A foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer
Martin Walker - Principal
Our vision is simple – to develop remarkable people. That applies not only to the pupils, but also to the staff in whom we invest. We take a pupil-centred approach at Berkhamsted; they are at the heart of our decision making and fuel our ambition to deliver excellence in all that we do
We aim high with integrity and are proud to have a collective growth mindset and a willingness to be adventurous through innovation, continual learning, and being a research-led school. This leads to an agility, the provision of outstanding CPD for staff, and the delivery of a forward-thinking curriculum that enables pupils to flourish both at, and beyond, Berkhamsted. The inherent joy that stems from learning, from being part of an ambitious and caring team, and from making progress inspires not only our pupils, but also our staff.
Berkhamsted School also appreciates the significance of community within and beyond the school; we aim to serve others and have a positive impact through our community and charity work. Moreover, we focus not only on doing well and doing good for the pupils, but also through the pupils. This strong sense of purpose combined with an unwavering commitment to our values make this a special place to work. Our staff are so important to us that we have a Chief People Officer as one of our most senior members of staff; her role is to ensure the staff also flourish
A foreword from our Principal and Chief People Officer
Tracey Evans - Chief People Officer
Our staff are our most important asset at Berkhamsted; investing in their professional development with their wellbeing a key priority We foster a working environment that firstly provides a sense of belonging and supports staff both professionally and personally. We offer a wide range of staff wellbeing initiatives. Colleagues can easily access financial, physical, emotional and social well-being support from school.
We seek to enable all members of the school community to achieve their full potential in an environment characterised by equality, equity, respect and opportunity. We work hard at Berkhamsted, but we also know how to come together as a community and enjoy downtime, building relationships which last a lifetime and enrich our professional and personal experience.
History of Berkhamsted Schools Group
Berkhamsted School is situated in the historic Hertfordshire town of Berkhamsted, a prosperous community surrounded by Chiltern countryside and within easy reach of London Berkhamsted is a leading Independent School for pupils aged 3 to 18 years, the foundation of which dates back to 1541 (when John Incent, the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, successfully applied to King Henry the VIII for a license to purchase a piece of land for a ‘freescole’)
In 1888 a Girls School was founded in Berkhamsted under the same governing body, and the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools merged to form a diamond school in 1997 The Prep School was also integrated at this stage, and the School became Berkhamsted Collegiate School.
In 2011 the School merged with Heatherton House, a small independent day School for girls in Chesham Bois, and became the Berkhamsted Schools Group. Operating as a satellite Prep School, Heatherton provides a feed of Girls to the Berkhamsted Girls School every year In 2012 Berkhamsted Schools Group acquired Haresfoot, a small proprietary prep school in Berkhamsted This site now houses the Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Berkhamsted Day Nursery Limited, and Berkhamsted Prep takes children from age 7-11.
Berkhamsted is the only School in the Herts, Beds and Bucks region, and one of only a small number of Schools in the country, to offer a ‘diamond’ structure that combines the best of both single-sex and co-educational teaching Boys and Girls are taught together until the age of 11 (Berkhamsted Pre-Prep and Prep), separately from the age of 11-16 (Berkhamsted Boys and Berkhamsted Girls), before coming back together again in a joint sixth form (Berkhamsted Sixth)
Job Description
A well-qualified and enthusiastic peripatetic teacher is required from September 2026 (fixed-term) to teach peripatetic singing lessons at the Boys Campus (Castle) at the Senior School Music peripatetic teachers are part of the Performing Arts Department. The peripatetic music staff are line managed by the Director of Music (Co-Curricular).
About the Music Department:
Music plays a central role in the life of Berkhamsted School and is staffed by 5 curriculum music teachers at the Senior and Preparatory Schools, who are supported by a large peripatetic music team offering tuition across a wide range of instruments. Staff are also supported by a full-time performing arts administrator, who coordinates payroll and exam entries as well as coordinating parent communications and acts as liaison for timetabling.
Activities:
The department offers a great number of performance opportunities for developing musicians and encourages participation in high profile ensembles including the orchestra, big band, concert band and an array of choirs and vocal groups. There are also chamber music groups including the brass ensemble, flute choir, saxophone ensemble and guitar group. We also arrange regular workshops for musicians of all abilities across the instrument range including the piano, singing and percussion from outside practitioners as well as in-house events. Pupils are also active in forming their own groups, which are then supported by members of staff where appropriate.
