Appointment of: Laboratory Technician Information for Candidates The School Queen Mary’s School is a Christian community that values, nurtures and respects every individual. It is a place where all are challenged to do their best, serve others, show compassion and act with integrity. Queen Mary’s School Strives for excellence in every endeavour Loves life and enjoys learning • • • Nurtures spirituality and personal growth • • • • Makes strong and lasting friendships Respects individuality and embraces diversity Enhances character and builds resilience Creates independent young people Queen Mary’s School is an all girls’ independent boarding and day school situated in beautiful countryside, between Ripon and Thirsk. Baldersby Park, the school’s current home, is a Grade 1 listed building surrounded by 40 acres of landscaped grounds, sports fields and paddocks. Queen Mary’s has a reputation for high academic achievement to add to a long-standing tradition of building all- round confidence in pupils through a very wide range of educational and co-curricular opportunities. Headmistress, Mrs Fe Beadnell, firmly believes in happily empowering girls from the earliest years, nurturing leadership skills and a strong sense of self so that every pupil is equipped to become who – and what – they aspire to be. Our school is a dynamic and supportive environment where academic excellence, creativity, adventure, and personal growth go hand in hand. The School is on a very strong footing financially, with a healthy endowment and recent investment in major facilities. The Board wishes to build a long-term programme of investment to sustain Queen Mary’s into the future. The School’s Pre-Prep department is co-educational, while the Prep and Senior School is for girls only and spans the age range 7 to 16. The School has a strong boarding tradition with a healthy mix of full, weekly and flexi- boarding. The boarding life of the School is a central part of the Queen Mary’s culture for both day girls and boarders. Queen Mary’s is part of the Woodard Corporation, a group of 43 independent and maintained schools. Woodard Schools operate as stand-alone entities, with professional support from the centre where required. The Woodard ethos promotes Christian education and high academic and pastoral standards within all its schools. The Role: Queen Mary's has an exciting opportunity for a well-qualified and experienced Laboratory Technician to join our thriving and dynamic science department. It would be desirable if Candidates have previous experience of working within an educational environment scientific laboratory and possess a suitable qualification. To prepare practical resources and maintain facilities, in order to safely and accurately meet the practical needs of the science curriculum. To support the Head of Science to deliver the Science Curriculum by supporting the staff and pupils. Opportunities to contribute to the co-curricular life of this busy, exciting and successful school. The candidate will be positive, inspirational, flexible, and calm under pressure, especially when working in a busy school environment. If you have the energy, commitment and enthusiasm to achieve outstanding academic outcomes and infuse children with a life-long passion for learning, we want to hear from you. This is a term time only position Reporting to: Head of Science Start Date: Easter 2026 Hours of Work: A minimum of 25 hours across 5 days (this can be discussed at interview) Overview of Responsibilities The following is provided as an overview of the main responsibilities; candidates are expected to: − Lead by example, providing inspiration and motivation for the pupils, staff, governors, parents and the wider community Main Job Function − Demonstrate competence in all Science Technician roles and activities Develop the practical elements of the Science Curriculum − Manage and supervise the safe treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous substances Advise teaching staff and colleagues on technical & health and safety issues for experiments Coordinate the systems for organising practicals and the running of the Prep Room Specific Responsibilities − − − To ensure that the Science Laboratory is resourced, organised and developed to meet the performance standards required by the department. To have overall responsibility for the promotion and observance of a healthy and safe working environment for the Science department. To work safely and competently at all times to deliver required materials, equipment and practicals. o To follow instructions in CLEAPSS information, Schemes of Work, Technician guidance and Risk Assessments o To prepare practicals in all 3 subject areas to ensure safe delivery and return of items, including minimising hazards (eg; by preparing chemicals, ensuring fume-cupboards are available and working, and providing advice to teachers. o Store, transport and label equipment and materials following local procedures to ensure safe access and transfer o Provide safety information and advice to assist teachers with completing their Risk Assessments, and report issues or nonconformances o Providing equipment and materials in safe condition for class practicals. o Collecting, checking and returning equipment to stores To ensure correct substances are provided to meet needs of science curriculum within legal and risk assessment frameworks To be supportive of the School’s aims, agreed teaching styles, methods of assessment and other policies To work as part of a team, in harmony with and for the furtherance of the School’s ethos and declared educational aims and priorities To liaise closely with the Head of Science in reviewing, revising and implementing policies to ensure teaching and learning are the best they can be. To order and maintain stocks Clean down following experiments − − − − − − − Maintenance of equipment The duties