Damian Oxborough

Prior to becoming qualified, I taught children in primary and secondary schools all over the Bradford region. Working for Education Bradford’s Music Service, I have given singing lessons from the piano to hundreds (if not thousands!) of children over the years — usually linking the songs we sing to the subjects they learn about in the wider curriculum! Secondary schools have hired me as a peripatetic keyboard teacher — providing group lessons to students from 11 to 19 years old.In 2007, I sat my Post Graduate Certificate in Secondary Education (PGC Sec Ed) through a SCITT programme: ‘School Centred Initial Teacher Training’ — trained to be a qualified secondary school music teacher. I did a short placement at Lawnswood School in Leeds, and the lion’s share of my experience was gained at St Mary’s Catholic Comprehensive in Menston. This was followed by a year’s maternity cover as a Teacher of Music at Prince Henry’s Grammar School — securing permanent QTS. Here I taught Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level Music (AQA & EdExcel), looked after the pastoral care of year 8 children, and led a number of after-school music clubs. I am currently a 1-2-1 piano teacher at South Craven School in Sutton.