Art and Photography Technician

Art and Photography Technician

Based at The Forest Academy -IG6 3TA

Term time only – 2.5 days per week/ 18 hours. 44.6 days per year.  Exact hours to be agreed with a successful candidate. 

LBR 3 Scale  point 5-6 (depending on skills and experience). £9,655.21 - £9,829.71 (prorated) gross per annum  (FTE £22,575 - £22,983)

Thank you for your interest in becoming creative arts technician at The Forest Academy.  The Forest academy is on an exciting journey and we are looking for an enthusiastic and creative technician who can facilitate the delivery of our art, textiles and photography curriculums so that our students get the best possible experience in creative arts.  We are seeking to appoint a knowledgeable, flexible, great communicator who is keen to develop their knowledge and skills further.  The successful applicant will be efficient, organised and able to problem solve effectively.  

For the right applicant there is also the potential to facilitate the delivery of our product design A level as an unqualified teacher/ instructor for part of the time. This is a new course which we will offer from September and so this would be an exciting opportunity to work with teachers and leaders to develop the curriculum in this area. This would be ideal for a graduate applicant who is considering a career in teaching and would like to gain experience in this area. 

 The Forest Academy is part of Beacon Multi-Academy Trust and so we work closely with NELTA, an Outstanding teacher training provider. 

Staff at TFA enjoy their work because they know they make a different to our students and relationships are a real strength.  Students enjoy studying Art, Photography and Textiles at the Forest Academy.  The Creative Arts Department is a small close-knit collaborative group who are currently developing the curriculum and resources further.  We are looking for someone who could work as part of this team to support this work.  This would be a varied role with responsibilities ranging from organising and preparing practical materials, stock checking and administration to preparing example pieces of artwork and supporting students (and teachers) to use darkrooms, kilns and other specialist equipment.  This role is important for our teachers and our students and will be pivotal in ensuring they get the best possible opportunities in creative arts.   

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all members of staff to share this commitment. 

Enhanced DBS (with list checks) is required for this post.

The below documents must be read prior to applying for this role and will be factored into interviews: 

Keeping Children Safe in Education

BMAT – Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Further information and an application form can be found at https://nelta.co.uk/vacancies/

Please forward your electronic applications to recruitment@beaconacademytrust.co.uk

Please note we reserve the right to close or extend this position depending on application numbers, therefore we would urge candidates to submit an application as soon as possible. 

Overall Responsibilities

Supporting Teaching & Learning

• To communicate effectively with staff to prepare workshops rooms or studios for lessons.

• To order and prepare materials and equipment for use in Art & Design, Photography and Textiles, as well as cleaning and clearing away materials and resources after lessons as required.

• To support with the development of teaching resources, aids, and exemplar models

• To give technical support to staff and students as required, including supporting the recording examples of student work (audio and visual).

• To be responsible for the maintenance of Faculty equipment. To include:

o Making weekly checks to ensure all tools, machines and equipment are in a safe working condition.

o Keeping an accurate inventory of all equipment and specialist materials, making sure they are labelled and stored correctly.

o Repairing/arranging for repairing and servicing of all equipment.

o Preparation and maintenance of dark room materials.

• Photocopying.

• Cutting and preparing resources for all areas of the department.

• Labelling students work, displays and resources using IT or as required.

• Build a portfolio of photographs of student work for our records.

• Management of darkroom chemical storage and disposal.

• Oversee the camera loans procedures.

• Camera management and maintenance- monthly clearing of all SD cards, bi-weekly charging.

• Support students with the use of Adobe photoshop and/or other editing software. 

• To help create demonstration models and display boards across the faculty, including mount cutting and putting the images into appropriate displays and frames. Ensuring the school standards of presentation are consistently followed and displays are updated and always positively presented.

• Preparation of student work for external moderation.

• Working closely with the relevant departments in the preparation and taking down of the School shows and the motivation to develop a new pop up arts exhibition program and run competitions associated.

• Ability to create and help with all administration for shows including:

o Liaising with relevant departments in the creation of props.

o Create and format programs and any additional help needed as required.

• Monitor stock levels and order as required, within the departmental budgets, liaising with the suppliers and Lead Teachers, to process orders through PO financials.

Health & Safety

• To be responsible for the safe organisation, tidiness and storage of all department equipment, tools, chemical etc.

• A working knowledge to prepare and maintain photographic, arts and textiles equipment within the departments.

• To comply with all department’s health and safety policies at all times and ensuring issues are raised or reported as required to appropriate line manager.

General responsibilities

• To proactively identify areas for improvement in all current systems.

• To attend and contribute to staff meetings and ongoing professional development.

The above mentioned duties are neither exclusive nor exhaustive, duties and responsibilities of the post may change as requirements and circumstances change. 

The post holder may be required to carry out such other duties as requested by management that are broadly within the level of the post.