We are looking for an Apprentice Science Technician to provide technical support to the Science Department at Harris Academy Orpington, enabling the smooth running of practical classes and maintaining a safe working environment.

The successful candidate will work with the senior technician and train under them, gaining a qualification at the same time.

Important Information: Candidates must have been a UK resident for a minimum of 3 years to be eligible.

Harris Academy Orpington opened in September 2016, joining the highly successful Federation of Harris academies in London and the senior leaders here are experienced in creating and running great schools and that is what we are doing in BR5. We are a community school that serves families in and around Orpington and we are well on our way towards providing an outstanding education for the students who come here. We want out students to succeed and have choices in their lives; to take control of their futures and achieve beyond their dreams. We are ambitious, tenacious and enterprising and committed to helping our students succeed. Our work as a Health Science Specialist school, with students being given access to recognised professional qualifications, work experience and careers is unique and is designed to help and support the whole community who are regularly invited into the Academy to hear from guest speakers.

We have the most incredible facilities; with brand new science labs, 3 Main Halls, Dance Studios, 3 Astro Turfs, Drama Studios, dedicated Art and DT blocks, we are incredibly proud of the work that our students do here. We have developed a curriculum that is ambitious and broad. We believe in the need to nurture an appreciation of human creativity and achievement and have designed a curriculum that does just that.

We aim to ensure that every student is inspired and supported to achieve his/her personal best and learning comes first. Our motto is “Together We Can” and if you are interested in joining us, we would be very keen to meet you.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assisting and advising teaching staff on the preparation and layout in classrooms for practical exercises, running trials of experiments, demonstrations and helping students with learning activities
• Ensuring equipment and materials are prepared to the teacher's specifications, including making up special equipment or modifying from existing equipment
• Advising students and staff on the safe and proper use of tools and equipment and on the correct and safe way to carry out learning activities
• Assisting in the safety, repair and general maintenance of all resources, equipment and tools, and advising where any maintenance or inspection is beyond your competence
• Ensuring the welfare and care of any plants and animals in the science area and the security of the equipment
• Ensuring understanding of science syllabus and schemes of work to prepare for practical lessons adequately
• Assisting with stock keeping
• Undertaking safety checks and risk assessments to comply with the requirements of Health and Safety, COSHH and other relevant legislation and school documentation
• Ensuring that all equipment and materials are stored safely, securely, and in good condition
• Safe disposal of used chemicals/hazardous waste
• Keeping up to date with health and safety regulations and with developments in practical science
• Working with other technical staff to assist in keeping areas neat, clean, tidy and in a safe condition in readiness for lessons, as well as cleaning and making safe spills, breakages and related incident

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to A Level or equivalent (A Level in either physics, chemistry or biology)
• COSHH training as appropriate
• Basic knowledge of Health and Safety regulations
• Good understanding of a range of chemicals and their properties
• Experience or solid understanding of working as a technician in a school or educational establishment, undertaking a range of practical tasks
• Experience of managing and being responsible for own workload.

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.