Our Ref: IDW/KEB

Date: September 2017

Dear Applicant

DESIGN TECHNICIAN

Thank you for taking an interest in the above post at our school. The information provided is intended to help you decide if we are a school you would like to join. I would also encourage you to look at our website ( which contains information that will give you a flavour of our achievements and ethos.

George Stephenson High School is an 11-18 Trust School of 1187 students, 115 of whom are in the Sixth Form. We also have 60 guest pupils in the Sixth Form from our neighbouring collaboration schools. We have 131 staff, 74 of whom are teachers, 57 are associate/support staff. Our school has a really positive ethos, with very strong pastoral and academic guidance and a real emphasis on learning in everything we do. I genuinely believe the support, care and welfare of our students is second to none. This school is and will always be a fully inclusive school which puts the students at the very centre of all that it does. We want it to be a school that is always a happy, safe and enjoyable place to be. Further to that we want the school to be at the very heart of the local community and to become the school of choice of all who live here.

We were inspected by Ofsted in May 2012 and the school was judged to be Outstanding in every single area. Such significant progress has only been possible because we have a committed, enthusiastic and highly skilled staff team, a supportive governing body and superb students. We are absolutely delighted to have received this recognition from Ofsted and are particularly pleased that we were the only secondary school in the whole of the North East to achieve an Outstanding judgment in 2012. The school was judged to be Outstanding in every single category (Achievement, Teaching, Behaviour and Leadership) and we feel it reflects the fact that our school has improved greatly over the last few years.Ofsted recognised this saying that “achievement is outstanding because students make excellent progress as they move through the school.” They were also very impressed with the teaching, judging 49% of all lessons observed as Outstanding, a figure higher than any we are aware of even in other schools judged to be outstanding. They said that “students benefit from the exceptionally productive climate for learning that pervades the school and excellent teaching that enables them to make rapid progress.”

Southgate, Killingworth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12 6SA

T:0191 216 1115

Headteacher: Ian D Wilkinson BA (Hons) MEd

Deputy Headteacher: Tracey Anderson BSc (Hons) PhD

Deputy Headteacher: Peter Douthwaite BSc (Hons)

Our school has a happy and purposeful atmosphere and we believe that the learning environment we provide allows students to grow and develop academically, socially and personally into responsible, caring and confident young people. Ofsted said that “behaviour is outstanding. Students respond exceptionally well to the adults who work with them and they trust them.” Ofsted’s summary is that “as a result of all of these efforts students receive a first-class education” and we are truly delighted that the school, our young people, staff and the community we serve has got this recognition. It will allow us to improve even further in the coming years.

Wewere also awarded Teaching School status with effect from September 2014.We are very proud of our progress as a National Teaching School. This has been very prestigious and exciting for both our school and our Teaching School Alliance, which is made up of seventeen local schools and universities and has represented a great opportunity for us to work across schools and other organisations in the North East, to have a positive impact on the lives of our young people. As a Teaching school we have worked with others to provide high-quality training and development to new and experienced school staff. Last year we welcomed over a hundred potential teachers into our school as part of the School Experience Programme andoffered places toeighteen trainee teachers to train in schools across our Alliance from September 2016. In addition, we havehosted over two hundredcolleagues from secondary schools from across the North East at our many courses and events, including conferences for Humanities, Media Studies, Health and Social Care, Literacy and Numeracy, leadership courses and specialist Science courses.This demonstrates our clear commitment to staff development and we hope it encourages you further to apply to work here.

Over the last decade our school has improved significantly on all measures, building up a reputation as a lively, caring school and an exciting place for students to learn. Importantly, examination results at all key stages have improved significantly over the last few years. We were delighted that 67% of our students achieved a GCSE pass at Grade 4 and above in both English and Maths in 2017 and 65% of our students achieved over 5 good GCSEs including English and Maths. We also had a large increase in the number of students achieving the EBACC suite of qualifications. For the last seven years around 65% of our students have achieved 5 or more A*-C GCSEs including English and Maths. These results have been particularly pleasing in the light of the changes to the examination system and the widespread volatility nationally and locally in the GCSE results over the last few years. Over the same six year period 75% of our students have achieved good pass in English and over 70% have achieved a good pass in Maths, both figures being well above national average every year. At post-16 we celebrated another strong set of A Level results. The pass rate was again 100% with 42% of all grades at A* to B and 73% A*-C. This came a year after we celebrated our best ever set of A Level results. Over the last two years around 85% of our students secured a place at their first choice university with the rest securing their second choice or getting into University through clearing. A significant number of our students have gone to a Russell Group university over the last two years but we have also noticed an increased number of students going into employment and apprenticeships after our Sixth Form. The important thing though is that over the last few years all students who have left us at either 16 or 18 have gone onto an appropriate progression route.

