Science Technician

We are looking for a Science Technician to provide technical support to the Science Department at Harris Academy Purley , enabling the smooth running of practical classes and maintaining a safe working environment.

About Us

At Harris Academy Purley, our motto is ‘to learn, to think, to act', it enshrines a core tenet of our philosophy and that is that education in the classroom is only the beginning of a young person's development and of education in general. Learning can only come to fruition once it is assimilated and an individual is able to think for themselves. In turn, thought must lead to action and practical application.

A motto cannot just be a soundbite so those values and that ethos will apply to all we do and will be the foundation of the educational and extra-curricular opportunities offered to our students throughout the year.

Our students, boys and girls aged 11-19, deserve nothing less than an outstanding education and our aim is to make sure that our students of today are prepared for whatever challenges await them in the future. For that to happen, our staff must be experts in their field and must always encourage individuals to reach their potential. The curriculum is designed so that students, regardless of starting points, will thrive in an educational environment where the rigours and demands of the different subjects are embraced and taught in a supportive manner without compromising the academic challenges needed for success at all key stages.

We expect our students to be polite, mature, enthusiastic and demonstrate exemplary behaviour and they understand that we work together as team. They also understand the role they play in the quality of the school and are as integral to our success as every member of staff.

Although our exam results speak for themselves, at both GCSE and Sixth Form, we never rest on previous success and each year we aim to improve the quality of everything we do here at Harris Academy Purley.

Our sporting, music, art and creative facilities are first class and after a difficult couple of years when many of our extra-curricular activities were necessarily curtailed, we are excited to once again offer a full programme of events and enrichment for all our students.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your role will be:

• To assist and advise teaching staff on the preparation and layout in classrooms for practical exercises, running trials of experiments, demonstrations and helping students with learning activities as appropriate.
• To ensure equipment and materials prepared for lessons are to the specification of the teacher requisitions, including making up special equipment or modifying from existing equipment as necessary from instructions supplied by the science teaching staff.
• In conjunction with the appropriate teachers to advise students on the safe and proper use of tools and equipment and on the correct and safe way to carry out learning activities. To also advise staff, as necessary, on Health and Safety issues and on the best way to carry out practical work, new ways of demonstrating experiments, new techniques or procedures available.
• To assist in the safety, repair and general maintenance of all resources, equipment and tools in conjunction with the appropriate line managers. To advise these on any maintenance or inspection needed by the equipment which is beyond postholder's competence.
• To be responsible for the welfare and care of the plants and animals in the science area and the security of the equipment.
• Ensure understanding of science syllabus and schemes of work in order to prepare for practical lessons adequately.
• To assist with stock keeping, using the computerised stock take database to include chemicals, equipment, textbooks, stationery, etc. and ensuring that appropriate levels of stock are maintained. Carrying out regular stocktaking checks and ordering as necessary.
• To undertake safety checks as required and comply with the requirements of Health and Safety, COSHH and other relevant legislation and school documentation. This to include carrying out appropriate risk assessments for practical and technical activities.
• Ensure Implementation of health and safety regulations across the subject area.
• To assist in ensuring that all equipment and materials are stored safely and securely, ensuring that they are maintained in good condition, with clear records, and readily available for issue.
• To dispose of used chemicals/hazardous waste in a safe manner as well as ensuring that hygiene and health and safety standards are maintained in the laboratory and preparation areas.
• To undertake basic maintenance and cleaning of equipment and to organise its construction, cleaning, servicing and repair as required in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.
• Keep up to date with health and safety regulations and with developments in practical science, attending relevant courses and reading publications;
• To work in close association with other technical staff to assist in keeping areas neat, clean, tidy and in a safe condition in readiness for lessons, as well as cleaning and making safe spills, breakages and related incidents that require careful handling and ensuring.

Additional Responsibilities

• Carry out and ensure that photocopying is carried out and filing on behalf of the relevant areas as well as other general admin duties required from time to time.
• To carry out specific tasks as directed by the Coordinator of Science/Senior Science Technician during academy holiday periods.
• To participate in academy day trips as requested.
• To support the overall work of the Science Department, as requested.

Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications, Knowledge & Training

• Educated to A Level or equivalent (A Level in either physics, chemistry or biology)
• COSHH training as appropriate
• Basic knowledge of Health and Safety regulations
• Good understanding of a range of chemicals and their properties

Experience

• Experience or solid understanding of working as a technician in a school or educational establishment, undertaking a range of practical tasks
• Experience of managing and being responsible for own workload.

Personal Skills, Abilities & Qualities

• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, including prioritising tasks
• Ability to think creatively to anticipate and solve problems
• Ability to encourage and inspire young people to achieve
• Ability to work as part of a team; working effectively with people across a wide range of levels and responsibilities.
• Computer literate – must have good ICT skills including a working knowledge of MS packages
• Ability to work using own initiative, exercising good judgement where unsupervised.
• Flexibility of approach to work
• Ability to carry out routine maintenance of equipment
• Ability to contribute to the maintenance of accurate work records and inventories