Art Technician
Durham Sixth Form Centre, Durham, County Durham, DH1 1SG13 days remaining to apply
Job start date
2 March 2026
Closing date
2 February 2026 at 9am
Date listed
20 January 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teaching assistant
- Other support roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Art and design
Working pattern
- Full time: 37 hours, Whole Time
Contract type
- Fixed term - Temporary 02.03.26 - 31.08.27
Full-time equivalent salary
- Grade 5 SCP (7-12) £26,403 - £28,598
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking for someone who:
Enthusiastic and energetic with a strong drive to support students and the team.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to engage students and collaborate effectively with staff, visiting artists and external partners.
Technically skilled in art, design and digital media, with practical competence across specialist techniques.
Digitally literate and IT proficient, including Adobe Creative Suite.
Social media savvy, confident in promoting work and projects online.
Organised and efficient, with strong time management skills.
Adaptable and proactive, able to respond flexibly to changing demands and new opportunities.
Passionate about art education, committed to supporting the values, vision, and direction of the school.
What the school offers its staff
We are looking to recruit an Innovative Art Technician to join our outstanding sixth form team, part of the Providence Learning Partnership, where your mission is to be the technical and creative heart of a successful, ambitious Arts and Humanities Faculty. This is an incredible opportunity to make a profound difference by supporting the realisation of student outcomes, high-level creative projects and initiatives.
What Makes This Role Exciting?
The Art Technician role delivers high-level technical assistance, exceptional student support and leads promotional activity as the department enhances its influence, striving for academic and personal excellence.
Student Success & Academic Impact: Drive creative and academic achievement by providing 1:1 technical guidance, digital support and portfolio development to help students reach their full potential.
Teaching & Learning Enhancement: Facilitate specialist workshops and raise attainment levels to prepare students for higher education and careers in the creative industries.
Operational Excellence: Ensure the smooth daily running of the department by maintaining studio spaces, managing equipment/resources and overseeing administrative processes.
Assessment & Organisation: Coordinate the logistical side of assessments to support efficient curriculum delivery.
Safety & Environment: Maintain a proactive approach to health and safety, ensuring a safe, inspiring and well-organised environment where staff and students can thrive.
Creative Community & Enrichment: Support the department's broader initiatives, including exhibitions, the Artist in Residence programme and the Dead Dog Gallery.
Professional Practice: Connect students with authentic creative experiences that bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional art world.
Departmental Advocacy: Act as a passionate advocate for art education, helping to position Durham Sixth Form Centre as a regional leader in art and design.
Why choose us?
Be a part of an Investors in People: Platinum [Employer of the Year 2025] organisation.
We are a flourishing high-performing sixth form where students achieve and exceed their potential.
Be part of a team that’s ambitious, supportive and driven by purpose.
Benefit from personalised CPD, leadership coaching, and genuine career progression.
Join Durham Sixth Form Centre as a Skilled Art Technician. Bring your technical expertise to our vibrant creative community and help shape the work of post-16 students in a high-performing environment. We are located in the heart of Durham, just 20 minutes from Sunderland and 30 minutes from Newcastle city centre.
Flexible working opportunities
At our Trust, we deeply value the health and wellbeing of our staff, recognising that a happy, supported team is essential to delivering the best outcomes for our students. We are committed to fostering a positive working environment where staff feel cared for, empowered, and equipped to thrive both personally and professionally.
Pension scheme
All contracted members of staff will be automatically enrolled into either the Teachers' Pension Scheme or the Local Government Pension Scheme (whichever is appropriate).
National terms and conditions
We offer national terms and conditions in line with the School Teacher’s Pay and Conditions document (STPCD) and Burgundy Book for teachers or the NJC Green Book for support staff.
Training and development
Professional development opportunities aimed at the continuous process of enhancing your skills, knowledge and competencies discussed with your appraiser on an individual basis.
City centre parking
Durham City Centre barriered private parking for staff whilst at work which extends to free all year round parking, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Staff wellbeing working group
For the staff, by the staff, our wellbeing working group meet at least 3 times a year and is open to all members of staff. To date the group has raised money for charity, built a Staff Wellbeing portal, organised socials, sporting events and family days out.
Healthcare services
All staff benefit from a range of comprehensive health and wellbeing services including: GP service which gives staff the access to a General Practitioner around the clock, 24/7, access to nurse support services and physiotherapy provided face-to-face at times, dates and locations convenient to our staff.
Live webinars
Online webinars for Mental Health First Aid and Stress Coaching are available to staff which run frequently throughout the year with a choice of dates and times.
Health and Wellbeing
Free Flu vaccines, menopause counselling and access to financial wellbeing coaches through our staff absence insurance policy.
Daily breakfast
We provide a selection of hot drinks, cereals, croissants, toast and jams complimentary each morning in the refectory for staff and students.
Lifestyle
Our lifestyle benefits include shopping discounts with hundreds of online and high street retailers and discounted gym membership.
Free Will Writing Service
Organised through the Financial Guys, all staff are provided with a free single basic Will which also includes a 50% discount for partners.
Blue Light
Blue Light Card have now added Teaching and Support staff to the list of careers that are able to apply for their card. When applying please upload your staff ID badge as evidence.
