Birkenhead School
Prenton, Merseyside
Dec 04, 2025
Full time
We are looking for a dynamic and flexible individual who will aid the Director of Music in the daily administration of the Music Department, including assisting with communications within the Department and beyond, and resolving administrative enquiries and problems. Birkenhead School, founded in 1860, is an HMC independent day school providing education for boys and girls drawn from the whole of the Wirral and as far afield as Chester and North Wales.Situated in the leafy suburb of Oxton, the School enjoys excellent facilities. The main campus has a village green atmosphere, with classrooms and laboratories looking out over the cricket square. Recent capital developments have included a new landscaped playground area and an outdoor classroom. Birkenhead School prides itself on being a family school. It is attractive to parents to have all their children in one school, and it is a great advantage for the school to be able to establish strong, long-lasting relationships with families. A key feature of the School is its strength of community, which runs through the student, staff and parental bodies. The School is embedded within the wider Wirral community, has strong links with local business and charities, and offers an extensive bursary programme. The School aims to inspire students both inside and outside the classroom, knowing each individual and providing them with outstanding opportunities to find their niche. A dedicated, talented and collegiate staff body is required to achieve these aims. The Schools informal motto is Respect, Responsibility and Resilience, to which we have recently added inclusivity, compassion, integrity, humility and courage as defined School values. Birkenhead School recruits on attitude as much as the quality of an individuals qualifications on paper. The Department The Music department currently consists of a full time Director of Music, two part time music teachers in the Senior School and two part time teachers of music in the Prep. There is also a strong team of visiting instrumental teachers, offering tuition in around 20 different instruments. Around a third of our students learn a musical instrument either in or outside School. The School offers music scholarships to particularly talented students who, in return, are expected to make a wide contribution to the musical life of the School. The department is well resourced and is housed in a dedicated Music School (formerly a boarding house), with practice rooms, classrooms, a rehearsal studio, a recording studio and a keyboard lab running Dorico, Sibelius, Noteflight and BandLab software. Beyond the Music School, the Prep Hall, Bushell Hall and School Chapel provide venues for a wide range of performances including instrumental and choral concerts, fully staged musicals and weekly Sunday Evensong during term-time. Responsibilities Support teachers in the preparation and administration of exercises, activities and exams including the preparation of papers, collation of scripts etc. Administer timetabling and event preparation under the Director of Musics leadership Undertake photocopying and the preparation of other teaching materials Ensure messages reach staff, students, peripatetic teachers and parents in a timely manner Assist with classroom tasks in direct support of the Director of Music To provide support for teachers and peripatetic tutors in the administration of reports To deal with enquiries from parents and other calls and correspondence which do not require the attention of other staff. Manage the Music Departments social media account. The Person Good level of computer literacy including use of standard Microsoft Office programmes Proficiency in visual design, using applications such as Canva to create promotional materials for events Understanding of electronic file management and document filing Proficient in verbal and written communication skills Ability to plan, organise and prioritise Ability to multi task and work to tight deadlines The ability to communicate well with students, peers, parents and visitors A flexible approach to duties in response to the academic calendar Role model of values, integrity and positive behaviours Appreciation of music, musical instruments, musical terms and requirements is desirable Ideally previous experience working in a School environment Candidates should be aware there may be some moving and lifting of musical equipment involved in the role The full list of roles and responsibilities can be found on the Information for Candidates, available on the School website under Employment Opportunities. Hours This is a term time, part time role of 17.5 hours per week, ideally covering 3 or 4 days per week. A degree of flexibility is required to allow for occasional activities involving working outside the normal hours. This is a temporary role covering a period of Maternity Leave, ending on the return of the current incumbent. It is anticipated the post will be required until July 2026. Holiday You will be entitled to 35 days (pro rata) annual leave, to be taken within School holidays Benefits We will value and support your contribution to School life and in return provide you with excellent rewards; Working with fantastic young students Working as part of a committed team Wellbeing assistance through the Employee Assistance Programme Membership of a pension Scheme Free lunch in the Dining Hall during term times Free use of the fully equipped on-site gym Support for your continuous professional development Electric vehicle charging points A letter of application indicating skills and experience, together with a completed application form, including the names and addresses of at least two referees, should be sent for the attention of the Bursar via Cheryl Wallace (Personnel and Compliance Manager). Candidates are welcome to contact the Director of Music, Mrs Briony Hunterwith any questions relating to the role. To meet our safeguarding obligations, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is undertaken as part of the recruitment process for all new staff. As Birkenhead School is an educational provider, it is permitted to ask whether an applicant has any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings which would not be filteredin line with current guidance, as defined by The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). It is a criminal offence for an individual who is barred from working with children to apply for a role which is classed as regulated activity (i.e. involves working with children). The closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 8th December 2025. Successful candidates are likely to be invited to interview shortly after the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy and complete the recruitment process when we are in receipt of sufficient applications. Should you wish to apply for this post you are advised to complete and submit your application form as soon as possible. JBRP1_UKTJ