Lab_13 Scientist in Residence and Science for Life Islington co-lead

Lab_13 Scientist in Residence and Science for Life Islington co-lead

Salary Grade: Unqualified to Upper Pay Range

Salary Range Unqualified Scale: £12,984 - £18,986 per annum 

Salary Range Main Scale: £17,798 - £24,223 per annum

Salary Range Upper Scale: £26,693 - £28,946 per annum 

Part Time 19.5 hours (3 days)

Fixed Term 

Required September 2019

About Gillespie Primary School & Lab_13

Gillespie Primary School is an Ofsted-outstanding school, which is proud to serve a richly diverse community. In 2013 we created a fantastic Science & Technology Lab in our school to house London’s first Lab_13. The idea behind Lab_13 was initially inspired by the Room 13 art studios in schools, and the first Lab_13s were set up in the midlands by a charity called Ignite. Since then, the first international Lab_13s have been set up in Ghana and Finland.

This classroom-sized space is managed by a team of pupils, guided by our Scientist in Residence. In Lab_13 the children investigate their own scientific questions, carry out authentic scientific research and also lead on science enrichment for the benefit of the whole school community. Lab_13 is a space where children learn not just science, but how to be scientists.

In addition to the Science Committee, we also have a second Child Science Leadership Team. These children are carrying out original scientific research – their team is called Mission Mosquito and they are currently researching our local mosquito population with guidance from an entomologist at the Natural History Museum. For an example of the work we do, read about our double-blind control trial to investigate the effects of eating different types of honey: https://www.scienceinschool.org/content/sweet-taste-science

Background to Science for Life

As we started to share our science practice and collaborate closely with other local schools, we set up a pilot network called the STEAM Hub, funded by the SHINE Trust, to develop science CPD and run science clubs collaboratively. From this we were successful in securing funding from the Dame Alice Owen Foundation to enable our partnership to work with more Islington schools, and develop into Science for Life (SfL).

Through SfL we currently collaborate with 12 primary schools, a primary Pupil Referral Unit and three secondary schools across Islington. We have a strong partnership with the Institute of Physics, which is based in Islington, and who support with and host some of our events. Our project funding is confirmed for the third year (2019-20 academic year), and we are confident that successful continuation of the project will secure funding for future years. We are also planning to scale up the project and are currently seeking additional funding partners to enable this.

For example of the events we run, see our website: https://www.scienceforlifeschools.org/latest- news

Could you be our Lab_13 Scientist/Inventor in Residence?

You need to have: A passion for and knowledge about science, a sprinkle of creativity, a well of enthusiasm and curiosity, experience working with children, and...the capacity to inspire!

We are looking for a graduate who is familiar with working with children, a confident communicator and open to being guided by the curiosity of young people. You might currently be a primary teacher, a secondary teacher, a science communicator or a research scientist. A teaching qualification is not essential, but experience of working with children is.

Visits to the school are positively encouraged and can be arranged by calling the school office on 020 7226 6840.

Please apply online at http://jobs.islington.gov.uk/disciplines following the jobs link. If you need any assistance please email schoolsrecruitment@islington.gov.uk quoting reference GIL/403.

Closing date for applications: Midnight, Sunday 23rd June 2019

Shortlisting: Monday 24th June 2019

Interview date: Tuesday 25th June 2019

Gillespie Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) with barred list check is required for all successful applicants.