Music Teacher

Heywood Academy became the newest school within the New Bridge Multi-Academy Trust when we opened our doors to young people in September 2025.

We are a 75-place specialist setting, providing tailored educational support for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and/or Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) associated with ASC.

At Heywood Academy, we are passionate about offering a broad, balanced and highly engaging curriculum that meets the diverse needs of our learners from Key Stage 3 through to Key Stage 5.

Music plays a vital role within this offer, providing young people with meaningful opportunities to express themselves, develop confidence, and build communication and social skills through creative and practical experiences.

We are committed to innovative curriculum design that ensures all young people can access high-quality learning experiences. Through our music provision, young people are supported to develop their creativity, self-expression, listening skills, and emotional well-being, alongside their wider academic, social and communication development. Opportunities for performance, collaboration and exploration of a range of musical styles are embedded within the curriculum to ensure young people can achieve success in ways that are meaningful to them.

The school is part of the New Bridge Multi-Academy Trust, a vibrant, aspirational and inclusive organisation comprising eight special schools and two specialist post-16 provisions across Oldham, Tameside and Rochdale, as well as post-19 provision within the wider New Bridge Group. All children and young people within the Trust have an EHCP, with provision supporting a broad spectrum of needs from ages 419 and beyond.

The Trust is recognised as a national leader in special education and is committed to creating outstanding opportunities for all. While each setting retains its unique identity, there is a strong culture of collaboration, mutual support and shared ambition to improve life outcomes for every young person.

This is an exciting stage in the development of Heywood Academy as we continue to grow year on year. For a passionate and creative Music Teacher, this represents a fantastic opportunity to shape and develop an engaging, inclusive music curriculum within a forward-thinking and outward-looking organisation. If you share our drive, determination and commitment to making a difference, we would welcome your application.

The successful candidate will:

• Have specific experience/interest in working with young people with SEND and Autism
• Be an excellent practitioner with the commitment and motivation to inspire young people’ learning and development.
• To have knowledge and understanding of autism and how young people with autism learn and be able to use knowledge of ASC strategies to adapt learning to meet the needs of these young people.
• To have an up to date understanding of the National Curriculum at all ability levels and be able to adapt learning to meet the needs of young people in KS3.
• To be able to use a wide range of communication tools to communicate with young people in the school.
• Be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation through imaginative and differentiated lessons which meet individual needs.
• Possess the emotional and physical resilience necessary when working with young people with a range of complex needs.
• Have the ability to foster good relationships with other staff, young people, parents and the wider community.
• Have an experience of enhancement of pupil progress gains and raising attainment and achievement in all young people.
• Have experience of current assessment practice and the use of data and pupil progress tracking to ensure that all groups of learners achieve.
• Be hardworking, organised and proactive in their professional development.

We can offer you:

• The opportunity to be part of our thriving team, who are committed to creating meaningful futures for both our young people and staff
• High quality continuing professional development (CPD) through our dedicated Everyone Learning Team
• A commitment to future career development and progression within the trust
• HSF Membership and access to HSF Health Benefits
• Trust TOIL Scheme for all staff

Although based initially at our Heywood Academy site, all staff are employed by the MAT and are expected to work at any site within the New Bridge Group.

Candidates are welcome to arrange a visit (see below). We would particularly look forward to receiving applications from experienced teachers looking to start or continue a career in the SEN sector.

New Bridge MAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must have a commitment to safeguarding young people. This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service, and references will be sought prior to interview. For all shortlisted candidates, an online search will also be carried out as part of our due diligence in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025.

We strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Salary: Qualified / Unqualified Teachers’ Pay Scale + SEN (£2,787 per annum pro rata)

Hours of work: 0.2 FTE (1 day per week)

Based: Heywood Academy

Commencing: September 2026

Closing Date: Tuesday 7th July 2026 (9am)

Interview/observation: W/c 13th July 2026

School information: Emma McManus emma.mcmanus@newbridgegroup.org

Please return completed application forms via email to: recruitment@newbridgegroup.org