Science Technician

Overview

What skills and experience we\’re looking for

The successful candidate will provide reliable and proactive support to the science department, ensuring that all practical lessons are well-prepared, safe, and effectively resourced. They will maintain laboratory equipment, manage stock and chemicals in line with health and safety regulations, and assist teachers and students during practical sessions where appropriate. The ideal candidate will be organised, safety-conscious, and a team player who contributes to the smooth running of the department.

Key duties

1. In consultation with or under the guidance of a teacher or senior member of support staff, co-ordinate the planning, developing and/organising equipment and procedures for the specialist technical area.
2. Undertake routine maintenance of technical equipment.
3. Ensure adherence to health and safety regulations in relation to equipment and materials used by staff and pupils.
4. Advise, allocate, and guide the work of other technical support staff, ensuring they have the required skills to provide technical support for teachers.
5. Develop and implement plans to safely and securely store allocated resources / materials / equipment.
6. Maintain inventory of chemicals and other assets.
7. Update records, including production of reports and analysis of information.
8. Ensure the safe treatment and disposal of used materials, including hazardous substances and respond to actual or potential hazards.

General Science duties to include

• maintaining stock of solutions at specific dilutions.
• maintaining clean and tidy laboratories (in conjunction with the teacher in charge).
• keeping cupboards and doors closed, storing materials tidily.
• cleaning and maintaining goggles on a termly basis.
• taking stock of chemicals, consumables, stationery, books and permanent equipment.
• keeping records of budget, writing orders and checking arrivals. Liaising with companies for “best deals”.
• Checking and unblocking of gas taps in all laboratories and cleaning isolation units.
• Assisting staff with class practical work.
• Purchasing of resources from local suppliers when required.
• Willingness to attend department meetings after school when appropriate.
• general organisation and housekeeping of the department.
• all aspects of departmental record keeping i.e. stock books.

What the school offers its staff

Staff in our trust benefit from:

• a culture that actively promotes a positive work-life balance.
• a culture that promotes well-being initiatives.
• opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities and school trips.
• an open-door policy, allowing any colleague to speak with a member of the Senior Leadership Team without an appointment.
• excellent relationships between the Trade Unions and the trust schools.

Staff at Walton-le-Dale High School benefit from:

• Free access to our state-of-the-art gym before and after school, as well as during school holidays.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.