Head of Brass and Woodwind in Oundle

To start in September 2026, we are seeking an exceptional Head of Brass and Woodwind who is able to develop and inspire our pupils, and who wishes to participate in and contribute to the life of the School as a whole. We are seeking an outstanding musician and teacher to lead Brass and Wind at Oundle and to play a significant strategic role within a large and thriving Music Department. This is a senior, full-time post, with responsibility for the musical, organisational and professional leadership of Brass and Wind across the School. In return for your dedication and expertise, you can expect to be highly valued and offered ongoing professional development and support.

Oundle is a full boarding school with extensive opportunities beyond the curriculum, and music plays a central role in the life of the School. The role of a teacher usually involves a balance of teaching, co-curricular leadership and pastoral contribution. The Head of Brass and Wind will combine 1:1 teaching with responsibility for ensemble direction, staff leadership and the strategic development of these key departments, and we always do our best to match an individual’s interests and experience with their wider commitments.

The Head of Brass and Wind provides professional and organisational leadership for a large and diverse team of approximately fifteen Visiting Music Teachers, delivering specialist teaching across the full breadth of woodwind and brass, including pipes. The role works closely with colleagues responsible for large-scale ensembles, including the School’s 90-strong CCF Band, contributing to the strategic development and long-term sustainability of brass and wind provision across the School.

Oundle supports our Heads of Instrument with a 14-day annual professional allowance, which may be used flexibly for high-level musical and professional development, including specialist CPD, performing commitments, professional engagements and other opportunities that support continued artistic excellence. We recognise the importance of appointing outstanding musicians to these roles and are committed to supporting their ongoing development as performers, teachers and leaders.

The Music Department is led by the Director of Music and comprises a large team of full-time academic staff, including five Heads of Instrument, supported by two department administrators and a part-time Music Technician. The department is further strengthened by an extensive team of approximately forty-five Visiting Music Teachers, delivering specialist instrumental and vocal teaching across a wide range of disciplines. The Head of Brass and Woodwind is one of five Heads of Instrument, providing leadership within a substantial and strategically important area of the department, working closely with colleagues across academic and co-curricular music to deliver a coherent and ambitious programme.

The department is housed primarily in the Gascoigne Building, located near the centre of the School and the town. The building provides an attractive and well-equipped environment for music education, including thirty teaching and practice rooms, a dedicated recital and rehearsal space, a music technology studio and a well-stocked music library. Larger rehearsals and concerts take place in the Great Hall and the School Chapel. Nearly 1,000 individual instrumental and vocal lessons take place each week, and around sixty ensembles and musical activities are offered across the School. Pupils are strongly encouraged to participate in instrumental groups and choirs as soon as they reach an appropriate standard, and instrumental ensembles are carefully tiered to ensure clear progression from beginner to advanced level.

Ensembles include Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, multiple Wind and Concert Bands, Chapel Choir, Schola Cantorum, two Jazz Orchestras, brass and wind ensembles, pipe band, steel pans, percussion ensembles, chamber groups and a broad range of contemporary and popular music ensembles, alongside large-scale ensembles such as the CCF Band. The department is closely involved in productions in the School’s Stahl Theatre, ranging from incidental music for plays to full-scale musical productions.

Oundle is a historic market town in Northamptonshire, famous for its beautiful Georgian streets and impressive limestone buildings. The town has a spirited cultural life, with an annual international festival, literature festival, and frequent performances of nationally touring shows at the School’s Stahl theatre. The town has a range of independent shops, coffee houses, pubs and eateries. Encircled by the river Nene, the town is also blessed to be surrounded by beautiful countryside with many picturesque villages nearby.

If you are excited by this opportunity, complete and return an application form and the supplement to the application form before the closing date. Please note CV submissions cannot be accepted. Application closing date: Monday 23 February 2026, 9am. Interview date: Wednesday 4 March 2026.

The Corporation of Oundle School has an internal recruitment department, but where agency support is required, we will engage our trusted partners. Our adverts are intended to encourage direct interest from potential applicants, not recruitment agencies. Speculative CVs sent from sources other than directly from a candidate will not be acknowledged or considered.

Oundle School and Laxton Junior School are proud to be equal opportunity employers and we welcome applications from all. We aim to ensure that all applicants are provided with the same opportunities during the recruitment process, and we endeavour to comply with the duties placed upon us to make reasonable adjustments as prescribed by the Equality Act 2010. Should you need to request a particular adjustment to enable you to participate fully in the recruitment process, please ensure that this is made known to the HR Department. Both Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.