Street Dance Coach
Part time, permanent
Starting April 2025
Headington Rye Oxford is a vibrant and welcoming school set in 35 acres of playing fields and grounds. In an environment where individuals come first, Headington Rye Oxford is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, pastoral support and an impressive range of extra-curricular opportunities.
Executive Summary
We are seeking a part-time Street Dance Coach, to work within our thriving Dance Department from April 2025. The successful candidate must be a specialist in Street Dance, with a proven track record of success in teaching. The post holder will be expected to lead Street Dance classes, which involves delivering Street Dance training to groups of students from both the Prep and Senior schools.
You must be committed to excellence in teaching and learning, using innovative methods to engage and inspire students and be a strong team player with a keen desire to work collaboratively with colleagues.
Dance at Headington Rye Oxford
Headington Rye Oxford has an exciting Dance Department with a dedicated team of specialist Dance teachers. All our staff take a full and active part in many aspects of school life. The members of the department work happily together, supporting and working closely to achieve shared goals, which in turn promotes students' achievements and enjoyment of Dance.
Dance is housed in a superb state-of-the-art Dance and Fitness facility, including a spacious Dance Studio equipped with a Harlequin floor, identical to that used in a number of world renowned ballet schools including the Bolshoi. Dance is taught at the Prep School to years 1 - 6, and at the Senior School years 7 - 13, including GCSE and A Level Dance.
Dance is very popular at Headington Rye. With a wide range of different clubs, classes and companies to join, there is something for everyone - from those who are just getting to grips with moving to music to those who are experienced dancers and are eager to pursue their passion beyond Headington Rye.
We offer a range of different disciplines, from Ballet to Street Dance, with the opportunity to train for competitions and performances on a professional stage.
Each year our dancers take part in shows, including the annual 'Mind, Body and Soul' which is an exhibition of our dancers' broad range of talent.
We thoroughly enjoy teaching together at Headington Rye Oxford and we are dedicated to our roles, inspired by our own passions for Dance and instilling this in others.
Role Description
This is a part-time, permanent role starting in April 2025.
Key responsibilities
- plan and deliver excellent and well-structured lessons that ensure thorough teaching from Prep Year 5-6 and Senior Year 7-13
- choreograph full routines to a high standard for beginners right through to advanced pupils
- explain and demonstrate dance techniques and methods
- choreograph and direct dance performances for dance shows and school presentations
- teach Dance as a form of recreation
- show pupils how to rehearse and exercise
- monitor a pupil’s progress, providing reports when necessary
- perform numerous dance routines throughout the day
- ensure a safe and secure learning environment where girls are challenged and are encouraged to develop their technique, confidence and enjoyment of Dance
- keep accurate and up to date registers and keep the Director of Dance informed of any non-attendees
Person Specification
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- experience of delivering high quality classes to a range of age groups
- previous experience of working in a school
Desirable
- a good honours degree relevant to the role
Personal Attributes and Skills
- a conscientious and highly motivated individual
- excellent communication skills, both oral and written
- excellent interpersonal skills and keen to assist with the development and progression of the department in future years
- show initiative by making plans to improve recruitment into Street Dance classes at all levels
- enthusiastic about the subject
- good time management, well-organised and set high standards
- flexible and calm under pressure
- experience in street style and hip hop dance
- ability to inspire passion in pupils
- confident teaching large groups of children in a classroom/studio setting
- physically fit and able to sustain a high level of energetic activity for long periods of time
- genuinely excited about pupils’ progress
- willingness to work with others within a department and responding constructively to feedback
Terms of Appointment
Type of Contract
Part time, permanent, starting April 2025
Benefits
Pension
Contributory membership of the School’s Support Staff Pension Scheme with a School contribution of up to 9.95 per cent upon successful completion of six months’ service.
Hourly rate
£34.61 plus holiday pay
Additional Benefits
All staff have access to a broad programme of wellbeing activities. The programme currently includes access to the School’s gym and swimming pool, weekly Step and Tone and Zumba classes and regular staff social activities such as Book Club and Staff Choir. Staff also benefit from free access to the Employee Assistance Programme, a free, confidential helpline that offers advice on a range of issues. Free restricted parking is available for all staff on site.
Appointment Process and How To Apply
Applicants should submit an application form and a covering letter detailing their skills and experience to recruitment@headingtonschool.com
- Applications will only be accepted from candidates completing the application form in full. CVs will not be accepted in substitution for completed application forms. However, they may be sent in addition to the application form.
- We will seek references on shortlisted candidates and will approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications, before the interview. References will ask about your suitability to work with children.
- If you are invited to interview you will receive notification outlining the interview process and guidance regarding the documentation you are required to provide.
Closing Date: Friday 18th April 2025
Interviews week commencing Monday 21st April 2025
All appointments are subject to satisfactory completion of all employment checks, ie references, Disclosure and Barring Service, medical questionnaire, Right to Work in the UK. Headington Rye Oxford is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and DBS and barred lists checks. The School expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.