Head of Brass and Woodwind

ISC group; Oundle; On-site; GBP 125,000 - GBP 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in Oundle is seeking a Head of Brass and Woodwind to provide leadership and vision for music education. The successful candidate will teach around 36 periods fortnightly and ensure high standards of academic and conduct within their department. Responsibilities include contributing to co-curricular activities and pastoral support for students. This role offers the opportunity to work in a well-equipped department with a strong focus on student engagement in music.

Qualifications

• Strong academic leadership and vision for music subjects.
• Ability to empower others in educational delivery.
• Commitment to co-curricular life and pastoral support.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic leadership for the Brass and Woodwind department.
• Teach approximately 36 periods per fortnight.
• Contribute to the co-curricular life of the school.

Skills

Leadership

Teaching

Music Education

Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Job description

The role

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Brass and Woodwind to provide strong academic leadership and vision for this popular subject. As Head of Brass and Woodwind you will empower others to deliver an excellent education for our pupils, ensuring the highest possible standards in work and conduct are achieved across the department.

Should you be successful you will be required to carry out the general professional duties of a school teacher under the reasonable direction of the Head and to perform such particular duties that from time to time may reasonably be assigned you by the Head.

You would teach approximately 36 periods per fortnight in addition to committing to contribute to the co-curricular life and pastoral support provided by the School.

For full details of an overview of the School, details of the responsibilities and requirements for the role including the benefits on offer please see the Information pack available below.

The department

The Music Department is led by the Director of Music and comprises a large team of full-time academic staff, including five Heads of Instrument, supported by two department administrators and a part-time Music Technician. The department is further strengthened by an extensive team of approximately forty-five Visiting Music Teachers, delivering specialist instrumental and vocal teaching across a wide range of disciplines.

The Head of Brass and Woodwind is one of five Heads of Instrument, providing leadership within a substantial and strategically important area of the department, working closely with colleagues across academic and co-curricular music to deliver a coherent and ambitious programme.

The department is housed primarily in the Gascoigne Building, located near the centre of the School and the town. The building provides an attractive and well-equipped environment for music education, including thirty teaching and practice rooms, a dedicated recital and rehearsal space, a music technology studio and a well-stocked music library. Larger rehearsals and concerts take place in the Great Hall and the School Chapel.

Nearly 1,000 individual instrumental and vocal lessons take place each week, and around sixty ensembles and musical activities are offered across the School. Pupils are strongly encouraged to participate in instrumental groups and choirs as soon as they reach an appropriate standard, and instrumental ensembles are carefully tiered to ensure clear progression from beginner to advanced level. Ensembles include Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, multiple Wind and Concert Bands, Chapel Choir, Schola Cantorum, two Jazz Orchestras, brass and wind ensembles, pipe band, steel pans, percussion ensembles, chamber groups, and a broad range of contemporary and popular music ensembles, alongside large-scale ensembles such as the CCF Band.

The department is closely involved in productions in the School’s Stahl Theatre, ranging from incidental music for plays to full-scale musical productions.

The town

Oundle is a historic market town in Northamptonshire, famous for its beautiful Georgian streets and impressive limestone buildings. The town has a spirited cultural life, with an annual international festival, literature festival, and frequent performances of nationally touring shows at the School’s Stahl theatre. The town has a range of independent shops, coffee houses, pubs and eateries. Encircled by the river Nene, the town is also blessed to be surrounded by beautiful countryside with many picturesque villages nearby.

How to apply

If you are excited by this opportunity, complete and return an application form and the supplement to the application form before the closing date.

Please note CV submissions cannot be accepted.

Application closing date: Monday 23 February 2026, 9am

Interview date: Wednesday 4 March 2026

Equal opportunity and safeguarding

Oundle School and Laxton Junior School are proud to be equal opportunity employers and we welcome applications from all. We aim to ensure that all applicants are provided with the same opportunities during the recruitment process, and we endeavour to comply with the duties placed upon us to make reasonable adjustments as prescribed by the Equality Act 2010. Should you need to request a particular adjustment to enable you to participate fully in the recruitment process, please ensure that this is made known, to the HR Department.

Both Schools are 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.

Recruitment

The Corporation of Oundle School has an internal recruitment department, but where agency support is required, we will engage our trusted partners. Our adverts are intended to encourage direct interest from potential applicants, not recruitment agencies. Speculative CVs sent from sources other than directly from a candidate, will not be acknowledged or considered.