Part-time Wed pm/Thurs/Fri, term time only. Required from September 2026 or as soon as possible

Thank you for your interest in the role of Science Technician at The Cathedral School, Llandaff

You will be joining us at an exciting time following the school being named third best private school in the UK for A Levels in 2023 (The Telegraph) and the Sunday Times Welsh Independent School of the Year for two years’ running; 2024 and 2025.

Alongside this, in the school’s most recent Estyn inspection it was judged to be excellent in all five categories. Pupils were described as “confident, ambitious, aspirational and wellinformed learners” and the report celebrated the “outstanding subject knowledge” and “passion and enthusiasm” of the teaching staff.

It highlighted teachers’ committed contribution to “exceptional levels of support within and beyond the classroom to help pupils to develop selfconfidence”.

The school not only prides itself on its musical, academic, sporting and artistic achievements, but also on its ability to challenge and motivate all of its students. We want children to take risks in the classroom, not to be afraid of getting it wrong, but rather to be confident enough to ask questions and think for themselves. All children have talents and gifts, both in and out of the classroom, and we are always looking to identify and celebrate these at every opportunity.

I look forward to hearing from you and considering your application.

Head Clare Sherwood

The School

“A dynamically run school that parents pick for its solid academics and family feel. Music and sport are particularly impressive for a small school. The students work hard, make friends for life, and clearly adore the place.” The Good Schools Guide, 2023.

The Cathedral School, Llandaff

The Cathedral School is the leading independent school in Cardiff, Wales. It educates approx. 800 students, boys and girls, aged from 3 – 18.

First class academic teaching, excellent facilities and an extensive co-curricular programme, underpinned by high quality pastoral care and the school’s Christian ethos, give Cathedral School pupils the opportunity to reach their full potential, both academically and personally, in a vibrant and supportive environment.

The History of CSL

The school is located on an attractive campus adjacent to the ancient Llandaff Cathedral. It was founded in 1880 as a choir school to provide choristers to the Cathedral, and this tradition continues today.

The school moved to its present campus in 1958, then numbering 190 boys and being a preparatory school. It became co-educational in 1978, and expanded very successfully to GCSE in 2007, achieving amongst the best GCSE results in Wales every year since.

The Sixth Form began in September 2013 and has grown and developed each year; with outstanding results and students progressing to a wide range of university courses.

There are no boarders; all students come from the locality, most from within a 20-mile radius. Standards, academic and behavioural, are very high. All students are expected to give and to be the best they can.

The Science Faculty

The Science Faculty is a warm, collaborative and ambitious team delivering Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology across Key Stage 3, GCSE (AQA) and A Level (WJEC). Small class sizes allow for a personalised and high-impact learning experience. Our students are enthusiastic, hardworking and a pleasure to support.

The Role

The Cathedral School seeks to appoint a committed and well organised part-time Science Technician to support the Science faculty.

Working closely with the Senior Science Technician and teaching staff, the successful candidate will play a key role in supporting practical science teaching across Key Stage 3-5. This role would suite someone who is enthusiastic about science, proactive and keen to contribute to a busy, friendly and supportive faculty.

This is a part-time (Wed pm/Thurs/Fri 8:00am-4:00pm) term time only post. It is a permanent position.

The successful candidate will be a good team player who is willing to share their technical expertise for the benefit of the pupils. We welcome applications from experienced technicians with a thorough knowledge of health and safety regulations and the ability to demonstrate and assist others in the safe and effective use of specialist equipment and materials. Please refer to the job description below for further information.

Should you choose to apply we look forward to meeting you, showing you what we do and hearing what you can offer. We are a friendly, supportive and diligent team, and would like to develop further through welcoming a knowledgeable technician to the school. If you would like any additional information about the role, please contact Dr Claire Rickard, Head of Faculty, via RickardCL@cathedral-school.co.uk.

