Head of Drama Department in London

ArtsEd is seeking an inspirational Drama practitioner and leader 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, interpersonal and leadership skills and an ability to create an ambitious, vibrant performance and learning environment, inspiring staff and students.

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. Working as part of this team, you will lead the Drama Department which 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.

As Head of the Drama Department, you will lead, manage and develop the Drama Department and curriculum, ensuring high standards of attainment, student progress and teaching practice. You will undertake operational and strategic planning on behalf of the Department, by formulating, maintaining and developing objectives and plans that support student needs and underpin the strategic plans of the School.

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.

You will take the lead 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 on‐vocational degrees at leading universities across the UK and beyond. The Head of Drama will take a leading role in supporting 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.

Key Responsibilities

• The Head of Drama is principally responsible for the development and delivery of Drama in all areas of the ArtsEd Curriculum and will work closely with, and under the leadership of, the Director of Performing Arts.
• Operational and strategic planning.
• Lead and develop the Drama Department, under the guidance of the Director of Performing Arts, as part of a world class centre of education in the performing arts and excellence in the academic curriculum.
• Liaise regularly with the Director of Performing Arts to consider strategy and share vision for the Drama Department and its place within the whole school Performing Arts Programme.
• Prepare and maintain an annual plan of all productions and performances within the Drama Department, ensuring that these are discussed and approved by the Director of Performing Arts in a timely fashion.
• Bring all details, risk assessments and key aspects of all Drama Department productions to the Director of Performing Arts for approval.
• Promote Drama in all areas of the ArtsEd Curriculum, through inspirational leadership, teaching and the delivery of excellent results in public exams, LAMDA Grades, and outstanding productions.
• Work closely and as necessary with the Heads of other departments in the Performing Arts Faculty, including the Head of BTEC and BTEC Acting Pathway Leader, and other departments in the Academic Faculty.
• Review and develop the curriculum offer creating a learning experience that excites and challenges learners and prepares them for progression beyond secondary education into the performing arts industry, conservatoires, universities or other employment pathways.
• Formulate and proactively monitor objectives and plans for the department that support student needs and underpin the strategic plans of the School.
• Oversee the development and review of syllabuses, resources, schemes of work, marking policies, assessment and teaching & learning strategies in the department.
• Encourage consultation and discussion in the Department, to support the professional development of all Drama staff, ensure compliance of staff with the current Teaching Staff.
• Maintain awareness of, and respond to, national developments in the subject and its teaching.
• Co‐ordinate and host an exciting programme of wider curricular activities, trips and outside speakers to inspire and foster students' engagement with the subject.
• Take a leading role in the teaching of the KS3 – KS5 curriculum in Drama including GCSE, A Level and LAMDA.
• Lead the deployment of staff within the Department (and otherwise as necessary) to ensure the best teaching of the KS3 – KS5 curriculum in Drama including GCSE, A Level and LAMDA.
• Oversee and arrange as necessary for the effective delivery, moderation and submission of Non‐Exam Assessments (NEAs) including the organisation and delivery of trips to see productions.
• Foster and oversee the application of learning technologies in the department.
• Deliver an appropriate, comprehensive, high quality and cost-effective curriculum.
• Ensure that students are well‐prepared for public examinations and developing the curriculum that meet evolving needs.
• In conjunction with the Examinations Officer, to ensure that students are entered for public examinations.
• Liaise with the Director of Sixth‐Form regarding course outlines for curriculum booklets.
• Prepare analysis of internal exam results with comments on student success and failure and assessment of results.
• Liaise with the Examinations Officer to ensure the setting of internal exams, supplying correct papers and exam marking and results are completed by published deadlines.
• Liaise with the Examinations Officer regarding external exams; entering students for appropriate exams; checking entries and checking the exam papers and JCQ regulations.
• Prepare analysis of external exam results with comments on student success and failure and assessment of results by the Headteacher, Director of Studies and Director of Teaching and Learning.
• Maintain the necessary tracking of student progress in all internal assessments, review weeks and reporting; highlighting student success and failure and assessment of results for the Headteacher, Director of Studies and Director of Teaching and Learning and for necessary parental reports.
• Liaise with the Learning Development Department as required to assist students with SEND.
• Ensure that appropriate cover work is set in the case of a Department member's absence and the appropriate member of staff is informed of the absence.
• Ensure that teachers are clear about teaching objectives in lessons and encourage visits by others both inside and outside the department to engage in regular coaching opportunities and informal classroom observations.
• Encourage cross‐curricular links with other departments.
• Lead professional development of subject staff through example and support and co‐coordinate the provision of high‐quality professional development in conjunction with the Head of Teaching and Learning.
• Manage the Department Budget as agreed annually with the Finance Director and the necessary member of the SLT.
• Provide a list of examination and school trips disbursements when required by the Headteacher and Finance Director.
• Review and updating the Department schemes of work annually and updating the Department Handbook in accordance with the School requirements.
• Team management.
• Manage staff, finance/budget, space and resources efficiently and effectively.
• Ensure that teaching commitments of the Department are effectively timetabled and roomed.
• Mentor and support Departmental staff who are on PGCE/training courses and also any Drama ECTs.
• Support, guide and motivate teachers with regular weekly departmental meetings at which minutes should be taken and circulated to Department staff and Line Managers.
• Provide professional leadership and management for Drama in order to secure a high quality of teaching, effective use of resources and the highest standards of learning and achievement of all students.
• Quality assurance and enhancement.
• Produce an annual examinations analysis and department review as part of the School's self‐evaluation cycle by the start of the Autumn Term.
• Deliver high quality internal exam papers, mark schemes and reports.
• Monitor student work, discussing teaching and learning with students, to ensure the highest standards of teaching and learning.
• Identify under‐performing students and implementing plans for improvement.
• Deliver accurate department information on the management information system, evaluating performance data provided, and planning appropriate action in response.
• Communications.
• Communicating effectively with parents and students on all Drama curricula, teaching and learning matters, maintaining high standards and expectations.
• Promoting student achievements, career opportunities and experiences in Drama, providing relevant material for the School website, newsletter and other publications.
• Communicating effectively with Department and Faculty members in order to facilitate sharing of ideas, key information and to enhance the collaborative approach of the School.