Science Technician (part-time)

Package Description

Required for:  April 2025

Location: Vincent Square - Westminster Under School

Contract: part-time (term-time only), permanent

Salary: £13,034.36 per annum equating to an FTE of £34,758.29

The School also offers a range of benefits, including:

 - free school lunches when on site

 - private medical insurance (opt-in)

 - discretionary Christmas shut down period 

 - free access to the School’s leisure facilities, including a fitness gym (restricted hours)

 - access the School’s Cycle to Work Scheme and season ticket loans following completion of our standard probation period.

The closing date for this role is 09:00 on Tuesday 25th February 2025. Interviews will take place w/c 3rd March 2025.

Job Introduction

The School currently has two well-resourced laboratories but to help meet the needs of our changing and expanding school,  building work is already under way on a new site where the Science department will relocate. This is an exciting opportunity for a technician to help finalise plans for, and contribute to the set up the new Science department, which will have two labs and a prep room.

The Science department is a friendly and collaborative environment, the Head of Department and three other teachers currently teach Years 5 to 8; Years 3 and 4 are taught by their Form teachers. Pupils are prepared for Common Entrance and scholarship exams for entry to various senior schools.

The Science Technician will be line managed and report to the Head of Science, and provide administrative, technical and teaching support to staff in the school laboratories, classrooms and preparation areas.   Experience working in a school or laboratory setting is desired but not essential. Full health and safety training can be organised and continuous professional development is encouraged and supported.

Main Responsibilities

These include but are not limited to the following:

• Timely and accurate preparation of equipment/resources/materials as required by the Science department.
• Liaising with academic staff to discuss timetables, equipment clashes and work plans.
• Ensuring that equipment is properly cleaned and that chemicals and other materials are appropriately stored or disposed of. 
• Maintaining efficient storage systems for equipment and materials.
• Supporting the work of teachers in practical sessions when needed.
• Recording and managing the stock control of chemicals and equipment.
• Ordering chemicals and equipment when needed.
• Ensuring that all health and safety (and CLEAPPS) procedures are understood and followed correctly. 
• Helping with departmental displays.
• Copying of resources, end of unit tests and exam papers when needed.
• Filing of end of unit tests, exams, Common Entrance and Scholarship papers when needed.

Hours of work

The Science Technician is required to work 15 hours per week, there is some flexibility with exact days and times, which be discussed at interview.

Holidays

This is a term time only post, therefore holidays are taken in the School’s main holidays  

The Ideal Candidate

Please refer to below (attached) person specification.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Westminster Under School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

About The School

Working at Westminster Under School

Westminster Under School is a busy, purposeful and vibrant place to be and an excellent workplace. The community is made up of 292 pupils, 43 teaching staff and 50 support staff.

Westminster Under School is a friendly and welcoming place to work. There is a real sense of community here and staff members quickly become part of the rhythm of life, both inside and outside the classroom. Social events are regular and varied, with plenty of opportunity to socialise outside working hours. Support staff as much as teaching staff are encouraged to embrace the School’s day-to-day activities, whether that be attending a concert or a sports fixture.

At Westminster we will always select the best candidate for every position. We do know, however, that we can only truly choose the best person on every occasion if a broad and diverse pool of candidates see the job advertised and are encouraged to apply.

As such, we continue to work on how our job roles are encountered, and particularly welcome applications from groups who have traditionally been underrepresented here.

Westminster Under School is for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. We hope you are encouraged to apply.

The School

Westminster Under School is a happy, ambitious, nurturing and inspiring world-class preparatory education for seven to 13 year olds. Pupils who love to learn are offered a supportive, dynamic and inspirational environment to fuel their curiosity. 

Located in the heart of London, the School overlooks the beautiful school playing fields in Vincent Square and is just a few moments’ walk from Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament. It is closely connected to Westminster School; in 1943, Westminster expanded its educational scope by forming the Under School, and the two schools share the same Governing Body and the same ethos of a liberal education. 

Westminster Under School's curriculum is broad and diverse, aiming to foster a sense of wonder and inquisitiveness in children and encourage independent thought. The teaching programme goes above and beyond the National Curriculum and teachers are not tightly bound by syllabus. Pupils are taught a wide range of subjects by expert teachers who embrace opportunities for growth and promote diverse thinking, and who encourage them to ask questions about the world around them. 

While the School's standard of our education is of the highest quality, the School’s focus is not only on academic achievement. Westminster pupils receive a full and rounded education that includes sport, the arts and many opportunities to engage in community outreach; pupils frequently take part in concerts, plays and in both internal and external competitions, and the School hosts festivals and events throughout the year. Like its older counterpart, Westminster Under School is fully committed to each pupil’s spiritual, moral, emotional and physical development and wellbeing – with a particular emphasis on drawing out individual talent wherever it lies – and to prepare young people for fulfilled private and public lives.

From September 2026, Westminster Under School will have opened its brand new pre-prep for girls and boys at 4+ and girls will have joined boys in Years 3 and 7, at the 7+ and 11+ entry points. By 2030, with the introduction of girls into Year 9 at Westminster School in 2028, all year groups across the two schools, from ages four to 18, will be fully co-educational, reflecting the School’s dedication to inclusivity and excellence.