Subject Leader

**Salary**

Competitive Salary

**Contractual hours**

37.5

**Basis**

Full Time

**Region**

London

**Date posted**

10/03/2025

**Job reference**

REQ002894

**Subject Leader - Performing Arts**

We are a high performing school and have a relentless focus on high standards in all that we do. We have a total belief that every student can be successful regardless of their starting point and we have a strong culture of excellence to achieve this. Students make exceptional progress during their time at Paddington and we are consistently in the top 1% of schools in the country for student progress.

We ensure that our classrooms are disruption-free so our teachers can focus on the main thing - teaching and learning. We have effective behaviour systems in place which means that behaviour is well-managed and teacher time is protected. We are renowned for the positive environment and strong relationships between staff and students. We like to keep messages and systems simple and aim to reduce workload by doing so.

Paddington Academy is a mixed Academy for 1,200 students aged 11-18. The Academy was recently judged to be outstanding by OFSTED in March 2023 maintaining its outstanding judgement from 2011. Paddington has been described by the Education Minister as a ‘jewel in the crown of state education’. Our thriving and oversubscribed Academy also has a large Sixth Form with over 300 students. Students excel in our Sixth Form and achieve exceptional outcomes which enables them to achieve their next step which for the vast majority of students is university. 95% of students went to university, with 45% gaining a place at a Russell Group university in 2024.

We are seeking an ambitious and experienced middle leader, or an outstanding teacher ready for their next challenge, to lead our highly successful and ‘Outstanding’ Performing Arts department.

Both Music and Drama have well-structured and coherent curricula. To ensure the curriculum best serves our students and community, we continuously review and refine it—thinking carefully about what we teach and why. This year, we have introduced new schemes of work at KS3, including an exploration of ensemble performance and musical composition in Music, and a unit on physical theatre and devising techniques in Drama. These units are designed to enrich students’ creative and analytical skills at KS3 and better prepare them for success at KS4, where they will further develop their understanding of performance techniques, dramatic texts, musical composition, and production elements.

As Subject Leader for Performing Arts, you will have the opportunity to shape the curriculum at KS3 and KS4, oversee its implementation, and develop high-quality resources and teaching materials. You will lead and inspire a dedicated team, supporting the development of both experienced teachers and trainees. You will also play a key role in embedding performance opportunities throughout the year, ensuring students have access to high-quality extracurricular experiences, including concerts, showcases, productions, and external performance events.

Paddington Academy is the lead school for United Teaching national SCITT and is a designated Teaching School Hub, so you will be able to access high-quality training at every stage of your career. We are fully committed to teacher and leadership development and training.
- Be committed to continually improving their teaching and learning;
- Be committed to our ethos of high expectations
- Have the belief that every student can be successful
- Have the desire to make a real difference to the lives of our students
- Have experience of leading a Teaching and Learning initiative in their department
- Have evidence of excellent student attainment
- Keep up to date with current educational research
- Be a team player able to work effectively with colleagues across the organisation

**10 reasons to choose Paddington Academy**

Why work at Paddington Academy?
- We are a highly successful school, **rated ‘outstanding’ by OFSTED** with GCSE results which consistently place us in the **top 1% schools in the UK** for student progress for the last ten years
- **Teaching and Learning is at the heart of what we do.**Every decision is driven by its potential to impact on student learning.
- **Our approach to teaching and learning is informed by robust research,** constantly reviewed and tailored to our unique context
- We have a **consistent and effective approach to behaviour**which means teachers can focus on the main thing - teaching
- We are **renowned for positive relationships between staff and students** and serve a community of aspirational students
- We have a** large and thriving sixth form of 330** with high academic standards: 91% of A Level grades were A*-C in 2024, the highest of any school in Westminster
- We have been** awarded a PLATINUM award for professional development.**Our approach to CPD is personalised to ensure that every member of our comm