Westminster School and Westminster Under School are busy and vibrant places to work. There is a real sense of community here and the schools’ premises are very much treated as a home away from home. Staff are encouraged to embrace the day-to-day activities, whether that be attending a lunchtime society or an evening performance or exhibition.

It is a particularly exciting and significant time to be joining Westminster. As part of Westminster Under School and Westminster School’s move to become fully co-educational, girls will be joining the Under School for the first time in 2026, at the 7+ and 11+ entry points, and a brand new pre-prep will open for boys and girls at the 4+ entry point. In 2028, girls will be joining at 13+ at Westminster School.

Music has always been a very important part of life at Westminster. All pupils are encouraged to learn and participate as fully as possible in a weekly routine which is full of rehearsals, recitals and concerts. The organ is a key component of musical tradition across both schools, with the School Organist playing at regular services and at both small and large-scale events. Honouring the schools’ longstanding commitment to organ playing, on a biennial basis Westminster awards the Henry Purcell Organ Scholarship to a 16+ pupil, to promote excellence in organ playing and to foster the School’s ties with Westminster Abbey.

The role
We are looking for a School Organist and Teacher of Organ to represent organ playing across the two Westminster schools. Although this post is split into two separate roles, a part-time, permanent School Organist and a self-employed Visiting Music Teacher, the job will be performed by the one individual only and candidates will be considered for both as part of the same recruitment process. The postholder will report to the Directors of Music at both schools.

The School Organist will play the organ at all school functions and weekly services, predominantly in Westminster Abbey for Westminster School and St Stephen’s Rochester Row for Westminster Under School, accompanying rehearsals where necessary. They will also be responsible for organising trips and masterclasses for the schools’ organ pupils, and for writing references in support of pupils’ applications for organ courses. For extra remuneration, the postholder will be required to attend additional rehearsals, concerts and auditions as agreed with the Directors of Music in advance.

As a Teacher of Organ, the successful candidate will provide pupils with the opportunity to play the organ at a suitable stage within their development as keyboard players, taking a leading role in encouraging meaningful progress throughout a pupil’s time at both schools. More able organ pupils will be trained as recitalists, repetiteurs, improvisers and choral directors, in order to prepare them for future studies should they wish to continue their organ playing in higher education.

To be considered for this role, applicants will need to hold a degree in Music or an equivalent qualification and a post-graduate qualification or equivalent in musical performance, specifically on the organ. Applicants will have a proven track record of teaching organ in an educational or organisational setting and will be able to accompany a choir on the organ and sightread to a professional standard. The ability to improvise with an extremely high level of creativity in keeping with the context of the liturgy is integral to this role. The School Organist will be a confident performer, with excellent communication and organisational skills. They will have an unwavering enthusiasm for organ playing and its teaching.

Interviews will take place in the week beginning Monday 17 November and will involve playing the Westminster Abbey Organ on the evening of Thursday 20 November. Applicants will also teach an organ lesson and accompany a choir rehearsal.