Westminster School is a busy and vibrant place to work. There is a real sense of community here as, being a boarding school, many members of staff and pupils live on site and the School’s premises are very much treated as a home away from home. Support staff as much as teaching staff are encouraged to embrace the School’s day-to-day activities, whether that be attending an evening concert or a morning service in the Abbey.

STEM forms a significant part of Westminster’s identify. Spanning six floors, the School’s Hooke building is dedicated to the study of Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Physics and Product Design. Laboratories are well equipped and managed by a team of teachers and technicians, allowing for a high frequency of practicals to take place. Biology is a popular subject, between 30 and 40 pupils take it at A Level and many go on to study the discipline at university, either independently or as part of a vocational course such as Medicine or Dentistry. Westminster has a long history of instilling a love for science in its pupils, many of whom have gone on to become influential in their sphere of work, such as scientists Robert Hooke, Sir Andrew Huxley, Lynda Stuart and Henry Tizard.

The role
We are looking for a qualified and experienced Biology Laboratory Technician to join our thriving Science Department. Biology Laboratory Technicians are primarily responsible for providing practical assistance to Biology teachers and for supporting the effective teaching of pupils across all age groups. Technicians work closely with the Head of Biology and are supported by the other teachers in the department as well as the Head of Science. The main aim of the technical team is to ensure provision of equipment and materials for use in teaching, both for practicals and demonstrations, maintaining stock and undertaking general administration tasks, whilst striving to ensure a safe working environment.

The role would be suited to someone with an interest in, and a passion for, Biology as a subject. The successful candidate will have experience of working as a technician in a life science laboratory in education or industry. They will be a problem-solver who enjoys working with and helping to support the work of others. Being able to work calmly under pressure is an important skill for this role, as is the ability to work autonomously and as part of a team. Strong communications skills are integral.

The Biology Laboratory Technician will work Monday to Friday during the teaching day and support Saturday teaching on a rota throughout the year, with no more than nine Saturdays in total.