Working From Home
We are currently trialling working from home. This arrangement supports flexible working and recognises that some tasks, such as planning, marking and resource development, can be carried out more effectively in a quiet, uninterrupted environment.
Further information about the job
Thank you for your interest in the role of Art Technician. We hope you are reading this because you are talented, enthusiastic and eager to join a successful and ambitious department at a truly transformative moment. This position has arisen to support our busy, growing team as we enhance our arts outreach and establish ourselves as a regional leader in creative education.
Who are we? The Art Department is a cornerstone of the Arts and Humanities Faculty, one of three faculties within the school. We are a dedicated team of creative practitioners with an established track record of outstanding practice. Our broad curriculum celebrates the diversity of the subject, offering A Level Art, Craft & Design, Fashion & Textiles, Fine Art, Graphics, Photography and the L4 Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media Practice.
At Durham Sixth Form Centre, our students are curious, engaged and highly ambitious. We maintain a strong commitment to academic excellence while ensuring our provision prepares students for the careers of the future. In collaboration with our students, we secure successful progression routes to higher education, apprenticeships and employment.
Excellence and Advocacy Housed in a purpose-built visual arts centre, our department is supported by a leadership team who actively advocate for the arts. Due to this well-established culture, we have been awarded Artsmark Platinum by Arts Council England, who commended our work:
‘The panel highly commends your continued commitment to the arts and the wide impact this is having on, not only your own school community, but on colleagues and pupils at a national level.’
‘Your advocacy of the arts, and utilisation of them as a vehicle for social mobility, are impressive.’
An Outward-Facing Creative Community We are an outward-facing team that thrives on collaboration. Our curriculum is enriched through an extensive programme of high-profile work with partner organisations such as Lumiere, The Big Draw, Durham University, and The Forge. You can see our vibrant community in action on our Instagram: @dsfcart.
A Hub for Innovation and Community You join us at an incredibly exciting time as we continue to expand our reach as a regional centre for excellence. Our Artist-in-Residence programme—now in its eighth year and supported by external funding—continues to go from strength to strength. This programme, alongside our commitment to providing an accessible community arts offer, is at the heart of our contemporary visual arts space: The Dead Dog Gallery.
As a technician, you will play a vital role in this onsite gallery, supporting a rotating calendar of professional exhibitions and residency outcomes that bridge the gap between our students and the wider creative industry.
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.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Durham Sixth Form Centre
- School type
- Academy, ages 16 to 19
- Education phase
- Sixth form or college
- School size
- 1708 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 16 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Durham Sixth Form Centre website
- Email address
- staffvacancies@durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk
Welcome to Durham Sixth Form Centre and thank you for your interest in the advertised post. I hope the following information gives you an insight into our school.
Durham Sixth Form Centre is a large post-16 provider based in the North East of England, with approximately 1,700 students on roll. We are situated in the middle of Durham City centre, a couple of minutes walk from both the bus and railway stations. Students generally enrol at Durham Sixth Form Centre from over 60 different secondary schools from
across County Durham, Sunderland and into Northumberland.
In 2017 we were graded an ‘outstanding’ post-16 academy, this is reflected in our recent Ofsted monitoring visit
report. Our students have an excellent record of success, which they work hard to achieve. Trends over time demonstrate the following headlines:
In academic qualifications:
● Progress (VA) has been consistently above the National Average (NA) and was graded above average in the
2025 performance tables.
● A level average point score (APS) is significantly above the NA and places us in the top 6% of schools and
colleges nationally.
● 71% of students achieved A*- B A level grades in the summer 2024.
In applied general qualifications:
● Progress (VA) has been consistently above the NA and was graded above average in the 2025 performance
tables.
● Overall attainment (APS) is consistently above the NA and is ranked in the top 2% of schools and Academies
nationally.
We recently celebrated 110 years in education. We are housed in various buildings, often referred to as a mini university setting. Our site comprises a 1913 former girls’ grammar school, which was converted to sixth form
accommodation in 1983. In addition to the original building, there is now a science specific wing; a 200 seated theatre; our Hunter resource centre; visual arts centre and Freeman’s Quay leisure centre. In 2019, we expanded further to include our digital media centre, which houses a grab-and-go café, conference facility, TV studio, small cinema room
and additional classroom space. We also have a dedicated Art Gallery on site, the Dead Dog Gallery, with an ever changing exhibition and community programme in place.
Through sustained effort, and a clear focus and direction, Durham Sixth Form Centre is a truly embracing and dynamic organisation. We are committed to promoting the principles of equal opportunities and we aspire to an environment where all our students and employees can develop their potential. We have a strong professional development
programme and have achieved CPD Mark accreditation, Investors in People Gold and Governor Mark among others. Our most recent Ofsted inspection report said ‘The Headteacher and the highly skilled leadership team have established a culture in which students flourish and grow. Consequently, there is a healthy appetite for learning and achievement in an environment that demands high expectations for academic, vocational and personal excellence’.
Our academy operates according to the Values of our Trust which we feel help to determine the culture, ethos and atmosphere of Durham Sixth Form Centre.
If you are energetic and passionate about post-16 education and have the skills and aptitude required for the role then
we would welcome your application and look forward to hearing from you.
Arranging a visit to Durham Sixth Form Centre
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email staffvacancies@durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk.
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