Start date: 1 October 2024

Hours per week: 27, Term time only

Contract type: Permanent

King Edwards School
Edgbaston Park Road
Birmingham
B15 2UA
Telephone number: 0121 472 1672

Contact email: kesrecruitment@keschools.org.uk  

King Edward’s School in Birmingham, one of the best independent day schools in the country, seeks a Creative Arts Technician to provide support to the school’s Drama and Art departments.

Benefits:

• defined contribution pension scheme
• school fee discount of up to 60% for KEHS and KES (subject to meeting admissions criteria)
• free lunch in term-time
• free access to gym, swimming pool and yoga sessions
• access to Employee Assistance Programme offering free, 24-hour confidential advice

Reporting to: Head of Arts Faculty

The role requires flexibility and may include occasional late afternoons or evenings by mutual agreement. A hands-on approach is vital to the success of the role and a willingness and ability to learn new skills.

Duties and responsibilities

ART

1. Routine Maintenance (in line with COSHE guidelines)

a. Machinery, tools, equipment and furniture
Routine maintenance, servicing and cleaning, as dictated by the manufacturer and school.
Usage. Kiln Inspection and safety checks. Equipment reviews in the light of new legislation and guidelines. Provision and clarity of safety information for use, e.g. use of goggles etc. Security labelling of all hand tools and mobile equipment.

In a busy department with many demands, it is essential that machinery, tools and equipment are available for use at an optimum level such that the teaching programme is not delayed. General maintenance and good order maintained within studio areas that may involve some tidying and cleaning.

b. Electrical equipment
The department regularly uses a wide variety of audio visual equipment and information technology. Qualified personnel regularly service all electrical equipment, but the Technician is responsible for ensuring that such equipment is available for use upon request, and there may also be opportunities when the Technician is required to provide appropriate technical assistance. PAT testing and labelling. Liaising with ICT technical staff to maintain department ICT equipment and printers.

c. Consumables
The department uses a wide variety of consumables that suffer deterioration and may become unsafe. These include filters, bulbs, brushes, felt tip pens, paints and inks. These materials should be checked, cleaned, repaired or replaced as is necessary, and where appropriate, following COSHE guidelines. Some materials also need processing regularly (clay pugging) to ensure effective use. Pupil Art box restocking.

2. Storage

The Technician is responsible for ensuring all equipment and materials are safely and efficiently stored and readily available for use. This may include appropriate labelling and dating, security and tool racking. Chemicals, solvents, flammable liquids and adhesives must be stored in appropriate facilities, regularly checked for deterioration and administered efficiently and safely. The storage facilities must also be regularly checked for deterioration.

3. Pupils’ work

The Technician, under direction from the Head of Art and Design, is responsible for storing and maintaining and handling pupil work, which is to be retained as examples for future reference. The preparation and construction and stretching of frames and mounts for canvas pictures and other works. Some photography and printing of pupils’ work.

4. Security and health and safety

The Technician, along with other colleagues, is responsible for safeguarding all areas of the department by securing and monitoring areas not in use. This is particularly important for the dark room and the kiln room and 3-D area.

5. Exhibitions

The Technician is responsible for assistance with Pupil work exhibitions. This may be on a smallscale within the department or in liaison with the Display Staff on larger scale school wide or external exhibitions. Wiring of canvas stretchers, organising, carrying and setting up display boards, helping with exhibition preparation (invitations, posters, flowers, information etc.)

DRAMA

Duties to include:

• source and help to create props and scenery, ensuring the inventory is kept organised and up to date, and that they are stored safely
• organising and supporting theatre trips
• answer queries about productions and clubs from pupils, parents, staff and the public
• source materials for props and costumes, placing orders in person, via email and on the telephone
• order refreshments for rehearsals
• travel to purchase and collect materials for props and costumes preferably in own vehicle
• ensure that all Drama Department spaces are kept clean and tidy, adhering to health and safety regulations
• carry out administration for the KES Drama Department, to include filing, photocopying, emailing students, creating posters, producing registers and other tasks using IT programmes including Microsoft Office
• take minutes of Drama Department and production meetings and share
• liaise with and assist the PAC Technical staff (or lead where appropriate) with basic lighting and sound tasks during GCSE, A Level and IB examined performances and club performances (training will be provided)

The above information is not an exhaustive list of tasks that the postholder will be required to carry out, but it does outline the main duties. All staff are required to act in a professional, co-operative and flexible manner in line with the requirements of the post.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will be expected to show evidence of many of the following skills and qualities and this list describes the criteria that will be used in the selection process.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE Essential Desirable

• experience of theatrical productions 
• experience of working art practice 
• experience of working in education 
• experience of supervising and working with school age children 
• experience of using simple technical skills e.g. using a lightning board or programming QLab 
• an understanding of Safeguarding principles and practice 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES Essential Desirable

• good IT skills, including Microsoft Office 
• good written and verbal communication skills 
• excellent time management and organisational skills 
• good initiative, and an ability to think logically and problem-solve under pressure 
• excellent attention to detail 
• the ability to prioritise workload 
• ability to keep calm under pressure 

QUALIFICATIONS Essential Desirable

• a level or equivalent in Art, Theatre, Drama or a related subject 
• full driving licence (and own vehicle) 

ATTITUDES Essential Desirable

• a flexible and adaptable approach to work, including late night and weekend working 
• an interest in art, theatre and productions 
• a positive attitude towards education and young people 
• willingness to undertake any further training necessary 

  This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016). Therefore the ability to speak fluent and spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.  

How to Apply

To apply for this role, forward a completed application form available for download from our website  and a covering letter addressed to Polly Higgins, Head of Arts Faculty, outlining why you feel that your skills and experience would equip you to take on this role, by email to: kesrecruitment@keschools.org.uk.

Interviews will provisionally take place later the same week.

This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to necessary pre-employment checks, including: an enhanced DBS; Childcare Disqualification (where applicable); qualifications (where applicable); medical fitness; identity and right to work.  All applicants will be required to provide two suitable references. 

Applicants please note: This post is not part of the City Council and the successful candidate will not hold a Birmingham City Council Contract of Employment. Please use the contact details in the advert for information on actual employment conditions.

Rehabilitation of offenders: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

An online search will also be carried out as part of due diligence on all short-listed candidates.