Science Technician

Are you an enthusiastic and suitably qualified Science Technician?

Then this will be the job for you.  We are looking to appoint a specialist Physics Technician with the capacity to cover other sciences to join our existing team. 

This post provides a fantastic opportunity to work within a high-performing, 11 to 18 grammar school with a large sixth-form and exceptional students. 

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and suitably qualified Science Technician who is eager to support the work of our busy Science Department, by working as part of a team of 3 Science Technicians providing services for 16 teaching staff.

Department Information

The department has well-equipped modern laboratories and dedicated prep rooms.  We make good use of practical work and the school’s excellent ICT resources to support imaginative and innovative teaching.

At GCSE, Science achievement is very high with a 100% pass rate and 70% of grades at 7 or above. The Sciences are extremely popular and successful at A Level, with 40% of grades at A*-B. Most of our students continue to University, many studying medicine or other Science related degrees.

The successful candidate will need to be flexible and hardworking with excellent organisational skills and the ability to meet deadlines.  

Knowledge of physics and potential laboratory hazards is essential to this post, as well as experience in the use of chemicals and the handling, storage and maintenance of laboratory apparatus.

Responsibilities:

•  Clean dirty apparatus (e.g. glassware) after use in lessons
• Assist teachers in demonstrations to students and in managing complex class practical’s
• Maintain records of apparatus requisitions by teaching staff
• Prepare all teaching materials (including apparatus, equipment, solutions and specimens) requested by teaching staff for practical work, lay out these materials in the laboratories in an organised and     timely manner, and clear the laboratories as soon as practical after use
• Set up demonstration experiments and ensure they will work satisfactorily
• Trial new experiments and new equipment

Specific responsibilities are set out in a detailed job description. 

You will need:

• to believe in our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Excellence and follow our school ethos embedded in our motto of ‘Nil Sine Labore’ - Nothing Without Work 
• a positive, can-do attitude
• the ability to change priorities at short notice
• good communication skills, both written and spoken
• the ability to take initiative and work independently as well as part of a team
• to have good organisational skills
• suitability to work with children

Why Should You Apply? 

Heckmondwike Grammar School is a unique school, with students who are eager to learn, keen to know more and want to enjoy their educational experiences. It is exceptional in many ways: a very diverse school community that produces results of the highest quality. We work effectively with our young people, really care about them and their futures and have an ultimate success measure of enabling them to proceed to where they want to go. Excellent relationships between staff and students are the norm, expectations are high and students perform very well as a consequence.

In return, we offer membership of the local government pension scheme and other well-being benefits. 

Protection of children: 

Disclosure of criminal background of those with access to children.

All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  However, amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain convictions and cautions are ‘protected’.  These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account.  Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered prior to the date of the interview.  You may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process.  If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure and Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed.

Safeguarding Statement: 

Heckmondwike Grammar School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.