Director of Creative Arts

Salary: Main Pay Scale (UPS where relevant) + TLR 2B (£5,352)

Start Date: Easter or September 2024

“Success means pursuing a career that inspires you.” – Marin Alsop, conductor

Following an extensive review of Smestow Academy’s curriculum, we are seeking to expand the teaching of creative arts: music, dance, drama and art.

We have enthusiastic teachers and we want an inspirational leader to bring out the very best in them, therefore making sure our pupils have the best possible experiences of these fascinating subjects. The successful candidate will have a track record of excellence in the classroom and evidence of facilitating exceptional pupil outcomes. They will also have in-depth subject knowledge and a passion to make a difference to pupils at Smestow Academy. We are looking for a candidate who specialises in teaching Music.

About us:

It is an exciting time to join Smestow Academy after we joined Matrix Academy Trust in January 2023, an expanding and thriving Trust. Our belief in a "No excuses" culture permeates our academies and our high expectations of pupils and staff support our traditional values. Pupils experience high quality teaching and we expect high standards of behaviour and attendance. Our vision is for all academies within the trust to be outstanding and to ensure every child leaves with employability skills and the opportunity to access higher education.

We are committed to fostering a culture that values the health and well-being of all employees at Matrix Academy Trust. We are proud to offer a comprehensive well-being package to all employees, including access to 24/7 online GP, physiotherapy services and counselling services. We also offer all employees annual health checks which includes the flu jab, BMI checks and a general discussion with a qualified Nurse.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please put in an application using the form here https://matrixacademytrust.co.uk/vacancies/ and send it to headteacher Ian Chamberlain: ichamberlain@smestowacademy.co.uk

Please contact the Headteacher if you would like a chat about the role or to visit the school.

Application Deadline: 17th February 2024

Please note that suitable candidates will be called for interview and we reserve the right to remove any advertised role early.

Safeguarding Notice:

Matrix Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS clearance and preemployment checks in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education

From January 2023 Smestow Academy joined Matrix Academy Trust and embarked upon an exciting journey of rapid school improvement as experience by other schools who have previously joined the Trust.

The school is a mixed 11-18 comprehensive situated in a pleasant residential area next to attractive countryside. There are approximately 670 pupils on roll with a Sixth form provision. We are highly ambitious for our staff and pupils and fully embrace the idea that success is achieved together for all of our community.

Smestow is proudly a truly multi-cultural comprehensive school. The intake spans the full ability range and we have pupils from a rich mix of cultural backgrounds that all work together extremely well as one community. We are working hard to drive our pupils progress attainment levels to push above national figures and to become within the top 20% of schools in the country.

We offer pupils a broad and balanced curriculum in Key Stage 3, and a wide variety of option choices in Key Stage 4 and Sixth Form. We are committed to bringing out the best in every one of our pupils and therefore support their academic study with a very strong programme of safeguarding, personal and skills development work and opportunities outside of the classroom. We are very keen to expand this aspect of our work and encourage staff to embrace their own interests to inspire our pupils.

We have a strong pastoral system, with Heads of House and an excellent pastoral support structure, all working to support pupils to achieve the very best and enjoy their time at school.

Our motto is ’success is achieved together’ and is based upon developing strong relationships between staff and pupils to create a strong collaborative approach. Through our house system pupils feel a sense of identity with Smestow and have a strong feeling of community. Staff are well supported and parental involvement is very good.The staff work hard and are rewarded with investment into their CPD opportunities.

If you are interested in working in a vibrant, supportive, ambitious school, we would be very keen to receive your application. We welcome applications from ambitious and highly motivated individuals who want to make a significant difference to pupils lives and be part of the transformational journey of a school with ambitions to achieve a national reputation for the outstanding work we do.