Facilities:
The department at the Senior School extends over two campuses At Kings Campus, the modern Centenary Theatre is a 500-seat professional-style performance venue, which is fully resourced and supported by three full-time theatre technicians. Next to the theatre, the Upper Green Room provides two excellent dedicated music teaching spaces, which can be opened up to create a large rehearsal space
Job Description
There is storage for instruments as well as a music office, which can be used by peripatetic and curriculum staff. Also at Kings there are a number of music practice rooms in the main building, all of which are equipped with a piano and benefit from a further admin office for us by the peripatetic music team. At Castle Campus, which is separated from the other sites above by an 8-minute walk, the historic music block offers a range of practice rooms, as well as a main teaching room, which is also used for rehearsals, exam recordings and informal recitals
General Responsibilities:
Teaching: securing and sustaining effective teaching of music, evaluating the quality of teaching and standards of pupils’ achievements, setting targets for improvement and thoroughly preparing pupils to take regular examinations
a) Ensuring that every pupil receives the best teaching and learning experience, which is enjoyable and stimulating: awareness of individual pupil needs including any with a SEND profile
b) Constantly assess the impact of the teaching delivered and modify it appropriately to maximise effectiveness.
c) Encouraging interest in the subject through participation in extra-curricular ensembles and activities (e.g. orchestra etc).
d) Encouraging high standards of work, such as involvement in musical activities or the preparation and achievement in graded examinations (as appropriate).
e) Designing, setting and managing relevant strategies and tasks for pupils’ practice, so that it is a valuable extension of lesson activities and helps them to develop independent learning skills.
Job Description
f) Contributing to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through the exploration of a range of musical genres and activities.
g) Ensuring reports are individualised and meaningful, providing a valuable form of communication. Annual full reports are currently required for each pupil, as a part of the School’s Reporting System using iSAMS
h) Where a double lesson is provided this should be recorded with the Performing Arts Administrator.
i) An unscheduled shared lesson (e.g. event of a school trip) should be recorded with the Music and Drama Coordinator
j) All changes to the teacher’s published timetable must be with prior agreement from the line manager (including planned staff absence)
k) Liaison with the Music and Drama Coordinator over the need for accompanying for examinations and/or concerts.
l) A lesson should be provided even if the pupil forgets their instrument
Subject Knowledge: Music Curriculum (for example, ABRSM, RockSchool, Trinity etc.)
a) Keeping abreast of developments in the music exam specifications.
b) Making use of any opportunities for inter-departmental or intra-departmental initiatives and cooperation.
Job Description
c) Keeping abreast of developments in teaching methods and to attend necessary in-service courses by arrangement with the Head of Solo Music/ Head of Prep Music.
d) Attendance at an annual meeting (the date is published towards the end of the Summer Term)
e) If teaching at the Senior School, to be familiar with all the general requirements for public examinations (including GCSE, AS, A Level and entry requirements for university and other courses) and ensuring proper preparation of the pupils for them.
Administrative Expectations:
a) Liaising with the Music and Drama Coordinator and Head of Solo Music / Head of Prep Music over matters of timetabling and scheduling of lessons.
b) Liaising with the Music and Drama Coordinator over pupil entries and arrangements for public examinations (e g Trinity-Guildhall, ABRSM, LCM Rock School)
c) Providing necessary information to the Administrator to assist in the programming and co-ordination of musical concerts
d) Keeping up-to-date registers and evidence / records for pupils attendance and following school policy guidelines about any pupil absence
e) Liaising with the Music and Drama Coordinator over matters of billing for pupils
BenefitsBenefits
We boast a competitive salary structure, alongside other benefits, which includes access to a comprehensive pension scheme
The wellbeing of our staff is a priority. We have a developed programme for staff with initiatives and support in the areas of Economic, Physical, Emotional and Social wellbeing
Free classes and advisory services memberships and discounted rates in local establishments, together with cycle to work scheme, free on-site parking, free daily lunch, and fee reduction for staff's children are examples of some of the non-contractual benefits on offer in this programme
Watch our video
Watch our video and hear from our colleagues why they enjoy working at the Berkhamsted Schools Group Find out more about what it is really like to be a member of the community
BenefitsSafeguarding and Child Protection
Berkhamsted is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding
A copy of the School’s Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy can be found HERE
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and visitors to adopt a child centred and coordinated approach to child protection and safeguarding. Berkhamsted Schools Group is a registered charity dedicated to education: 310630
Application and Next Steps
The closing date for applications is 12 July 2026
It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children; applicants must be willing to undertake a number of safeguarding checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS) This post is also subject to receipt of written references which must be satisfactory to Berkhamsted Schools Group, along with documentary evidence of qualifications A background screening service including a review of candidate’s online presence will be carried out as part of the recruitment process, by an independent third-party screening partner.
Successful applicants will need to provide confirmation of permission to work in the UK. Please note that under the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, the school has an obligation to ensure applicants have the right to work in the UK prior to commencement of employment. (If it is found that those documents do not meet the legal requirement, an offer of employment will be withdrawn)
Where the successful candidate has worked or been a resident overseas in the previous five years, such checks and confirmations as the school may require in accordance with statutory guidance.
We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race
Candidates with a disability who are invited to interview should inform the School of any necessary reasonable adjustments or arrangements to assist them in attending the interview.
If you have any questions relating to this role please contact the HR department at recruitment@berkhamsted.com
Early applications are encouraged, and interviews may take place on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to extend or close the deadline.
