Science Technician

Role: Science Technician

Location: St Dunstan's

Hours: 25 hours per week term time plus 5 inset days

Salary: Grade 3, Scale Point 5 - 7, Actual Salary £14,851 to £15,327 (Full time equivalent £25,583 - £26,403) 

We are delighted to be able to advertise the role of Science Technician. This role is crucial to the students, science staff and to the science curriculum: safe and accurate storage and preparation of materials for use in practical work underpins both Health & Safety and exciting, engaging curriculum activity.

Main duties and responsibilities

• To prepare classrooms, laboratories and workshops for use by staff and pupils ensuring a safe working, tidy and healthy environment is provided at all times.
• To prepare, supply and collect, and be responsible for teaching materials for specified schemes of work, displays, apparatus and equipment, providing technical assistance and support to teaching staff and pupils on the safe and economic use of equipment and materials (including electrical equipment), working with teaching staff in the creation of new teaching resources and materials and to remove equipment at the end of the lessons.
• To demonstrate, advise and assist in practical activities and support practical experiments where necessary.
• To assist in using IT and other equipment associated with displays, machinery and experiments, ensuring the availability and security of equipment used.
• To maintain and repair equipment and apparatus or organise maintenance and repair, seeking specialist assistance when necessary, in order to ensure safe and efficient operation.
• To ensure that workshops, laboratories, classrooms and all equipment used are kept clean, tidy and in a safe condition, also undertaking routine and non-routine checking, maintenance, calibration, cleaning and fault investigation.
• To be responsible for the safe storage of equipment and materials and the disposal of waste and hazardous materials, according to the relevant regulations, guidelines and school procedures and in line with Health and Safety good practice.
• To participate in maintaining records of stock levels and loans of equipment and materials and undertake annual stocktaking, ordering new stocks, supplies or equipment when authorised by teaching staff, taking receipt of materials and equipment delivered and passing invoices for payment.
• To have delegated responsibility where required for the purchase of relevant items locally when authorised, assessing the availability of suitable alternatives in line with best value principles and maintaining records of transactions and expenditure in accordance with the school’s financial guidelines.
• To assist with the issue and return of textbooks as required and undertake other appropriate clerical duties when necessary.
• To assist in the organisation and preparation of displays for open evenings and other appropriate school functions as and when required.
• To ensure at all times, in their work undertaken, and in all the above activities that Health and Safety Regulations, and other relevant regulations and guidelines such as COSHH regulations and school procedures, are adhered to and observed. This may involve participating in regular and routine checking and testing procedures and risk assessments where appropriate, and contributing to the assessment, monitoring and review of Health and Safety procedures and policies.
• To assist teaching staff as directed and undertake other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the post, including assisting or advising other Technicians in areas of particular competence or skill.

In return we can offer you the opportunity to work with motivated students, the full support of a dedicated and committed team of staff, a supportive induction programme and ongoing professional development, plus the opportunity to work in a developing school in a beautiful area of the South West.

There are many advantages to working for us. Included in your actual annual salary is generous annual leave entitlement, access to a local government pension scheme, sick pay scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, free eye tests and employee assistance helpline. Support staff in schools can also benefit from a range of national discount schemes available to education professionals such as the Blue Light Card offering savings on shopping, travel, and leisure.

This is an extremely successful inclusive school with a strong reputation in the area. In the most recent Ofsted in February 2024, inspectors praised the strong community ethos and relationships between staff and students based on clear expectations. Inspectors also celebrated our broad and ambitious curriculum, the prioritisation of reading and the support that is in place for all students to access the curriculum. (Ofsted Report- Link) Moreover, we continue to be very proud of the excellent progress our students make in their GCSE examinations. The school remains one of the highest performing schools in Somerset and is well-regarded by parents and the community.

St Dunstan’s school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to references and a full Disclosure and Barring Service check. St Dunstan’s School is an equal opportunities employer. The site is a no smoking site.