Physics Technician

Job Title: Physics Technician

Reports to: The Bursar but with day to day responsibility to the Head of Physics

Salary Scale:: Dependant on Experience Junior Technician Grade SCP 18-22 £19,260 - £21,824.

Senior Technician Grade SCP 23-27 £22,465-25,534

Location: King Edward’s School, North Road, Bath.

Hours of Work: This is a Term-time Post for 36 weeks per annum plus 1 additional week to be worked at the start and end of the holiday periods in agreement with the Head of Physics. 35 Hours per week, from 08.30 to 4.30 each day with one hour unpaid lunch break. These timings can be varied by prior agreement with the Line Manager but a minimum of 30 minutes unpaid lunch break must be taken each day.

Holidays: 20 days plus 2 statutory days paid holiday per annum, rising by 1 extra day for each completed year up to a maximum of 25 days. As this is a Term-time post, an element of pay currently equivalent to 13% is paid in lieu of holidays taken in School holidays in the first instance rising to 15.6% after 5 years’ service.

Starting Salary: Junior Technician Grade Scale Point 18, pro rata salary £14,648 per annum, made up of Gross Salary £12,963 and an element of pay £1,685 in lieu of paid holiday.

Senior Technician Grade Scale Point 23, pro rata salary £17,087 per annum, made up of Gross Salary £15,121 and an element if pay £1,966 in lieu of paid holiday.

Pension: Automatic enrolment into the KES Support staff Personal Pension Scheme with Employer’s Contribution of 6% of salary, to be matched by 2% Employee contribution.

The School:  King Edward’s School, founded in 1552, is an Independent Co-Educational Day School; there are currently 760 pupils in the Senior School (including 220 pupils in the Sixth Form), 190 in the Junior School and 75 in the Pre-Prep.

The School is situated on a privileged 14 acre site on the south eastern edge of Bath, just below the University, with fine views of the City Centre and surrounding hills.  In addition, there are attractive playing fields one mile from the school at Bathampton.

Job Purpose:

To provide technical assistance in support of the academic staff of the Physics Department with preparation and other related work in support of their teaching and examinations work.  There are currently three physics laboratories.  The department also teaches Electronics at A Level.

Main Activities:

• Keeping the laboratories and equipment in good order, including cleaning and maintaining apparatus.
• Setting up apparatus or other equipment relating to practical experiments for teaching or examination purposes as requested by the teaching staff.
• Looking after the storage and supply of equipment, materials and apparatus for the Department.
• Carrying out stock control within the department, including carrying out an annual stock check, requisitioning and receiving supplies.
• Assisting the Head of Department in the implementation of safety regulations including annual safety checks of apparatus and equipment and monitoring and reporting accidents.
• Fetching and carrying materials and apparatus to the appropriate laboratories, as required.
• Undertaking general office duties, including filing accounts, past papers, catalogues etc., collating materials, photocopying and the occasional ordering of supplies
• Security: ensuring that the windows and doors in the areas worked are locked or secured before leaving and that lighting and power switches are turned off.
• Make available electrical equipment for PAT testing, which could involve coming in during the school holiday.
• Responsible for laptop bookings and reporting defects and/or faults.
• Such other duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.

Person Specification

• Some knowledge of Physics and demonstrable experience of setting up experiments and apparatus is essential
• Energetic and organised person able to cope with various requests in a timely manner
• Willingness and ability to fetch and carry apparatus and materials between the laboratories and preparation rooms.
• Knowledge of Health & Safety practices and a willingness to undertake related Health & Safety training from time to time.
• Some knowledge of simple administrative procedures, filing systems etc.
• Willingness to be flexible and prepared to undertake repetitive or mundane tasks.
• Able to work under occasional pressure or tight deadlines
• Good oral communication skills
• Basic level of IT skills or willingness and aptitude to learn
• Must live within easy commuting distance of the School.