Job Description

To support the Senior Science Technician and the Science faculty in delivering the Science curriculum;

To create and maintain a purposeful, orderly and productive environment, ensuring that the prep rooms and labs are clean, safe and well organised at all times;

To be responsible for the timely and accurate preparation and use of specialist equipment, resources and materials as required by staff/curriculum/lesson plans;

Ensuring a safe environment by maintaining tidy working areas and ensuring that tools and equipment are stored correctly;

To develop an understanding of the curriculum and what resources are required;

To assist the teaching staff in the setting up and running of practical sessions and demonstrations;

To undertake technical support to pupils in structured and agreed learning activities/teaching programmes. This may begeneral assistance in the classroom, specialist teaching of an activity on a one-to-one basis or working with a small group on a focused task;

To deliver apparatus, materials and equipment to laboratories, retrieving after use and disposing of waste;

To be responsible for the washing and repairing of apparatus, laboratory coats and equipment and returning to store;

To be responsible for the cleaning of sinks and bench tops of materials and equipment, clearing of spillages, washing and repairing of equipment and returning to store;

To dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous waste in accordance with established guidelines;

To check laboratory services and facilities, remove any unsafe equipment/substances and report any faults/issues to the subject leader;

To be responsible for visual checking of plugs and electrical equipment and report any faults to the Senior Technician and premises manager;

To maintain a database of department resources and update inventory records as requested;

To organise and carry out the purchasing of teaching materials for science lessons as required, in liaison with the Finance Office (for example, seeds, household chemicals and animal parts);

To maintain specialist equipment, check for quality/safety, undertake repairs/modifications within own qualifications and report any additional damage/needs as necessary;

To ensure health and safety regulations are adhered to at all times;

To carry out health and safety risk assessments relating to laboratory work and apply CLEAPSS and COSHH regulations and assessments (a regular health and safely log will be kept);

To ensure that all consumable materials, particularly those of a toxic, flammable and/or explosive nature, are stored correctly;

To be responsible for personal professional development making full use of advisory services and maintain a high level of current awareness regarding developments in science;

To undertake additional administrative duties such as photocopying, laminating and displays as required by the faculty;

To collate and input pupil data;

To operate documentation systems (cataloguing, filing, worksheets etc);

To be a First Aider (training to be provided via school).

Whole School Responsibilities

All school staff are expected to:

Have a full disclosure DBS check, and support and contribute to the school’s responsibility for safeguarding students; sharing any level of concerns with the Assistant Head (Safeguarding) and school pastoral team;

Work towards and support the school vision, ethos and the current objectives outlined in the School Development Plan;

Comply with policies and procedures of the school, including those referred to in the Staff Handbook;

Work within the school’s Health and Safety Policy to ensure a safe working environment for staff, pupils and visitors;

Work within the school’s Equal Opportunities Policy to promote equality of opportunity for all pupils and staff, both current and prospective;

Maintain high professional standards of attendance, punctuality, appearance, conduct and positive, courteous relations with pupils, parents and colleagues;

Be self-reflective and committed to their own continued professional development, participating in training and keeping up to date with current procedures and practices;

Engage actively in the appraisal process;

Contribute to and support the wider life of the school, eg. attending open days (including one Saturday in late September / early October), supporting pupil discovery days (liaising with subject leaders to run workshop sessions), and attending other functions and events;

Undertake such other reasonable duties related to the job purpose as required from time to time.

The Job Description is not exhaustive and is subject to regular review. All staff are expected to be in full sympathy with the Christian ethos of this Woodard School, an ethos which pervades all strands of school life.

Person Specification

Essential Skills and Qualifications

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade A*-C

Trained in health and safety awareness and procedures

High degree of competence in the use, care and maintenance of laboratory equipment and resources

Excellent organisational skills

Good IT skills, including experience of Word and Excel

Good written and oral communication skills with the ability to be proactive in liaison with staff

Good standard of numeracy

Ability to work under pressure, prioritise effectively and meet deadlines

Willingness to become a First Aider

Desirable Skills and Qualifications

An experienced technician with broad base of knowledge and experience of a school environment

Trained First Aider

Understanding of the relationship with parents in a fee-paying school context.

Personal Characteristics

·Have a strong commitment to achieving high standards

·A strong commitment to fostering the wellbeing of all pupils

·Self-motivated with the ability to work on own initiative but also as part of a team

·Flexible, with a positive ‘can-do’ attitude

·Able to inspire and motivate others, and to lead by example

·Enthusiastic, innovative and supportive team player

·Able to remain calm under pressure

·Diplomatic and trustworthy

·Able to build excellent working relationships with colleagues, providing support and guidance when necessary

·Be able to see tasks through to completion, and within set timeframes

·Have good rapport with adults and children, nurturing positive relationships at all levels

·A sense of humour!