The Technician team is made up of seven staff who work in various parts of the school. This post will be based in the Design department and you will be responsible for providing support for both our Design Technology and Art syllabus. In addition, there will be responsibility for preparing materials for the above subjects and ensuring that all departmental classroom and workshops meet the Health & Safety standards before each lesson. You will be required to have a good standard of practical knowledge, a good understanding and ability to use relevant equipment/technology and tools. Training will be provided for PAT testing and First Aid. You will be an enthusiastic person with relevant experience and a high level of personal drive and energy, who will be able to contribute to improving the skills/results of the students at George Stephenson High School. You will be self-motivated, an exceptionally well organised individual with the ability to work well within a team setting.

The Design department has its own suite of rooms in a separate block of the school and there are five full time members of staff, including a Technician (the advertised post). The department has been upgraded recently with the removal of equipment no longer in use and the purchase of the latest technology and tools so that students may be better prepared for the kind of workshops they will enter in the future.

This is an interesting and demanding post, but one which will give the right candidate an opportunity to be part of a committed and dedicated team of teachers and support staff, whose prime aims are the continuing improvement and development of the school and the support and encouragement of its students.

If you are someone who loves learning and is committed to working with students who need your encouragement to succeed, and would like to work with colleagues who are friendly, committed and very hard working, then we would be delighted to receive your application. This is an interesting and demanding post, but one which will give the right candidates an opportunity to be part of a committed and dedicated team of teachers and support staff, whose prime aims are the continuing improvement and development of the school and the support and encouragement of its students. If you are someone who loves learning and is committed to working with students who need your encouragement to succeed, and would like to work with colleagues who are friendly, committed and very hard working, then we would be delighted to receive your application.

We have made real progress recently and are proud of what we have achieved so far. However, we know that we have the capacity to improve still further and our work continues to focus on improving practice in the classroom. We are a forward looking school, committed to giving our students the best possible educational experience. Although increasingly successful, we are not a complacent school. There are many aspects that we can improve further and our challenge is to do this without compromising our existing strengths. George Stephenson High School is a great place to work, with fantastic staff and talented students. I took on the Headship of this wonderful school in September 2009 and am truly very excited about the future. I hope you are enthused by the enclosed information and choose to apply.

Please submit a letter of application (no more than two sides of A4) and a completed application form for the attention of Ms Karen Bradley (Headteacher’s PA) by noon on Thursday 28 September 2017.

We expect to hold interviews on Thursday 5 October. If you have heard nothing by this date you must assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in our school.

Yours sincerely

IAN D WILKINSON

Headteacher

DESIGN TECHNICIAN

GRADE: Grade 5

J.E. CODE:D173

Contract:195 Term Time Plus (190 Teaching Days, 3 Training Days plus 2 days in the last week in the summer holidays).

RESPONSIBLE TO: Curriculum Leader: Design

Main Duties of the Post

Under the direction/instruction of the Curriculum Leader: Design: provide general support to staff and students including preparation and routine maintenance of resources/equipment.

Developing appropriate resources for teaching and learning. Under the direction of the Curriculum Leader to ensure that all Health & Safety requirements are met. Be a school first aider.

To assist teaching staff in promoting and raising the profile of Design within and outside the School. To support the development and delivery of Product Design syllabus in D&T.

