department: Teaching

Employment Type: Permanent

Working Hours: Variable to meet the demands of the role, co-curricular and pastoral requirements

Commencement: 1st September 2025

Salary: Canford has its own Salary Scale

Pension Scheme: Eligible to join the School's DC pension scheme

Holiday: Canford School Holidays

Fringe Benefits: Includes BUPA Cash Plan Scheme; discounted membership of Sports Centre and Golf Club; discounted tickets for Layard Theatre; access to the Canford Library; cycle to work scheme; Lifeworks Wellbeing and Assistance Programme; lunch for staff on duty, on-site accommodation may be available

Probationary Period: Two years

Selection Process: Formal Interview and Lesson Observation

Closing Date: 09 January 2025

Head of Drama

We wish to appoint an ambitious and inspirational individual with sound teaching experience to lead our Drama Department.

The Layard Theatre is the home for Canford’s busy Drama Department, which currently has over forty pupils studying Drama at GCSE and A Level. All pupils have stage potential and their involvement facilitates the development of a wide range of skills and disciplines. We believe that Drama is a powerful unifying force which encourages confidence and teamwork and brings out the best in young people, as well as being fun and providing the opportunity for a real sense of achievement.

The Drama Department is staffed by three teachers and supported by a Theatre Technical Manager, Theatre Administrator and two Performing Arts Technicians working in the Layard Theatre.

Exam results are impressive and the successful candidate is expected to build upon the academic progress being made.

The successful candidate will be involved in co-curricular drama with the support of the Drama teachers and performing arts technicians.

Above all, the Head of Drama should be a person whose vision of the subject, and of its role in education, will maintain the tradition of excellence in the department, which for many years has had a reputation both locally and nationally. They will be a committed dramatist, with a clear vision and the personality and drive to instil in others, both teachers and pupils, a love for the subject and an appreciation for its place in the school.

The Layard Theatre, which was opened by Sir Richard Eyre in May 1999,  is a fantastic school facility with dynamic classrooms and in addition to housing Canford's drama department and student productions, this fully-equipped, modern theatre provides a venue for a wide range of professional entertainment, including top quality theatre and music. These productions are open to the public and are publicised in our seasonal programme.

Canford is a very successful co-educational boarding and day school with 645 pupils aged 13 - 18, of who about a third are day pupils. It has one of the most beautiful settings of any school in the country, and is a very enjoyable and exciting atmosphere in which to work. The pastoral side of the school is very strong and applicants should be willing to play a full part in the co-curricular life of the school.

Applicants are welcome to contact the current Head of Department, Rikki Jackson, for further information rmj@canford.com

With a focus on professional development and opportunities for career progression, Canford also offers an excellent benefits package. Canford has its own salary scale. Accommodation may be available.

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 9th January 2025 and it is anticipated that interviews will take place during the following week.

Head of Department Job Description

The responsibility of the Head of Department is to facilitate excellent pupil outcomes by leading and managing their department in support of the school’s vision, aims and ethos.

Heads of Department are accountable for:

  1. Teaching and Learning
  2. Staff Leadership, Management and Development
  3. Planning and Strategy
  4. Administration
  5. Marketing and Admissions

Heads of Department will:

  1. Teaching and Learning
    • Learning Culture
      • Develop a distinct and positive learning culture within their department.
      • Foster and promote passion and enthusiasm for their subject.
      • Promote and facilitate excellent outcomes for all pupils in public examinations.
      • Establish high standards and clear expectations within their department that inspire and motivate both pupils and teachers.
      • Promote and model best practice in the classroom.
    • Enrichment
      • Devise strategies to develop and foster intellectual curiosity within and beyond the exam-based syllabus.
      • Organise departmental trips, events and speakers when appropriate.
      • Provide guidance, advice and preparation, in their subject areas, for applications to higher education.
    • Assessment and Tracking
      • Assess and monitor pupil progress, within their department, in such a way that it can inform school wide assessments and that strategies are in place to ensure that assessment informs learning.
      • Analyse external exam performance to identify trends, strengths and areas of weakness including the creation of exam results reports for the Headmaster and Deputy Head Academic.
    • Intervention
      • Implement appropriate intervention strategies.
      • Appropriately record and communicate concerns and interventions clearly with parents and relevant staff.
  1. Staff Leadership, Management and Development
  • Leadership
    • Seek to inspire and motivate all members of their team, leading by example to create a positive, productive and dynamic working environment.
  • Management
    • Build strong, productive, relationships within their team and across all departments and the wider school community, by communicating clearly, sensitively and appropriately.
    • Have responsibility for the appraisal, or contributing to the appraisal, of all staff within their department.
    • Play a full part in the recruitment of new staff to their department.
    • Identify, record and, in conjunction with SLT recognise excellent performance within their department.
    • Identify, record, and in conjunction with SLT, challenge and address underperformance within their department.
    • Have responsibility for the departmental induction and support of new members of staff and NQTs.
  • Development
    • Promote and nurture a culture of reflective practice and continuous professional development within their departments.
    • Foster an open classroom culture by observing their team on a regular basis and encouraging them to observe each other.
    • Prepare for the Departmental Review process and respond to subsequent advice.
    • Ensure that members of their department are offered support and guidance to help develop their careers including directing them to appropriate external inset.
    • Plan and hold regular department meetings.
    • Plan effective use of all other protected department time such as at the start of term and during allocated Staff Development Hour slots.
  1. Curriculum and Planning
  • Strategic Planning
    • Have responsibility for strategic planning within their department, in conjunction with the school’s strategic vision, systems and processes: to include the production and monitoring of all appropriate planning documents.
  • School-wide
    • Participate in the shaping and implementation of the academic policy of the school by contributing to meetings and working groups as required.
    • Actively promote their subject within the framework of the school wide curriculum.
    • Coordinate with other departments on cross-curricular initiatives when required by the school-wide curriculum.
  • Curriculum Management
    • Ensure their departments understand and are up to date with the requirements of their examination syllabuses and ISI regulations.
    • Ensure there is a clear and documented curriculum in place with accompanying Schemes of Work in their department handbook.
    • Ensure appropriate provision regarding SEND/AEN/EAL is embedded within the curriculum.
    • Ensure pupils have the opportunity to develop ICT, literacy and numeracy skills within the curriculum.
    • Oversight of all departmental resources and the Departmental Gateway space.
  1. Administration
  • Exams
    • Arrange the production and administration of all internal exams.
    • Develop, implement, mark and moderate external coursework as required.
    • Collate target and UCAS grades.
    • Confirm and correct public examination entries with the exams officer.
    • Be available to provide advice and support on exam matters when required.
  • Bursarial
    • Liaise appropriately with relevant departments to implement the school’s Health and Safety, Safeguarding and all other school policies within their areas in line with all regulatory compliance requirements.
    • Have responsibility for producing and administering an annual departmental budget in conjunction with the relevant members of the finance team.
    • Liaise with the school shop regarding the ordering of text books
    • Organise the recharge of pupil costs to parents as and when appropriate.
  1. Marketing, Admissions and Outreach
    • Admissions
      • Devise and mark entrance tests or conduct interviews as appropriate.
      • Write comments on pupil performance, and complete exam reports as required.
    • Marketing
      • Assist in the marketing of the school and their subject by planning and delivering appropriate activities when required.
      • Compose departmental reports for the school publications when requested.
      • Have responsibility for the content of their Departmental section of the school website.
    • Outreach
      • Facilitate the delivery of outreach activities when required.

No job description can fully encompass every aspect of this role and duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time.

Head of Department Selection Criteria

Essential:

  • An honours degree in a relevant subject
  • A track record of achievement and ambition
  • Excellent subject knowledge
  • Experience of classroom teaching
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Expert classroom management skills & rapport with pupils
  • A considerable work rate and high degree of administration efficiency
  • Love of working with young people
  • Enthusiasm to participate in the School community, supporting a wide range of activities
  • Strong, dynamic character
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with good pastoral instincts
  • Stamina, emotional intelligence and resilience
  • Proven aptitude for organisation and quick logical thought
  • Attitude, style and presence of a role model for pupils

Desirable:

  • A recognised teaching qualification such as a PGCE
  • Good/effective ICT skills
  • Understanding of the boarding school environment
  • Experience of working within a boarding school
  • Ability and experience working in co-curricular areas such as sport, music, drama etc

Canford School is committed to equality, 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 and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All successful job applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening.

Apply now