Child Protection

The Cathedral School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all employees to share this commitment. Applicants for this post must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including reference checks with any previous employer, as considered appropriate, and a criminal record check via the Disclosure & Barring Service. They will be expected to uphold the school’s Safeguarding Policy (copy on school website) at all times.

Salary, Holidays and Staff Benefits

The current salary for this part time role (0.5 FTE) is £10,605 pa (actual), based on 19 hours per week (Wed pm/Thurs/Fri) This is term time only and includes 4 weeks paid holiday (pay award pending).

The normal hours of work will be Wed 12.00pm-4.00pm and Thurs/Fri 8.00am-4.00pm, including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break.

Staff are provided with lunch daily, free of charge, and holiday entitlement will be calculated as an average or proportion depending on the hours worked. The post holder will be enrolled into an ‘auto-enrolment’ pension scheme if eligible, and may still be entitled to join if not automatically enrolled. Further details of pension arrangements and holiday pay will be provided.

The Staff Wellbeing Committee helps to support staff welfare, and all have access to a gym, and weekly yoga and Pilates sessions. The Cathedral School community seeks to be a welcoming and inclusive one. The school is an exciting, challenging and rewarding place to work.

Application Procedure

Please download and complete the application form and email it, together with a covering letter of no more than two sides of A4, to Mrs Clare Sherwood, Head, via workforus@cathedral-school.co.uk.

The deadline for applications is Monday 22nd June at 9.00am. Interviews will take place as soon as possible thereafter.

We are committed to a policy of equality. It is recognised and welcomed that teaching and support staff will come to the school with a variety of faiths, beliefs and backgrounds. We aim to ensure that no job applicant, member of staff, student or other member of the school community is treated less favourably on grounds of race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or religious belief, sex or sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital or civil partner status, disability or age.

Further information about the school, including details of our Equal Opportunities Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy, are available at www.cathedral-school.co.uk

Our Aims & Ethos

The Cathedral School is a member of the Woodard family of schools and is the only Anglican choir school in Wales. The Christian faith is central to the life of the school and all members of staff are expected to actively promote the aims of a Christian school, to support the Woodard ethos, to contribute willingly and generously of their time and commitment to school life, and to sincerely seek to do and to be their best. In addition to membership of the Woodard Corporation, the Cathedral School is a member of the HMC, the Society of Heads, IAPS (The Independent Association of Prep Schools) and also of the Choir Schools’ Association.

The School offers a broad curriculum which it aspires to deliver through the highest standards of teaching. It is expected that students will progress within the School until A-level.

At The Cathedral School, young people from all faiths and traditions, or none at all, flourish in our rich, diverse culture enabling them to lead full and creative adult lives. Ultimately, our aim is to equip our young people with the skills, abilities, interests, experiences, qualifications and, most importantly, vision and values to be the best that they can be; to respect and care for others; and to spend their lives promoting the common good. We hope that each of them will, in some way either great or small, make the world a better place.

The Cathedral School has a very special ethos which underpins all that we do. Our school aims to nurture the talent and personality of each pupil, enabling all to thrive within a mutually respectful and supportive environment. We do this through:

Achievement: We strive, day in and day out, to provide the scaffolding for achievement in any and all fields. We recognise that all young people have a unique set of skills and enable all pupils to fulfil their potential.

Care: We foster a climate of care for one other, focusing on kindness, thoughtfulness and respect. We learn to listen to and understand the beliefs and values of one another. We help every child to understand that they hold their own destiny in their hands, to understand the value of hard work and to learn to love their neighbour. All of us are equally important members of the school community, valuable, distinct and unique.

Opportunity: Nurtured by our Christian values, we make sure that each child is able to find what they can excel at. We encourage them to search out opportunity, not waiting for it to come knocking. Our wide range of opportunities develop confidence, allowing each child to find what they excel at. From there the sky is the limit.

Ambition: At the Cathedral School, we look to ignite the spark that fires ambition, and teach how to handle that ambition with humility. Ambition is doing your best, not shouldering others to the side but working together. It is relishing the challenge and celebrating each milestone reached, not just for ourselves but for the whole community.

Leadership: Together, we are creating an inspiring vision of the future and building compassionate and active citizens. Leadership is about listening, learning and working together and every voice counts. The confidence gained at the Cathedral School will allow each child to get the best out of their life.