Support for Students:

Support students in accessing learning activities, as directed by the teacher
Supervise and provide particular support for students, including those with special needs, ensuring their safety and access to learning activities
Establish constructive relationships with students and interact with them according to individual needs
Promote the inclusion and acceptance of all students
Encourage students to interact with others and engage in activities led by the teacher
Set challenging and demanding expectations and promote self-esteem and independence
Provide feedback to students in relation to progress and achievement under the guidance of the teacher
Use specialist skills/training/experience to support students
Provide in class demonstration/tuition on specialist machinery

Support for Teachers:

To prepare materials & equipment for practical lessons.
To maintain machinery and equipment in accordance with Health & Safety requirements.
Carry out weekly Health and Safety checks on all equipment and machinery and report directly to the Head of Department.
Assist Curriculum Leader in the production of Risk and COSSH assessments.
To maintain and carry out weekly maintenance of all equipment and tools.
To carry out a range of administration duties including: inputting data, production of registers and class groups and preparing teaching material and booklets.
To maintain and monitor stock control.
To assist the Curriculum Leader in the ordering of materials and equipment.
To carry out weekly material and equipment; inclusive of audit checks across all Technology and Art classrooms and workshops.
To assist staff in preparing and setting up displays for internal and external exhibitions.
To assist staff in the production and updating of Design displays within the department.
To be proficient in the use of the range of specialist graphics design packages.
Provide technical support during lesson time Art and DT lessons.
Assist the teacher with learning activities, ensuring health and safety and good behaviour of students.
Provide clerical/admin support e.g. photocopying, typing, filing, money handling, communication activities, data input, administer coursework, etc.
Ensure timely and accurate design, preparation and use of specialist equipment/resources/ materials.
Assist in the development of lesson/work plans, administration of coursework, worksheets, etc
Contribute to planning, development and organisation of systems/procedures/policies.
Be responsible for maintaining records, information and data, producing analysis and reports, as required.
Administer and assess routine tests.

Support for the Curriculum:

Ordering and purchasing of resources, from a variety of sources e.g. compiling and administering stock orders.
Monitor and arrange orderly and secure storage of supplies.
Maintenance of every day equipment: check for quality/safety.
Undertake simple repairs and report other damages.
Operation of every day equipment in accordance with instructions.
Undertake structured and agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to student responses.
Prepare, maintain and use equipment/resources required to meet the lesson plans/relevant learning activity and assist students in their use.
Monitor and manage stock within an agreed budget, cataloguing resources and undertaking audits, as required.
Maintenance of specialist equipment, check for quality/safety, undertake specialist repairs/ modifications within own capabilities and arrange for other repairs/modifications to be carried out by others.
Demonstrate and assist in the safe and effective use of specialist equipment/materials.
Provide specialist advice and guidance, as required.
Implement agreed work programmes/practical lessons under the guidance of the teacher.

Support for the School:

Be aware of, and comply with, policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security and confidentiality, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure all students have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop.
Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the School.
Appreciate and support the role of other professionals.
Attend relevant meetings, as required.
Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development, as required
Assist with the supervision of students out of lesson times (clubs, extra-curricular activities, etc).
To safeguard and promote the welfare of young people.

General

To undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade of the post as requested by line manager or Headteacher.

I agree that the Job Outline is a fair and accurate statement of the requirements of the job.

Job Holder ………………………………………… Date……………………………………

Line Manager ……………………………………….. Date……………………………………

Person Specification

PostDesign Technician (JE Code D173)

GradeJE Grade 5

Area / Criteria / Requirement
Skills/Knowledge/Aptitudes /

Can use ICT effectively to support learning
Ability to maintain a range of tools and equipment
Ability to prepare equipment and materials for lessons, as requested by teaching staff
Ability to work in an organised and methodical manner
Ability to identify work priorities and manage own workload
Ability to establish positive relationships with pupils
Ability to maintain accurate work records and maintain inventories
Knowledge of Health and Safety legislation
Knowledge of COSHH regulations in relation to the safe handling and storage of chemicals
Knowledge of safe working practices in relation to the handling and usage of hazards equipment and tools
Knowledge of a range of design techniques
Knowledge of thermoforming plastics

/ Essential (ALL)
Qualifications and Training /

Excellent numeracy/literacy skills – equivalent to NVQ Level 2 in English and Maths
Appropriate certificates for wood-turning, CNC Router, Lathe and Laser, pillar drill, handsaw, circular saw and planer/thicknesser.
First Aid (training will be provided)
PAT (training will be provided)

/ Essential
Desirable
Desirable
Desirable
Experience /

Experience working with children of relevant age in a learning environment.
Experience of undertaking a range of design-related tasks.
Previous experience of working in a design technology environment.
Experience of using creative software such as Adobe Photoshop, 2d/3d Modelling software and office applications
PAT trained, good health and safety knowledge, first aid certification.
Experience of Screen Printing and other art based techniques.

/ Desirable
Essential
Essential
Essential
Desirable
Desirable