Highland Dance Instructor

Defence Children Services (DCS) Army

Location: Queen Victoria School, Dunblane, Scotland

Grade: Education and Training

Salary: £29,580pa

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time

Closing date: 11:55pm, Thursday 23rd October 2025

Defence Children Services (DCS) has an exciting opportunity for a Highland Dance Instructor to join Queen Victoria School. We are seeking an individual who strives to continuously improve the high standards of Scottish Highland Dancing at Queen Victoria School, including ensuring that Dancing students have opportunities to gain formal qualifications in the subject. The Dance Instructor will also take an active role in the promotion of Queen Victoria School through regular attendance, sometimes along with the Pipe Band, at events around the country (and occasionally, abroad).

This post reports to the Headteacher. The post requires the job holder to have been cleared through the Disclosure Scotland Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme, prior to taking up post.

This post is advertised at Term Time plus 3.

DCS is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. Our Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such using data to aid understanding of our workforce is vital.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job Description

Key areas of responsibility

· Instruct P7-S2 students in Scottish Highland Dancing, in small groups, as part of the QVS Core Curriculum.

· Instruct S3-S6 students who select Dancing in their course choice to gain formal qualifications, as timetabled during the working school week as part of the QVS curriculum.

· Run at least two Dance practices per week after school.

· Work closely with the School Sergeant Major, Pipe Major and Drum Major to ensure that common goals are met.

· Support key school events such as Parades – five Parade Sundays are held each year – and our annual Grand Day which is held in June at the end of our academic year.

· Work closely with the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) to foster close links between the CCF and Ceremonial events.

· Perform other tasks as directed by the Line Manager.

· Throughout the year, the Dance Instructor may be required to work in the evenings and, occasionally, at weekends on Ceremonial matters. This element of the job forms an integral part of the full-time role, it is not additional to it.

· Safeguarding Children: All staff are responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Further information is available on the attached job description.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will need to;

Demonstrate the essential Civil Service Behaviours;

· Leadership – Show pride and passion for your work and Queen Victoria School (QVS), promoting QVS in a positive and consistent manner. Build and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.

· Communicating and Influencing – Clear communication with staff, pupils and parents, respecting their needs, responses and opinions.

· Working Together – Form effective partnerships with staff, pupils and parents from diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.

Demonstrate essential Skills from the Specialist Instructional Officer (SIO) Functional Competence Framework;

· SI-1 – Actively Promote the Vocational Learning Environment (Practitioner).

· SI-2 – Delivery of Specialist Instruction (Practitioner).

· SI-4 – Coach/Mentor Students within the Vocational Training Environment (Practitioner).

· Desirable Civil Service Behaviours are;

· Changing and improving – Be adaptable within the ever-changing environment of school life. Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.

· Seeing the Big Picture – Understand how your role fits with and supports multiple stakeholders in school life.

· Making Effective Decisions – With pupil learning at the forefront, use evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.

· Delivering at Pace – Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.

· Managing a Quality Service – Deliver the objectives of the Highland Dancing team, and those of the wider school, with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency. Take account of diverse stakeholder needs, ensuring that these are met.

Evidence of qualifications will be required at interview. Equivalent qualifications will not be accepted.

Benefits

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

· Pro rata 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service

· Highly competitive pension scheme

· Personal and professional development of skills

· Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

· Enhanced parental and adoption leave

· 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities

· Learning and Development

Discover My Benefits: Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

To apply please visit Civil Service Jobs Defence Children Services (DCS) Highland Dance Instructor, Queen Victoria School, Dunblane - Civil Service Jobs - GOV.UK to submit your completed application before the deadline 11:55pm, Thursday 23 October 2025.

Defence Children Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.