What does a head of music do?

Description

An overview of the responsibilities of a head of music in a secondary school.

1,274 words.

One of the first questions I was asked by a student after I had been appointed as a Head of Music (following six years as an assistant) was: “Why did you move schools?” My response? Frustration.
Whether you have been an assistant for one year or ten, the time will come when you think: ‘I want to do something different, not just what I am being told to do’. This is not wanderlust or megalomania, simply a creative response. It could be anything: curriculum changes at KS3; exploring a different GCSE specification; the desire to be musical director for the school show; a belief that everyone should learn samba drumming; or just simply repertoire choice for the wind band. Whatever it is, you want to try something else: not better, just different.