An exciting opportunity for a piping tutor to join a progressive, energetic, evolving team working with Larkhall Youth Pipes and Drums in South Lanarkshire.
We are seeking a Piping Tutor to deliver lessons to pupils of Larkhall and the surrounding area throughout term time. This is a role will be fulfilled on a self-employed basis reporting to an organising committee. Must be able to teach to SCQF Level 6 with knowledge of PDQB and Curriculum for Excellence, have experience of teaching young people of varying ages in groups as well as one to one, and experience of running a pipe band. Must have public indemnity insurance and be registered with Disclosure Scotland (the latter can be arranged).
Must know how to engage, retain, and inspire young people, support their progress, and be ambitious for all that a school pipe band can bring to young people and the community. For more information, please contact gw09smithandrew11@glow.sch.uk
Job Description: Larkhall Youth Pipes and Drums
An exciting opportunity for a piping tutor to join a progressive, energetic, evolving team working with Larkhall Youth Pipes and Drums in South Lanarkshire.
The successful applicant will be required to deliver group teaching across Larkhall’s Primary Schools and Larkhall Academy. They should have experience in instrumental teaching and knowledge of the current curriculum, preparation of pupils for SQA and external examinations. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in the running of the various events and encourage all pupils to become involved in playing traditional Scottish music.
Larkhall Youth Pipes and Drums (LYPD) tuition and pipe band programme started in 2019. It is supported by the LYPD committee, Larkhall Academy, the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust, and the associated primary schools.
The aim of the programme is to provide a continuous ladder of learning to young people in the cluster of nine primary schools that feed into Larkhall Academy, from P6 up to S6, and to develop a schools’ pipe band that will represent the schools and perform in the community and in RSPBA competitions.
Tutors support pupils who choose to take the snare drum or bagpipe as an instrument for their National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher music exams, and will support all pupils to progress through the PDQB qualifications ladder. Some pupils must be able to progress to higher education or careers specialising in either of these instruments.
Following the departure of our piping tutor who has received an offer of a Postgraduate Diploma in Education at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, an opportunity has arisen for a self-employed piping tutor to provide 12.5 hours of tuition per week for 28 weeks during the school year. Lessons are generally of half hour duration during the school day, involving 25 minutes of teaching and 5 minutes to update pupil progress records, and note practice expectations in pupil notebooks. A schedule of lessons is attached. A further 1.5 hours of paid time per week contributes towards travel time between schools and lesson preparation.
Group sizes vary but it is expected that pupils are taught in groups of two or three, averaging five pupils over the course of two lessons. In time, as senior pupils progress, it might be expected that, for example, one pupil might receive 1:1 tuition at National 5 level or above, whilst beginners might learn in groups of four.
Finances
The tutor will be engaged by Larkhall Academy and the LYPD committee and will be paid £25 per hour on a self-employed basis. Tutors must have their own transport. Charitable funding secured by the LYPD committee from the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust match funded by Larkhall Academy will pay for the costs of 12.5 hours of piping tuition / pipes tuition per week for 28 weeks of the school term. More fundraising will take place to extend the programme beyond this period. The tutor will invoice the LYPD committee monthly, along with a report including evidence of lessons delivered.
Insurance and Safeguarding
Tutors must hold Public Liability Insurance and will be required to hold a relevant PVG certificate, and to follow relevant policies including Safeguarding, Health and Safety, and Data Protection.
KEY ACTIVITIES
The tutor will:
- Plan and provide lessons for pupils that enable them to progress rapidly, and that make learning rewarding and enjoyable.
- Liaise with school staff to timetable lessons and provide information to schools and the LYPD committee about participating pupils and attendance.
- Run a weekly club/ band practice and develop a school’s pipe band.
- Provide pupil reports twice a year to pupils, parents, and the relevant organisations, based on accurate assessments of pupils’ work.
- Prepare pupils for SQA PDQB and/or Curriculum for Excellence examinations.
- Assist with the monitoring of loaned bagpipes ensuring that they are well maintained and loan agreements (where relevant) with families are in place.
- Liaise closely with the piping or drumming tutor (as relevant) in all matters relating to the development of a collaborative and successful Schools Pipe Band.
- Provide a suitably qualified and experienced tutor, subject to agreement with the relevant organisations, to deliver tuition during planned absences. The replacement tutor must have Public Liability Insurance, a PVG certificate for working in the relevant schools, and would work according to relevant policies including Safeguarding, Health and Safety, and Data Protection.
- Provide and/or organise his or her own teaching equipment. Pupils will receive practice chanters and drum pads and sticks, bought by the committee, and will be loaned bagpipes free of charge.
TIMELINE and MILESTONES
At the start of every academic year the LYPD tutors will visit each school and deliver a demonstration in piping and drumming and invite new pupils to take part in the programme and sign up for lessons.
There may be more pupils that want to learn than can be accommodated in the time available in which case tutors will offer a trial period over four weeks, and select pupils to teach at the end of this period who show interest, evidence of practice in between lessons, and willingness to learn.
CURRENT TEACHING SCHEDULE
Wednesday
- Craigbank Primary School
- Robert Smillie Primary School
- Hareleeshill Primary School
- Stonehouse Primary School
- Newfield Primary School
Thursday
- Glengowan Primary School
- St Mary’s Primary School
- Machanhill Primary School
- Dalserf Primary School
- Netherburn Primary School
Friday
- Larkhall Academy
| PERSON SPECIFICATION | ||
| ESSENTIAL The minimum acceptable levels | DESIRABLE | |
| Qualifications | Music teaching qualification OR equivalent experience | Music degree or equivalent |
| Experience | Experience of teaching young people Experience of group teaching Experience of planning teaching programmes Experience of planning, coaching and leading ensemble rehearsals Experience of participating in a pipe band | Experience of working in a school environment Experience of competing within a pipe band, grade 3 or above Experience of leading a pipe band or youth band in a competition environment Experience of preparing pupils for school or external examinations |
| Knowledge/Skills | Piping Knowledge of Curriculum for Excellence, primary and secondary level Able to support pupils to take SQA and PDQB qualifications to SCQF Level 6 Able to demonstrate successful, inspirational teaching Able to prepare lessons, maintain records of attendance and progress, and prepare reports to support pupil learning Able to apply techniques to support and accelerate pupil progress Knowledge of player positioning, dress and discipline Knowledge of repertoire construction and resources Knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment and behavior management Proficiency with Microsoft Office packages including Word, Excel etc. Ability to tune bagpipes accurately in group settings. Ability to convey interpretation of tunes for production of scores by the drumming instructor | Knowledge of the history of piping and pipe bands Ability to produce tunes electronically Knowledge of fundraising Knowledge of committees An understanding of bagpipe music and notation. |
| Attributes | Piping Committed to continuous improvement. Punctual Able to manage time Commitment to raising attainment and excellence Engaging and motivating | Commitment to continued professional development |
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email your CV and a covering letter to Mr A Smith, gw09smithandrew11@glow.sch.uk by Friday 17th May 2024.
We expect to interview shortlisted applicants the following week at Larkhall Academy.