Drums/Percussion Teacher

Simon Balle All-Through School; Birtley; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Simon Balle All-Through School is seeking an enthusiastic specialist instrumental teacher of drums and percussion for the Music Department. The role supports beginners and links to Wind, Brass and Percussion ensembles, with routes to junior Wind Band and Pop music projects.

The post is initially up to one day per week (potentially 4 hours, on Monday or Friday) and may grow. The successful candidate will reinforce consistent teaching across ensembles and participate in school festivals and

Responsibilities

• Teach drums and percussion to beginners.
• Work with the Wind, Brass and Percussion team to coordinate ensembles.
• Develop middle school level experience and student ensembles; support Rock School and festival participation.

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic specialist instrumental teacher of drums and percussion to join our busy and successful Music Department. The teaching is for beginners and be part of our amazing Wind, Brass and Percussion team where have routes to junior Wind Band, Popular Music and more. All students learn to read music and we run Trinity exams. Initially this would be for up to one day a week on a Monday or Friday, possibly 4 hours, but this could grow.

Woodwind, brass and percussion are a large team within Team Music. We teach both Trinity Classical / Jazz and Rock and Pop exams and each year we have students taking LCM diplomas. We have a full set of orchestral percussion instruments. Students support our ensembles, as well as taking part in our huge Rock School (which has over 12 bands rehearsing each week). Our primary wind band has 50 students taking part each week, our Junior Wind Band has 60. Our Concert Band is slightly smaller, but is growing again with our increasing numbers coming through. Both Junior Wind and Concert Band have full percussion sections. We have a Big Band and saxophone ensemble as well. Our advanced musicians take part in an annual tour to Ghent - a huge music festival. We are looking to develop a ‘middle school’ experience as well. Our teachers work as a team, so that all musicians receive consistent teaching. We use Involve for timetabling, attendance and lesson notes.

The ideal candidate will be able to work as a team and teach individuals at any level.

For more details of our amazing music, where 30% of the school learn an instrument, please visit https://www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk/music/

If you have any questions or would like to visit, please email Mark Taylor, Director of Music on [e-mail].

Closing date - 9th November 2026, however candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible as the school reserves the right to close the advertisement should we feel able to appoint an appropriate candidate.

Simon Balle is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are also committed to the equality of opportunity for all. Applicants for this post must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including reference checks with previous employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

We are committed to a policy of openness and equality of opportunity in the employment of staff. We will not condone discrimination on the grounds of the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. It is our central responsibility to ensure that every individual that we come into contact with is treated with dignity and respect.