Lead Technician: Science
St Bartholomew's School, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 6JP14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
December 2026
Closing date
2 November 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
19 October 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other support role
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Subject
- Science
Working pattern
- Part time: 30 - 32.5 hours per week (8.00am to 2.30pm or 3.00pm) term-time only, plus 5 training days pro rata.
Contract type
- Permanent
Full time equivalent salary
- £29071 - £31015 Starting salary £21890.37 gross pa based on 32.5 hours pw
What skills and experience we're looking for
Principal Responsibility/Job Purpose:
To be responsible to the Head of Faculty: Science in co-ordinating the use and development of practical resources and facilities, including the provision of guidance and support in meeting the practical requirements of the Science curriculum, including liaising with all areas of the school and outside organisations.
Principal Tasks:
Managing the Technicians
- Organise the Science Technicians.
- Ensuring the technician team keeps up to date with health & safety requirements and developments in practical science by ensuring that relevant literature is available and arranging for technicians to attend courses.
- Ensure that the Technicians team is resourced, organised and developed to meet the performance standards required by the department.
- Organise and supervise trainee Technicians as required.
- Train and arrange for appropriate training of the Technicians.
- Arrange laboratory swaps where necessary.
- Dissemination of Cover Work for absent teaching colleagues.
Health & Safety
- Promote and observe a safe working environment for Technicians, Teachers and students.
- Carrying out risk assessments for Technician activities.
- Actively lead and co-ordinate the assessment, monitoring and review of both health & safety procedures and information resources.
- Provide technical advice on health & safety issues to Teachers and Technicians.
- The safe treatment and disposal of used materials, including hazardous substances, as well as responding to actual or potential hazards;
- The storage and accessibility of equipment and materials in line with health and safety guidelines.
- Liaise with the Facilities team to maintain First Aid kits and to arrange testing of fume cupboards, pressure vessels electrical and other safety checks, etc.
- Organise, store and check the condition of chemicals and equipment.
- Deal with/monitor radioactive sources under the guidance of the appointed RPS person.
- Undertake the lead role within the Science department on both routine and non-routine checking, cleaning, maintenance, calibration, testing and repairing of equipment to the required standard.
In the Classroom
- Give technical advice to Teachers, Technicians and students, when appropriate.
- Assist in practical classes, carrying out demonstrations, preparing resources, assembling apparatus.
Resource Management
Responsibility for setting up and monitoring systems used in the management and control of practical resources including:
- Lead on stock control, compiling orders, liaising or negotiating with suppliers and maintaining appropriate records.
- Keep petty cash records.
- Monitor, control and keep financial records of the departmental expenditure in accordance with the school’s policy.
- Ensure the availability of suitable materials and equipment, and suggest alternatives for suitability and economy. This includes weekly shopping to obtain materials.
- Ensure the department’s resources are maintained to the required standards.
- Report problems with equipment to appropriate Head of Department or Head of Faculty: Science.
- Coordinate the PAT testing of electrical equipment within the Faculty.
General
- Keep up to date with current procedures and practices through continuing professional development.
- Attend department meetings (if held during contracted hours)
- Take a role in the design, development and maintenance of specialist resources and/or long-term projects and offer professional guidance, assistance and support to students & Teachers on the practical aspects of the curriculum.
- Design, construct and modify apparatus.
- Set up and care for plant and animal collections.
- Prepare standard solutions, e.g. purifying chemicals, treating waste.
- Support Field Work.
- Communicate with others inside and outside the school on specialist technical preparation and maintenance matters, and cross curricular developments.
What the school offers its staff
- On-site free parking
- Restaurant on-site
- Local Government Pension Scheme
Further information about the job
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
Please complete the online application.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About St Bartholomew's School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 1905 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- settridge@stbarts.co.uk
- Phone number
- 01635 521255
St Bartholomew's School was founded in 1466 and is proud of its ancient tradition. It is now an 11-18 comprehensive school of over 1900 students with a Sixth Form of over 530 students, serving Newbury and a wide area of West Berkshire and the Hampshire/Wiltshire borders, with modern buildings and outstanding facilities.
The school prides itself on its academic success and student progress measures, with results consistently above national averages - see www.stbarts.co.uk/exam-results-destinations/.
Teaching at St Bartholomew’s School is a rewarding experience. Our students are eager to learn, well behaved and proud of their school, and this was reflected in our last Ofsted inspection (January 2026).
As a school, we are committed to ensuring that all the students and staff realise their full potential. Students leave the school as good citizens and this is underpinned by an exceptional house system, personal development programme, leadership opportunities and a vast range of co-curricular activities.
The professional development of staff is a significant factor in ensuring that we achieve our aim of improving on our previous best and there are rich professional development opportunities at St Bartholomew’s at all levels. Our induction and ECT programme for new staff is supportive and thorough. Learn more at www.stbarts.co.uk/work-with-us/.
To find out more about what makes St Bart’s so special, and what we plan to develop over the next few years, please do explore our website: www.stbarts.co.uk
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