Teacher of Music

Job Type: Full or part-time (0.6), permanent

An enthusiastic Teacher of Music is required for this academically selective, coeducational North London day school, to teach either part-time (0.6 up to 1.0) or full-time from September.

Applicants should make their preference clear in their statement. This position would suit an experienced Music teacher or, indeed, an ambitious recent Music graduate or professional musician, who is looking to gain initial classroom experience.

The successful candidate will be an excellent teacher, or show the potential to become one, with the ability to translate rigorous academic standards into practical and successful classroom outcomes. Their timetable will be written to suit their background but will include a full teaching allocation and contribution to co‑curricular activities. Experience of teaching up to A Level, strong keyboard skills, and/or mastery of an instrument is an advantage.

The Music department’s strong central ethos is that everyone is capable of being a musician. Teachers aim to provide an aspirational, creative and inclusive musical environment. All pupils study Music in Years 7 to 9, following a varied spiral curriculum that focuses on creativity and collaboration across all skill areas. High quality teaching materials are produced and shared within the department, although teachers are encouraged to shape their lessons to cater for each class and their own musical interests.

GCSE Music is popular each year, with multiple classes, and in 2025, 92% of pupils achieved 9‑7 grades. There are currently 6 pupils studying AQA A Level Music. In recent years, over half our A Level pupils achieved an A*, with c.90% A*‑A. Here, pupils receive a grounding in the western classical tradition while also studying music for media in Year 12.

In Year 13 pupils have the option to extend their western classical study into the 20th century, or to embark on an in‑depth study of popular music. Pupils have specialist composition lessons and regular performance workshops. Several pupils go on to read Music at university or music college every year and pupils regularly make successful Oxbridge applications, including Choral or Organ scholarships.

The department is led by the Director of Music who, working closely with the Head of Academic Music and Choral Music, oversees all aspects of the department’s musical provision. The Director of Music leads the co‑curricular and music performance across Highgate’s Pre‑Prep, Junior and Senior Schools, overseeing the Heads of Sections (Head of Woodwind & Percussion, Head of Brass, Head of Vocal Studies, Head of Strings and Head of Keyboard), and around fifty Visiting Music Teachers.

The Head of Academic Music leads a team of 6 teachers in the Senior School, who deliver the academic curriculum to all pupils from Year 7 to Year 13.

There are three music teaching classrooms, two Mac suites (complete with Logic, Sibelius and a recording booth), an auditorium and recital room for rehearsals and concerts, practice rooms for individual music lessons and a departmental office. Choirs regularly rehearse and perform in the School Chapel.

The successful applicant will take an active role in the department’s co‑curricular provision, rehearsing an instrumental ensemble or choir, or several. The school’s various orchestras, ensembles and choirs frequently perform at school and externally, including at landmark London venues, and our flagship choir, Chorale, won the Traditional Category of the Barnardo’s National Choir Competition at Birmingham Symphony Hall in 2025. The cycle of school performances includes a major concert each term, Christmas carol services, numerous instrumental and vocal concerts, termly solo platform concerts, choral services throughout the year – both in the School Chapel and in local churches – and at numerous other music competitions and events.

A full‑scale musical, in collaboration with the Drama department takes place biennially.

What I love about the music department at Highgate is that it’s so diverse – we have musicians who play every different genre of music, and performance opportunities that…