Our Tutor Team

Essex Music Service has a team of over 200 music tutors, catering for vocal and instrumental lessons across the county.

Who our are tutors?

We supply our teaching in-school and in our community music centres, and have specialist tutors for a large amount of the work we deliver. Our team consists of highly skilled and experienced teams of string, woodwind, brass, percussion, vocal, rap, keyboard, music technology tutors. We also have a small group of music curriculum teachers, and our team of specialist teachers for SEND.

What do our tutors do?

Our tutors work with each student to encourage the best music-making from them. This could include music exams (i.e. ABRSM, Trinity, LCM), local music competitions, as well as entry for national and international music conservatoires. Our tutors work with each child to help enable them to realise their musical potential, developing their personal, social, academic and musical skills.

How are staff supported?

  • Our tutors are employees of Essex County Council, a learning organisation. Our staff undergo ESCB Level 2 Safeguarding and Child Protection training at least once every two years, are registered with the DBS Update Service, and work within statutory guidelines set out by Essex County Council.
  • We run an unrivalled, nationally acclaimed CPD/CPL training programme for our staff, including all-staff training days each year.
  • Most of all, we run a support and development programme which links each tutor to a District Lead Tutor. This allows each tutor to receive regular contact and support in their role, including an annual mentoring observation.

Joining the Music Service Tutor Team

What do we look for in a music tutor?

Our focus is beyond 1-to-1 teaching, and we rarely take on tutors who offer only 1-to-1 teaching. Our tutors are curious learners, are self-reflective in their practice, and embed inclusion and youth voice in their practice. As part of our Inclusion Strategy and approach, we welcome applicants from non-traditional academic routes and a broad range of backgrounds and experiences  as part of ensuring our workforce is representative of our young people and of our county.

We look for staff with evidence of:

  • engaging young people in their musical journey through small-group teaching, ensemble, whole-class teaching,
  • offering a our broad provision for young people in our county,
  • embedding inclusion and diversity at the heart of their teaching practice.

For those new to teaching, we have our Tutor Starter Programme

Launched in 2023, Candidates shadow a lead tutor, observe practice, and team teach. This is supported by follow up discussions, and use a reflective journal to track development, and team teach. They then move to leading the provision and starting their career as a full tutor. Candidates for this are welcome to contact us at musichub@essex.gov.uk.

Applying to Work with Us

Applications for January 2024 closed on 30 September.
As we appoint staff to begin at the start of a term, we are now accepting applications for tutors who would start with us for April 2024.
The deadline to apply is 29 January 2024. 

Our Application Form asks for:

  • full personal information, including any former names by which the person has been known in the past;
  • a full history of employment, both paid and voluntary, since leaving school, including any periods of further education or training;
  • details of any relevant academic and/or vocational qualifications.

Recruitment and pre-employment process

During the recruitment and selection process your application will is assessed against the selection criteria for the role. You are therefore advised to address these in your application, and no section must be left blank. If you are successful at interview stage, as part of Essex County Council’s pre-employment checks, we will require (this list is not exhaustive):
  • Receipt of two satisfactory references;
  • Verification of the candidate’s identity;
  • Successful (i.e. without information) a Disclosure and Barring Service Disclosure appropriate to the role (enhanced DBS to work with children);
  • Verification of any relevant qualifications and professional status;
  • Evidence of right to work in the UK.
Having read the above, if you believe you have particular skills we and our young people would benefit from, and you wish to work for us, please click here for our Application Form.