Drama teacher

If you are a committed, dynamic, and inspirational teacher of Drama seeking to join a successful and supportive department aspiring to new heights in a popular and high-performing school, this could be just the job for you.

The School

The Glasgow Academy is an ambitious, warm, welcoming, thriving and forward-thinking fully co-educational HMC independent day school of around pupils aged 3-18. It is highly popular, growing in a planned way over the last 14 years. It consists of the Senior School, of around pupils of 11-18 years of age, and a Preparatory School (which has three sites all of which has a Nursery / Kindergarten). Recruitment at the school is very strong at every age group.

We have a long tradition of fostering academic excellence and we are proud of our pupils’ achievements. Results in external examinations are consistently among the best in the country. We have an open and inclusive entry policy and present pupils for a significantly greater number of Higher examinations than many other schools. In / our pass rate at National 5 A-C rate was 98% with the A pass rate at 81%. and at Higher was 97% with 75% of entries awarded A grades. In S6, the pass rate was 91% for Advanced Higher with 53% of entries awarded grade A.

Beyond academic achievement we want all of our pupils to thrive and contribute to a rapidly developing modern world and to do that we must ensure they leave The Academy with a socially conscious, innovative and global outlook. Our aim is that we provide our pupils with rich learning experiences that best prepare them for life after The Academy and also places value on the importance of sustainable education for future generations. Through further development of our local, national and global partnerships our aim is that we have a greater impact on lives within and out with The Academy community.

The school's latest £15 million new building won Best Building in Scotland, the UK's richest architectural prize. The school has invested around £27 million in its facilities over the last decade or so and continues to invest heavily and strategically.

The Department

Drama is a popular subject at The Academy with both uptake and attainment very high. The successful candidate will be expected to foster a love of Drama in our students, enable them to gain fine academic results, contribute to whole-school productions, and enhance the reputation of the department and school.

As a successful team of three, that includes the Head of Department, the Drama Department teach classes from Prep 7 – S6 (Advanced Higher) and contribute extensively to the wider life of the school, through involvement in Prep and Senior School productions, pastoral care, and co-curricular clubs. Academy staff and pupils also play a very active role in SQA examination teams, ensuring that the department is at the forefront of Drama education in Scotland.

We are an innovative department with a positive, enthusiastic team spirit. The department is always striving to improve through professional reading and an awareness of current cultural discourse and creative practice. The department contains purpose-built teaching spaces with two fully equipped studios and the school’s Watson Auditorium

Pastoral care, continuity of support / guidance from year to year, and individual knowledge and understanding of children are very important in our school, so all members of staff are expected to be a tutor looking after a tutor group of about 14 / 15 pupils that they see every morning. Along with their tutees, all teachers are members of one of our four Houses, taking part in House activities and duties.

The Person

You are likely to hold an excellent honours degree and must be passionate about motivating young people, inspiring academic and intellectual excellence, and great pastoral care. You must have proven successful experience in raising attainment in Drama.

Experience of teaching up to National 5 level is essential and experience of delivering Higher and Advanced Higher Drama would be desirable, and available for the right candidate.

You will have an enthusiastic "Can do, will do" attitude and will instil high standards, high expectations and the value of hard work in children, plus the belief that intelligence is not fixed and that abilities can be developed considerably through sensibly focused endeavour.

You will care deeply about children's success and will be skilled at motivating children to work to their full potential. Strong commitment, good communication skills, creativity, dynamism, proactivity, teambuilding skills, and the very highest standards are key to this post. So are a calm and nurturing disposition, flexibility and being an improving presence. Above all, you will work very hard and effectively for the pupils in your care.

The Appointment

The appointment is for November or as soon as possible thereafter and is a part-time fixed-term maternity cover post (0.6 or 0.8, dependent upon the successful applicant).

The Academy Salary Scale, which is currently over 6.7% above the national scale, runs in six unequal increments, with placing according to experience. A very competitive defined contribution pension scheme is also available.

All teachers at The Academy must be registered with the General Teaching Council Scotland.

The Glasgow Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and all appointments are subject to membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme

The Glasgow Academy is committed to providing equality of opportunity and ensuring that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief, marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.

The Glasgow Academy is a War Memorial School with a long history of employing ex-serving personnel, reservists and spouses of serving personnel. We look favourably on applications from those mentioned above; we understand the extra burdens placed on these individuals and as an organisation are fully committed to supporting them and their families.

It is a legal requirement that all employees must demonstrate that they are entitled to live and work in the UK. You will be required to produce documentary proof e.g. passport and work permit, where applicable, to demonstrate your eligibility to work if selected for interview.

The Glasgow Academicals' War Memorial Trust is an educational charity registered in Scotland, Charity No SCO

How to apply

Applications should be made using the official application form and must be submitted by email to by 4 pm on Tuesday 23 September. Interviews (which will include teaching a sample lesson) will take place at The Glasgow Academy w / c 6th October.

Candidates should include details of their particular interests and what contributions they feel they can make to the wider life of the school.