Art Technician

We are looking for a hard-working and dedicated candidate to join our outstanding school as an Art Technician.

About Kensington Aldridge Academy

KAA is an 11 – 18 academy situated in the heart of Notting Hill.  We opened in brand new buildings in 2014 with just Year 7 and have grown year by year and are now a full school with 1,250 students in Years 7 to 13. 

KAA has grown to become one of the top academies in the UK. DfE performance tables show we are in the top 5% of schools nationally in terms of KS5 Progress. Our Ofsted report grades us outstanding in all categories and describes standards as “exceptional”. In 2018 we were awarded TES Secondary School of the Year.  

The Role

We are looking for an Art technician to be a key part of the Art department. They will take responsibility for the technical support in the Art department by the preparation of tools, equipment and materials for lessons, to undertake a practical health and safety role for the department, support the preparation of the art displays to enrich the environment of a performing arts specialist school, and provide practical support in Art lessons. 

You will have a unique opportunity to work with our Head of Art to:

• Support a new art department, which has world-class facilities in the heart of West London including a kiln room

• Work alongside a passionate and dedicated team who place a high priority on your continuing professional development

• Be part of a new school that expands year-on-year giving you the chance to develop and grow in pace with it

The Person

We are looking for a talented, passionate, experienced and enthusiastic professional to take the role of Art technician for the school and to be an active member of the Art department. 

The Art technician will be someone who will have:

• Experience of a range of art practices (not limited to any of the following: fine art, printmaking, 3D including clay and using the kiln, textiles, photography)

• Ideally, experience of working in an educational context, preferably a school

• A high level of drive and motivation

• Excellent organisational and inter-personal skills

• Willingness to learn and receive training in new areas and skillsets

• A proactive approach and good time management skills

Main Responsibilities

1. To attend weekly co-planning meetings

2. To maintain and record materials and equipment stocks; ordering and liaising with suppliers, recording inventory and replenishing stock

3. To prepare materials and resources for lessons, including practical resources and creating, printing and laminating worksheets as requested by the class teacher

4. To provide practical support in lesson, both supporting teaching staff and students as requested by the teacher

5. To create department displays, to be refreshed termly and neatly presented

6. To ensure the classrooms, storerooms and workspaces in the department are tidy and equipment, resources and materials are stored away neatly each day

7. To ensure maintenance of equipment, resources and tools including sewing machines

8. To maintain an up to date record of risk assessments, ensure hazardous equipment is stored safely, and liaise with suppliers to ensure maintenance of larger equipment is up to date

9. To ensure departmental first aid boxes are kept up-to-date and stocked, and any instances of injury recorded

10. To run at least one non-academic enrichment

11. To assist with preparation for exams and exhibitions (mounting and displaying artwork, preparing exam and exhibition spaces)

12. To carry out other tasks reasonably requested by the Head of Art, in accordance with the post holder’s skills and qualifications

Staff benefits

• 180 school days, 10 training days (not 5 as you find in most schools) & 5 planning days per year, which include the opportunity for teachers to work from home.

• Two week half term in October. 

• Professional development that is of a national standard. In Ofsted’s words: “Staff morale is exceptionally high. Staff enjoy working at the school and benefit from high-quality training. Teachers new to the profession feel very well supported in settling into the school quickly and developing their practice.”

• Free weekly staff wellbeing activities; yoga, circuits, staff choir and art classes etc.

• Discounted membership of the brand new Kensington Leisure Centre. 

Download the full candidate pack for more information about this position and the academy.

Please send completed applications to Payal Joshi at recruitment@kaa.org.uk by 9am on Monday 17th June 2019.

Early applications are encouraged and in the event that the academy is able to fill the vacancy before the deadline, it reserves the right to close the vacancy and won’t review further applications.