Science Technician Apprentice

What skills and experience we're looking for

We wish to appoint a reliable, enthusiastic and motivated Science Technician to work within our Science Department.

The successful candidate will provide a practical, daily technician service to teaching staff through the preparation and provision of equipment, apparatus and chemicals, enabling pupils to safely and effectively carry out laboratory experiments. The role will also involve offering ad hoc classroom support, including assistance with demonstrations of selected experiments, and supporting the department with general administrative duties where required. This is a key role in ensuring the smooth running of practical science lessons and maintaining a safe and well-organised laboratory environment.

Main Job Purposes

To provide a practical, daily technician service to members of the teaching staff in the Science Department through the preparation and provision of equipment, apparatus and chemicals to enable pupils to carry out laboratory experiments. To provide ad hoc science classroom support, including assistance with classroom demonstrations of selected experiments and to assist with general administrative duties.

Principal Responsibilities of the Post

1. Check and provide science apparatus, equipment, materials, and chemical solutions to ensure their availability in support of laboratory teaching activities.

2. Maintain laboratories, preparation rooms and chemical stores (including security and accident/hazard spotting) to ensure all Health and Safety Regulations are met.

3. Provide practical support and guidance for school staff in the use of materials, laboratory techniques, practices and processes using CLEAPSS and COSHH guidelines and recommend solutions to technical problems encountered.

4. Identify faults on equipment and apparatus and repair where possible (including annual testing of portable electrical appliances) to minimise disruption to science experiments.

5. Trial, and assist teaching staff in trialling, any experiments prior to lessons.

6. Maintain stock control systems and order replacement goods to ensure that all necessary stock is readily available. Carry out price checks and ordering, as well as keeping records for the science department.

7. Supervision of students at lunchtime as part of staff duty rota and occasionally at other times as required.

8. Provision of first aid assistance (training will be provided if required).

Notwithstanding the detail in this job description, the job holder will undertake such work as may be determined by the Head Teacher/Business Manager from time to time, up to or at a level consistent with the principal responsibilities of the job during contracted hours. Additional hours for IT/AV support for lettings or events may be required from time to time together with a willingness to occasionally work excess hours where needed (e.g. to finish an urgent task) – where this extends to more than half an hour, the extra hours would be reimbursed via time in lieu or payment for the additional hours.

What the school offers its staff

In this role, you will work towards your Laboratory Technician Level 3 qualification, delivered by the expert training team at Wirral Metropolitan College.

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.