Job Description

Post title Director of Music and Drama

Academy Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College

Grade College’s own salary scale, commensurate with experience and

qualifications

Responsible to Vice Principal

Summary of the overall purpose of the job

To provide strong leadership which provides first-class teaching and learning opportunities for
students and staff; develop an innovative approach to the Performing Arts that will stimulate all
students to achieve their full potential; develop and implement a creative curriculum across the
departments and ensure the delivery of high-quality music and drama in all curricular and extra-
curricular activities; lead with Senior Leadership Team members on whole College productions and
performances; provide performances within and outside the College.

Key responsibilities and objectives of the job

 To create and deliver on a vision for Performing Arts provision

 To advise the Principal and Vice Principal on all matters connected with the delivery of
Performing Arts across the College and to liaise on timetable planning and other curriculum
issues.
 To participate in curriculum development and relevant areas of College policy making.
 To develop appropriate and differentiated schemes of work at KS3, KS4 and Post 16 and to
ensure that the aims and objectives for the teaching of the Departments are delivered.
 To keep up-to-date about subject development and to take part in relevant CPD for this
purpose, disseminating to other staff where appropriate.
 To ensure the effective implementation of Academy policies.
 To ensure a high-quality experience for all students in both Drama and Music, especially music
place holders
 To promote and lead on the delivery of all extra-curricular Performing Arts activities in the
Academy.
 To demonstrate and encourage high standards of professionalism from all staff associated with
the Department.
 To demonstrate and inspire an enthusiastic and committed approach to teaching within the
Department.
 To line manage the Drama and Music teaching and non-teaching staff, including performance
management, quality assurance and day-to-day management.
 To demonstrate high levels of professionalism in the accurate completion of the administrative
needs of the Department, meeting all deadlines.
 Designing a broad curriculum in the Music and Drama Departments that meets the aims of the

March 2015
 College and the needs of all students.
 Making sure that innovative and appropriate approaches to learning are made available to
students with specific learning needs, for example: those with a low skill base, hearing or visual
impairment and the very able.
 Evaluating national and international initiatives to promote learning and incorporating
appropriate elements into the College’s strategy for the specific departments.
 Provide compelling learning experiences supporting community cohesion.
 Ensuring that there is an effective assessment, recording and reporting system of student
progress.
 Setting long term and short term budgets for resourcing the Drama and Music Departments
appropriately and effectively; monitoring actual spend against forecast.
 Making sure that ‘Best Value’ principles are applied to all appropriate purchasing decisions.
 Advising the Business Manager of potential additional funding for the departments and assisting
with the bidding process.
 Adopting a strong, caring and flexible leadership style so as to influence and motivate staff and
students to achieve their objectives and those of the Academy.
 In conjunction with all staff, organising activities/processes that encourage team development
(including parents and commercial partners).
 Ensuring that all staff, including short and long term temporary staff, receive departmental
induction and fully understand all relevant policies and their implementation.
 Ensuring that the policies and processes in-place for assessing students and for setting,
monitoring and evaluating attainment goals for students are implemented by all departmental
staff.
 Facilitating a broad range of activities in conjunction with staff, students and the wider
community so as to deepen and broaden learners’ experience in the fields of Performing Arts
based subjects.
 Managing the security and Health & Safety aspects including legal obligations.

General responsibilities and objectives

 To promote the principle of equal opportunities in the College

 To promote a single College ethos
 To promote the College’s commitment to the continued professional development of all staff
 To undertake any duties as may reasonably be required by the CEO or Principal
 To work within the College framework with regard to Health and Safety
 To be aware of and assume the appropriate level of responsibility for safeguarding and
promoting the welfare of children and to report any concerns in accordance with the College’s
safeguarding policies.
Please note
This job description reflects the core activities of the role and as the Federation and the post-holder
develop there will inevitably be changes in the emphasis of duties. It is expected that the post-holder
recognise this and adopt a flexible approach to work and be willing to participate in training.
If changes to the job become significant, the job description should be reviewed formally by the
post-holder and line manager.
Date JD was agreed:
 Person Specification
Criteria E D HOW IDENTIFIED
S E AND ASSESSED
S S
E I AP Application
N R AS Assessment
T A I Interview
I B P Presentation
A L
R References
L E
Education/qualification and training
Will hold a good honours degree in a relevant discipline with AP,I, R, AS

relevant teaching qualification.
A higher qualification in education and/or management would be AP,I, R, AS

an advantage but is not essential
Experience
Will have experience of holding a position of responsibility  AP,I, R
Will be an outstanding classroom practitioner with an excellent AP,I, R

track record of progress and results
Will be able to demonstrate a passion and enthusiasm for Drama AP,I, R

and Music, with the ability to transmit this to students
Will have in depth knowledge of the National Curriculum at all Key AP,I, R

Stages in either Drama or Music
Will have the ability and knowledge to teach A level in the relevant AP,AS,I,R

fields of either Drama or Music
Ability to delegate responsibility with accountability  AP,AS,I,R
Personal characteristics/other requirements
Is committed to personalised learning  AP,I,R
Will demonstrate high level communication and literacy skills  AP, AS,I, R
Is able to communicate with the whole spectrum of staff and AP,I, R
governors in a diplomatic and, when appropriate, jargon free 
manner
Is a ‘can do’ person who works positively and collaboratively  AP, I, R
Will be able to demonstrate professionalism of the highest AS,I,R

order
Will demonstrate the ability to lead and work within teams  AP,AS,I, R
Is committed to introducing a range of innovative and forward AS,I,R

thinking strategies to ensure students’ progress at all levels

January 2015
Is committed to working with others to improve the literacy AS,I,R

levels of all students within an all through College
Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of AP,AS,I,R

children and young people