Teacher of Music - September 2025 or January 2026
The retirement of our long serving music teacher has created an opportunity to join a stable and committed staff team in a small but growing independent school. Excellent career opportunities are afforded by the school’s plans to further develop Music in particular adding Music in its KS5 offering. Thames has an excellent CPD and staff mentoring programme.
The successful applicant will teach Music in KS3 and KS4 and lead a strong extra-curricular provision. KS5 will be added subject to demand. The position will be at least 0.6 FTE with the potential to expand up to 1.0 FTE as KS5 is developed or via the provision of individual instrumental lessons. Class sizes are genuinely small with typically 18 pupils in Years 7 and 8 and tutorial sized groups in Year 9 and above.
Thames is a thriving mainstream and diverse independent secondary school. Located next to Clapham Junction station, the school occupies new, award winning, purpose built premises.
If you would like a teaching job in a school where pupils are valued as individuals and inspired to learn, we want to hear from you. Applications are welcome from passionate teachers wanting to make a difference.
The role:
Teaching Music in KS3 and KS4 with KS5 being added when demand exists
Working from existing schemes of learning and also creating new, well-differentiated schemes of learning and resources
Preparing pupils for Music GCSE and A level
Leading a strong extra-curricular offering
The post is open to an excellent teacher who will:
Be a graduate with a relevant good honours degree
Be a proficient pianist
Have a commitment to further developing both choral and instrumental work
Be open to developing music technology throughout the music curriculum.
Have wide musical tastes
As musical director, be a positive collaborator with the drama department in the staging of an annual musical
Supervise the visiting peripatetic instrumental teachers
Have some experience in either the private or maintained system
Have a commitment to embracing challenges and raising pupil attainment
Be a creative, inventive and dedicated classroom practitioner with a real passion for your subject
Have an exceptional eye for detail
Be excited by the school’s vision and respect the school’s values
In return we offer:
Competitive salary with pension and staff fee discount
Excellent CPD and staff mentoring programme
Active pastoral care of staff
Opportunities for career development
Access to onsite nursery facilities for 2-4 year olds
Delicious and healthy subsidised school lunches.
Thames has made significant investment into the performing arts, including a theatre with professional sound and lighting, a specialist music teaching room equipped with keyboards, individual music rooms, and office/technology room.
Performing arts evenings currently take place in November, December and February. There are currently three choirs; a non-auditioned choir, a chamber choir plus a Year 10/11 close harmony group. Year 7 sing as a choir in the November and Christmas concerts. There is a small orchestral ensemble which has potential for development. Last Christmas the strings played Corelli’s Christmas Concerto.
The end of the year is marked by a musical theatre production with principals and an ensemble cast that draws from all year groups. Recent shows have included 42nd Street and Anything Goes.
The department is well served by excellent visiting instrumental teachers and by the school office who arrange the visiting instrumental teachers’ lessons.
Closing Date for Applications: As soon as possible - applications will be considered on receipt and interviews may occur at any stage so we recommend early application. Applications must be made on our own application form. CVs on their own will not be considered.