For September 2025
Bedford School wishes to appoint an enthusiastic and well-qualified teacher as Head of Academic Music (Deputy Director of Music) for September 2025 in our thriving independent boys’ school.
The Head of Academic Music (Deputy Director of Music) will ensure the school has an academic music curriculum suitable for our academically selective cohort, making strategic use of our facilities. A thriving academic music curriculum is symbiotic with an outstanding co-curricular programme.
This role involves close collaboration with (and deputising for) the Director of Music to ensure Bedford provides a sector-leading musical education to our pupils. The Head of Academic Music will provide dedicated oversight of the curriculum across Prep and Upper phases of the school, ensuring coherence across the age range, effective use of the school’s resources, and ambitious, exciting coverage that enriches the National Curriculum and examined courses.
Prior experience of academic leadership is desirable, though not essential; the school has an excellent internal training programme to support and mentor new Heads of Department. Experience in the independent sector and/or a boarding environment is not essential; Bedford School welcomes teachers from various backgrounds, including state and independent sectors in England and some of the world’s best international schools.
Essential qualities include enthusiasm for building on the many strengths of our unique school community to support a thriving Music department. Our ideal candidate will possess outstanding interpersonal skills, fostering effective cooperation and collaboration among an experienced teaching team, developing high levels of trust, and enhancing our provision while valuing and celebrating each teacher’s strengths. Above all, we seek a new Head of Academic Music who has an excellent understanding of outstanding teaching and learning and a clear vision for realizing it in the department.
Full-time teachers at Bedford are also expected to participate in the extensive co-curricular programme and serve as a Tutor attached to a boarding or day house.
Our school is part of the Harpur Trust, which offers a range of training modules applicable to both teaching and other professions.
We aspire to attract new colleagues who reflect the socially and culturally diverse Bedford community and welcome applications from specialists of all backgrounds.
Bedford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.
Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance. Short-listed candidates will be invited to the school for an interview on the advertised date.
The Director of Music, Mr. Jonathan Sanders, would be happy to talk to prospective applicants and can be contacted through the main school reception at 01234 362200 or by email at jsanders@bedfordschool.org.uk.
Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date, and Bedford School reserves the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made. Applicants are therefore encouraged to apply early.
Closing Date: Wednesday 5th March 2025
Interviews: Week commencing 10th March 2025
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. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School may therefore ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) to assess their suitability to work with children.
Bedford School is part of The Harpur Trust.
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