Art & Design and Food technology Technician

Department Information

We are a small but successful Art & Design Department, currently consisting of Art, 3D Design, Catering and Engineering. We have a vision to expand our current offer and introduce new subjects into our curriculum, such as Textiles and Photography. We are looking a for passionate and enthusiastic technician to join our growing department.

We currently have 1 full time teacher in each subject area except for Art where we have 2, and we also offer opportunities to train student teachers in the department. We are a training school in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire.

In 2021 83% of our students achieved a grade 4 or above at GCSE for Art, Craft and Design whilst 100% of our students achieved a grade A*-C at A Level. 100% of our students achieved P-D* in Engineering at A level and GCSE and 93% achieved a P-D* in GCSE Catering. We are currently working collaboratively with other arts subjects in the school community to achieve the Artsmark Gold accreditation and have recently signed up to Art Bytes; a scheme aimed at sharing and celebrating students and their work

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Display and rotate artwork around the college. Helping with Exhibitions and Art events.
• Maintenance and upkeep of classroom spaces and delegated equipment across the department.
• Play a role in the extracurricular life of the department, practical assistance where required and support in timetabled lessons.
• Ordering of materials and equipment, helping with the storage and organisation and auditing orders.
• Assisting with practical help in the lead up to examinations/moderation days and especially with storage of student work.
• Working alongside the HoD, keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety, welfare, security, confidentiality and data protection, eg COSHH, Food Hygiene and Manual Handing of Goods.
• Assist the HoD in the upkeep of Health and Safety in the Art & Design Department.

Catering

• Prepare and present equipment, resources and materials for demonstration for pupils.
• Monitor and manage stocks of materials, specialist and routine equipment and ensure that they are kept in an orderly, secure and safe manner, cataloguing as required.
• Ensure equipment is dismantled, stored and cleaned correctly after use, recording items that need repairing.
• Demonstrate and assist others to use specialist equipment and materials safely.
• Correctly recording the temperatures of fridges and freezers.
• Maintain records as required and undertake clerical/administrative duties.
• Assisting in practical lessons and providing support for pupils under the guidance of the teacher, including on a one to one basis for those pupils requiring additional support.
• Assisting with displays within the classroom.
• Assisting with online shopping and preparing ingredients for the Boarders
• Ensure that all duties are undertaken within appropriate Health and Safety guidelines for the relevant subject area.
• Comply with legislation, policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety, welfare, security, confidentiality and data protection, eg COSHH, Food Hygiene and Manual Handing of Goods.
• Qualifications (Desirable D Expected E)
• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualification Food Hygiene qualification, or willingness to train (D)
• Art & Design Qualification; GCSE, A level, BTEC and/or Degree level. (D)
• IT qualification (D)
• Educated to at least GCSE/O’Level in English and Mathematics (E)

Experience

• Experience of food preparation (E)
• Working knowledge of cooking equipment and the ability to identify faults and seek repairs as needed (E)
• Experience of working in a similar role or catering environment (D)
• Experience of working with a range of food equipment and resources (D)
• Experience of demonstrating specialist equipment and materials (D)
• Knowledge of particular subject and technical area (D)
• Experience of working with young people (D)
• Experience working in a school environment (D)
• Knowledge of Art materials and Art Equipment (E)

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of Health & Safety legislation as it relates to the work of a school, or willingness to train (D)
• Knowledge of safe working practices in relation to handling and usage of hazardous equipment and tools (E)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (E)
• The ability to organise/prioritise workload to meet deadlines (E)
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated and works well as part of a team (E)
• Competent in the use of a computer and knowledge of Microsoft Office (E)
• Ability to be able to carry out risk assessments (D)
• Ability to maintain specialist resources (E)
• Good IT skills (E)
• Ability to prepare equipment and materials for lessons, as requested by the teaching staff (E)
• Able to create a safe, clean, orderly and productive working environment (E)
• Able to monitor supplies of materials and resources and order as required (E)
• Experience of / familiarity of working with ceramics, photography and or textiles would be an advantage.  (D)

Other

• Be humble, intuitive and passionate (E)
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic (E)
• An understanding of health and safety issues (E)
• An understanding of the values and behaviour expected within this role (E)
• An understanding of the protection and safeguarding of children and young people (E)
• Flexible with working hours if needed (E)

Wellbeing

Ensure all pupils have equal access to learning using appropriate strategies and resources, where necessary.

Liaise with pastoral staff members to ensure the wellbeing of pupils and their full participation in school life.

Raise any concerns regarding pupils’ behaviour with the relevant Raising Standards Lead.

Implement any specific arrangements for individual pupils, ensuring that relevant staff members are aware of the measures in place.

Provide individual pastoral support to pupils, where necessary.

Continuously motivate and challenge pupils, whilst promoting and reinforcing self-esteem.

Safeguarding

The post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people for whom they come into contact will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with the School’s Child Protection Policy Statement at all times.  If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school they must report any concerns to their Line Manager or the School’s Child Protection Officer.    

Variation Clause

This job description will be reviewed and updated periodically in order to ensure that it relates to the job performed or to incorporate any proposed changes. This procedure will be conducted by the Headteacher or line manager in consultation with the post holder. In these circumstances it will be the aim to reach agreement on reasonable changes but if agreement is not possible management reserves the right to make changes to the job description following consultation.