Science Technician

Science Technician - Job Description

Full time commencing September 2019

Closing Date: 2 June 2019

Interviews: w/c 3 June 2019

Working Hours: Full time / term time (0.76)

Working Pattern: 8am - 4.30pm

Salary: £18,000 - £25,000 FTE

Dunottar is a co-educational school for pupils aged 11-18 set in extensive grounds of 15 acres on the outskirts of Reigate. With a new Headmaster in September 2017, the school is on a very exciting journey.  The school is experiencing fast growth in pupil numbers and is currently in the process of a £6.6 million capital development programme. The new Sixth Form Centre will open in the summer term 2019 and a whole school Assembly Hall is planned to accommodate future growth in 2020. 

Dunottar is a great place to work, with a team of highly professional and committed teachers and support staff.  We incorporate best practice from independent schools and academies right across the United Learning Group, whilst retaining our unique, friendly ethos in Reigate where pupils are nurtured to make significant personal progress at the same time as achieving excellent academic results.  United Learning is an outstanding organisation which prides itself on providing a working and learning environment which encourages ‘the best in everyone’.  You will join a network of staff belonging to over 60 other schools, with opportunities to engage with fellow professionals which far exceed what one school could achieve on its own.  Personal development and career opportunities are excellent.

Overview

Dunottar has a well-established Science department. All science subjects are taught separately in Years 7-11. From Year 9, pupils commence their Science GCSEs taking AQA science in Biology, Chemistry and Physics or Combined Science. At A level the AQA specification is followed.

The Science department has good facilities with five spacious, well-equipped laboratories and two preparation rooms. There is a weekly science club during lunchtimes and after school as well as other enrichment opportunities for pupils. The Science Technician is a member of the Science Department who will assist with the organisation and day-to-day running of the 5 school laboratories and two preparation rooms and is accountable to the Senior Science Technician.

Generic Responsibilities

She/he works with the Senior Science Technician to carry out all aspects of the Laboratory Technicians job description as well as the items detailed below:

• Ensuring that all Risk Assessments are in place for all Technician activities, with reference to CLEAPSS for specialist information where appropriate.

• Carrying out termly and annual safety checks with the Senior Science Technician, to include first aid kits, eyewash tubes, spill kits, certain chemicals and apparatus as listed in our safety check lists. Annual monitoring of fume cupboards and pressure vessels. Preparing mains electrical apparatus for annual PAT and stock taking.

• Maintaining standards of health and safety in the science department. Ensuring that all health and safety information is up-to-date and accessible for classroom experiments. Safely handling hazardous substances.

• Preparation of materials, making up accurate chemical solutions and assembling apparatus as required by teaching staff for demonstrations and class experiments. 

• Preparing and trialling practicals beforehand. Setting up laboratories with the equipment and removing them at the end of lessons and cleaning all apparatus. Disposing of all waste, including the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste.

• Ensuring good order in the laboratories at all times, to include replacing apparatus and essential laboratory sundries.

• Ensuing chemicals are correctly labelled using current nomenclature and appropriate hazard labels.

• Maintenance of stock levels, equipment and apparatus. 

• Taking care of the plants kept in the laboratories for use in experiments. Looking after any animals brought in to the Science Department or collected by technicians for specific experiments.

• Attending training courses to improve and update skills.

• Issuing stationary and clerical support in emergencies, for example to arrange cover for absent teachers.

Person Specification

Professional Qualifications & Skills 

• Relevant experience in the role as a School Technician is desirable

• Excellent oral and written English

• An interest in developing Science learning further through practical investigations

Personal qualities 

• High levels of personal and professional integrity

• Commitment to outstanding education

• High degrees of self-confidence

• Personal warmth, good rapport with pupils, colleagues and parents Excellent organisational skills

• Appropriate levels of personal presentation

• Confident use of ICT and use of iPads in the classroom 

Philosophy and Ethos 

• A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people

• Commitment to best practice in classroom support and student welfare.

United Learning

Dunottar School is part of United Learning, a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England.

Our schools work as a team and achieve more by sharing than any single school could. Our subject specialists, our Group-wide intranet, our own curriculum and our online learning portal all help us share knowledge and resource, helping to simplify work processes and manage workloads for an improved work-life balance.

As a Group, we can reward our staff better: with good career opportunities, better pay, benefits, and ultimately, the satisfaction of helping children to succeed. We invest in our staff wellbeing. Our academies each have at least eight INSET days per year (with three of those solely dedicated to planning), and an ongoing group-wide wellbeing programme. It's an ethos we call ‘the best in everyone’.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and the post holder may perform other duties reasonably required by the Headmaster. 

The School reserves the right to make an appointment at any stage during the recruitment process.