Drama Teacher

ArtsEd is seeking an inspirational Drama practitioner with experience of a wide range of theatrical genres and a proven ability to teach Drama up to and including A Level. The successful candidate should be a well-qualified graduate with excellent organisational and interpersonal skills, and an ability to create an ambitious, vibrant performance and learning environment.

The Drama Department at ArtsEd has an outstanding tradition of excellent teaching, performance and production work. The successful candidate will join the highly talented Performing Arts Faculty of 26 teachers and 11 peripatetic staff sharing industry experience across our Drama, Dance and Musical Theatre pathways. The Drama Department comprises 4 full-time members of staff.

In 2024, ArtsEd was awarded a ‘significant strength’ by ISI and the ISA National Award for Excellence – recognising our outstanding curriculum and performing arts achievements. In 2025, ArtsEd were Winners in three main categories at the National School Theatre Awards: Best Ensemble; Best Actor in a Musical; Best Actress in a Play. The School wins a steady stream of accolades in the ISA performing arts categories including Best Devised Piece and Best Ensemble in Drama, Best Musical Theatre Piece, winners of ‘Shakespeare Monologue Competition’ and ‘original monologues’.

In the Sixth Form, there is a choice of learning pathways which ensures students can select the course of study best suited to their talents and ambitions. Students can choose to immerse themselves in their vocational work, taking one of the following options: BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in the Performing Arts Practice (Acting, Dance or Musical Theatre) and have the option to take one additional A level. Alternatively, they can follow a traditional route of three or four A levels; this is augmented by a core component of Performing Arts enrichment.

Drama is well-resourced and each year will perform in the main Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation Theatre (ALWFT), the smaller performance studios and also at external venues; for example – The Lyric, Hammersmith; The Bush and The Questors Theatres. The ALWFT is a fully equipped and staffed industry standard theatre, and is used for the prestigious Drama Showcase and other large-scale productions. You will be expected to take a leading role in the extensive and varied theatre visit programme throughout the year, frequenting theatres in the thriving London theatre scene.

Working as part of this team, you will support the Head of Drama in the planning and delivery of the drama curriculum; contributing to the teaching students at KS3 – KS5 including GCSE, A Level and LAMDA. This will include the ability to support the students academically as well as in the planning, preparation, rehearsal and performance of large and small scale productions within the Performing Arts.

A very significant number of students take LAMDA group performance examinations grades 4-8 (usually about 50 – most of whom are in Key Stage 3 and 4); over the last few years all students have achieved distinctions. Key annual performance opportunities include: LAMDA, Year 7 Panto, ISA competitions and Performance Evening, Year 10 GCSE Devised performances, Year 11 Scripted performances, Year 12 Devised performances, Year 13 Scripted performances and the annual Drama Showcase.

The Department follows the OCR Examination Board for both the GCSE Drama and A Level Drama & Theatre Studies courses. We have strong cohorts of performers on both courses and exam results are excellent. All students on the Key Stage 4 Drama Pathway, and some from the other Pathways (Musical Theatre and Dance), will take Drama GCSE. In the Sixth Form, a significant number of students take Drama & Theatre Studies – both those on the A level Pathways and those doing BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in the Performing Arts Practice (Acting, Dance or Musical Theatre).

The vast majority of our students go on to further vocational study at conservatoires in the UK and worldwide; some will move directly into professional careers; others will pursue performing arts related degrees, often internationally, and a few will take non-vocational degrees at leading universities across the UK and beyond. Members of the Drama Department support the preparation of students for these applications and auditions.

All staff at ArtsEd are expected to sustain and improve the quality of training and education that is offered to the students in the School. Early applications are advised as we reserve the right to close the advert early should a suitable applicant be found.

• To contribute to the teaching of the KS3 – KS5 curriculum in Drama including GCSE, A Level and LAMDA.
• To set and mark classwork, homework and any internal exams according to the School’s marking policy.
• To support the design, development and writing of schemes of work relating to the requirements of KS3 and the GCSE and A Level Examination Boards, working collaboratively where appropriate.
• To strive for excellence in the quality of teaching and learning within the department and ensure that curricular records are kept and reports written.
• To keep abreast of all relevant examination and assessment specifications, meeting all deadlines.
• To maintain and monitor appropriate records of students’ learning and achievements, curricular records, and assessments.
• To assist in planning and managing performances in school.
• To assist in the audition process of prospective students.
• To direct groups at rehearsals, and live or recorded performances, in order to achieve desired quality.
• To prepare students and pupils for external auditions – this extends from conservatoire and university auditions to auditions for professional work, and includes support as appropriate with preparing self-tapes.
• To advocate for and implement the School’s agreed policies and procedures.
• To supervise the use and care of the rooms assigned to Drama classes, including adherence to relevant Health and Safety regulations in studios and other facilities.
• To be part of devising and implementing a rehearsal programme resulting in student productions that meet (and hopefully exceed) the expectations of a specialist school with a performing arts focus. This might result in spending additional time after school, on occasional Saturdays and in the half term breaks.
• To rehearse students to be confident when performing enabling them to achieve success, be it for an exam or production.
• To attend and contribute to meetings for the department and others within school, and to adhere to plans, policies and decisions made during such meetings.
• To assist in co-ordinating backstage support and steward teams for all productions.

• To ensure that health and safety issues are properly understood, and procedures followed effectively and consistently.
• To maintain effective discipline through the implementation of the School’s agreed procedures.
• To take part in the Performance Management Programme.
• To maintain effective discipline through implementation of the School’s agreed policies and procedures.
• To carry out general school duties as and when required to do so.
• To attend Open Evenings, Parents Evenings, School performances and other relevant events.

• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and with whom you come into contact.
• To carry out their responsibilities with due regard to all ArtsEd policies and procedures, ensuring inclusivity, equality of opportunity, and compliance with Health and Safety in the workplace.
• To respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means in line with the Data Protection Act.
• To adhere to the staff Code of Conduct.
• To regularly undertake Safeguarding, Keeping Children Safe in Education, Prevent, and GDPR training and to maintain their own professionalism and job-related knowledge through ongoing CPD.
• To be professional, co-operative, and flexible in line with the needs of the post and the School.

All Job Descriptions are reviewed annually and will change to reflect the needs of the School and the post. ArtsEd is committed to the safety, wellbeing and safeguarding of all students and expects all staff to share this commitment. Staff in all posts are required to hold a clear, enhanced DBS. All staff may be required to undertake such other comparable duties as their line manager or the Headteacher requires from time to time. To provide a safe and professional environment that is respectful and supportive of other staff members and members of the ArtsEd community. To provide a safe and professional environment that is respectful and supportive to all students and enables them to explore their identities under the Equality Act 2010 and in line with ArtsEd EDI protocols. To carry out this role in accordance with legislation and in particular the School’s Safeguarding Policy and demonstrate a total commitment to safeguarding children.