currently assigned to this role include: − To attend all major school activities, as appropriate (including INSET) To participate in the School appraisal programme − Relate to young people in an atmosphere of trust, openness and integrity and encourage a climate of mutual respect To uphold the policies of the School − Pastoral care and safeguarding − Monitor, evaluate and assess the pastoral care of pupils, ensuring continuous and consistent focus on pupil achievement and development: moral, spiritual, physical, cultural and social. − Coordinate responses to the pastoral needs of pupils throughout the School. Professional Development − Regularly review your own practice, set personal targets and take responsibility for your own development. − Complete an Annual Appraisal. This is not a comprehensive list, but a broad outline of duties. Person Specification Attributes Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria Qualifications − A highly competent Science Technician − Have a Science background Knowledge − CLEAPSS − Ability to work alone and under own initiative Skills and abilities − Strong communication and inter-personal skills − Ability to be discreet and uphold confidentiality − Excellent time management and organisational skills − Be prepared to undertake daily operational tasks as − Understanding MIS systems (iSAMS and CPOMS) − Experience of working in an all-age, independent, boarding school environment required Experience and ability to use data effectively − − Ability to cope with multiple demands shifting priorities and rapid change − A selfless, empowering and collaborative approach to management and continual professional development − Awareness of the importance of child protection and keeping young people safe from harm − Excellent written English and attention to detail − Ability to show initiative and respond to a changing environment − Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines − − Strong IT skills (MS Word, Excel, CMS) Energy, drive, enthusiasm and a positive manner Personal circumstances − All candidates must hold the Right to Work in the UK − Current driving licence − Safeguarding qualifications − A willingness to engage with and articulate the School’s Christian values, ethos and heritage − Clear sympathy with the advantages of single sex education − Willing to play an active part in the life of the School community − Willing to work out of hours as and when School functions occur Terms and Conditions of Employment The following particulars do not form any part of an offer of employment, they provide guidance, without prejudice, on the likely main provisions. Terms and conditions, which will incorporate the Staff Handbook and Contract of Employment, will be documented in due course to the successful candidate. General Notes − A competitive remuneration package is available, with a salary commensurate with the responsibility of the post and the experience of the successful candidate. − All staff are required to attend INSET, Open Mornings, Sports Day and Speech Day. − Additional benefits will include a significant fee discount for children to be educated at Queen Mary’s School (subject to places being available and all relevant admissions criteria being met). Lunch will be provided free of charge during term time hours of work. − − The School operates an employer stakeholder contributory pension scheme. − The appointee will be expected to participate in an annual appraisal. − Accommodation is not provided − The appointee is required to give the School one terms’ notice of their intention to leave this post. − Shortlisted candidates will be asked to undertake identity, and qualification checks which conform to the School’s Safer Recruitment Policy. They must also agree to references being taken up at that stage and checks made with past employers. The successful applicant will be required to complete a medical form before any appointment is confirmed to show there are no medical reasons why the applicant may not be able to take up the post. The Application Process An application form can be downloaded from the school website (www.queenmarys.org) and submitted accompanied with a covering letter addressed to the Headmistress, Mrs Fe Beadnell, explaining the motivation for applying for this post and the experience, skills and qualities you would bring to the role. Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date, and the school reserves the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made. Applicants are therefore strongly encouraged to apply early. Please send your completed application form to the Headmistress's PA: head@queenmarys.org. Applications will be acknowledged by email. If you have not received acknowledgment that your application has been received within two working days of submitting it, please contact the Headmistress's PA by telephone on 01845 575051. Please be aware that we do not accept or review curriculum vitaes, please do not include these as only completed application forms will be submitted to the shortlisting panel. Safeguarding and Recruitment Checks Queen Mary’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All shortlisted candidates will be required to complete identity, and qualification checks in line with our Safer Recruitment Policy, and references will be taken up at this stage. The successful applicant must also complete a medical questionnaire before an appointment is confirmed. As part of our safeguarding commitment, candidates will undergo child protection screening appropriate to the role, including checks with previous employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. All staff share responsibility for safeguarding and must adhere to the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. No Agencies Please Baldersby Park Topcliffe Thirsk North Yorkshire YO7 3BZ 01845 575000 admin@queenmarys.org www.queenmarys.org