Head Science Technician
Balcarras School, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 8QF10 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
27 March 2025 at 9am
Date listed
12 March 2025
Job details
Job role
- Other support roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 5 days per week (Mon-Fri) 37 hours per week (term time only)
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- Point 15—18 £24,884.41—£26,138.34 Actual salary, £29,093 - £30,559 FTE.
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking to appoint an excellent Head Science Technician to work in our outstanding science department. The successful candidate will have excellent organisational skills and a good understanding of science practical work and related Health and Safety requirements. Previous experience of preparing practical resources and school administrative duties would be an advantage as would experience of leading a team. Ofsted assessed Balcarras in 2005, 2009 and 2014 as “Outstanding” in every category.
Technician responsibilities
·Prepare resources and assemble apparatus ·Set up multi-media resources (including data logging, projection, mobile devices, cameras, videos, SMART boards, tablets, etc)·Source and maintain adequate stocks of consumables ·Give technical advice to teachers, other support staff and pupils ·Assist in practical classes and carrying out demonstrations where applicable ·Obtaining materials by local purchase ·Maintaining photocopied resources
Health & Safety
·Actively contribute to the assessment, monitoring and review of both health and safety procedures and information resources ·Keep up-to-date with health & safety requirements through attendance at courses and reading publications ·Provide technical advice and support on health and safety issues to teaching and trainee technical staff ·Carry out risk assessments for technician activities ·Be responsible for the safe treatment and disposal of used materials including hazardous substances (e.g. sharps and dissection material) and responding to actual or potential hazards ·Responding to chemical hazards such as spills ·The healthy and safe storage and accessibility of equipment and materials ·Check fume cupboards, pressure vessels; carrying out safety checks, etc.·Organise, store and check the condition of for example chemicals, radioactive sources, biological specimens and equipment. Fill up reagent bottles and jars. Make stock solutions. ·Attend appropriate departmental meetings.
Wider contributions to the Science Department
·Help research topical issues to keep displays current and eye-catching; change and put up displays in the laboratories and corridors ·Contribute to the production of displays at key events such as open evenings, STEM week etc. ·Construct and modify apparatus for use and helping with the development of novel practical apparatus as appropriate. This includes testing experiments and checking those included in SOW ·General laboratory clearing/cleaning of bench surfaces/reporting instances of graffiti/ cleaning of equipment and checking for damage ·Monitor distribution and collection of textbooks; covering and monitoring the conditions of textbooks ·Photocopy resources as directed by departmental teaching staff to support practical work
In addition to these responsibilities, the Head Technician will:
·Act as line manager to the technicians in the department ·Ensure that the technicians are up to date with training and attend appropriate training courses ·Take overall responsibility for ordering and stocking consumables and equipment ·Oversee distribution of resources such as exercise books, textbooks, revision guides etc. ·Oversee formatting of official documentation such as schemes of work, worksheets, homeworks and tests.·Work with technicians and teaching staff to keep displays in the department well maintained and engaging ·Oversee the practical delivery and give guidance for extra-curricular events such as STEM week, open evenings, curriculum days, primary school visits etc. ·Be partly responsible for the design and delivery of extra-curricular clubs such as science club and astronomy club
What the school offers its staff
What is it like working at Balcarras?
It is a very exciting and rewarding time to be working at Balcarras. Our latest GCSE grades were extraordinary and put us in the Top 30 comprehensive schools in the country based on the percentage of pupils gaining 5+ in English and Maths. At A-level the picture was similar. We were listed by the Sunday Times as the second highest performing comprehensive school in the Southwest in Parent Power published in November 2023. It is this commitment to the highest academic standards, whilst at the same time being a caring and stimulating environment, that makes Balcarras feel different from anywhere else.
As part of the Balcarras Trust, our teaching staff have access to outstanding professional development networks including NPQs and ECTs if appropriate.
Balcarras is a great place to work, from staff football and wreath making sessions to Chinese cookery —Balcarras creates opportunities for staff cohesion. We recently ran a whole Trust staff inset on staff wellbeing that covered topics such as physical well being, mental well being, financial wellbeing and reducing workload . Both staff and pupils benefit from Buddy the school dog who is the one of best appointments ever made!
What is the surrounding area like?
Members of staff moving into the area to join Balcarras have a wide variety of locations from which to choose. There are the large urban areas of Cheltenham and Gloucester together with the many modern housing developments clustered around them, the older market towns such as Cirencester and the smaller villages and hamlets of the Cotswolds. Within a short distance of the school it is possible to find both the facilities of a thriving urban area and the tranquility of unspoiled countryside.
Balcarras occupies an attractive site at the very edge of Charlton Kings. The woods and fields of the Cotswold escarpment rise up to the east and south east, while in other directions there is housing surrounding the old village centre.
Commitment to safeguarding
Balcarras School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This role will involve regulated activity with children. We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. Please also read the Recruitment Selection and Disclosure Policy within “How to apply” which includes our policy on recruiting ex-offenders. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check and receipt of two satisfactory references.
Applying for the job
Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to ksa@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk
CVs are not accepted.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Balcarras School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1422 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Balcarras School website
- Email address
- ksa@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 01242 515881
Balcarras School is an outstanding secondary school on the outskirts of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
School location
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