School Laboratory Technician Apprentice J3428

SOUTH WEST APPRENTICESHIP COMPANY LTD

Cirencester (GL7 1HS)

Closes in 16 days (Sunday 17 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 30 July 2025

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Summary

Cirencester Kingshill School is a high-achieving academy with a strong ethos of shaping greater futures, rated Good by Ofsted in May 2025. They are offering a rare opportunity for a Level 3 Science Technician Apprentice to support their busy Science Department. You will play a key role in supporting the Science Department.

Wage

£13,741 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Paid pro-rata

Training course
Laboratory technician (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 3.30pm. The post is term time only and In-Service Training Days (inset days) - Holidays must be taken during the school holidays.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years 4 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

PREPARATION OF MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT FOR SCIENCE LESSONS:

  • Collecting apparatus and chemicals from store
  • Preparing necessary solutions
  • Checking individual components in and out for class use
  • Arranging for apparatus, including visual aids, to be in rooms ready for lessons
  • Preparing experiments, setting up apparatus and equipment for demonstration and practical lessons
  • Liaising with staff over use of rooms, equipment and stock
  • Returning apparatus, equipment and chemicals to storage as soon as possible from laboratories
  • Repairing/maintaining or arranging the repairing/maintenance of laboratory equipment 

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF SCIENCE LABORATORIES AND PREP. ROOMS THEIR EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES:

  • Switching on/off mains services
  • Maintaining laboratories, keeping them clean and tidy
  • Cleaning of sinks, chemicals on bench tops and spillages of chemicals on the floor
  • Storing materials tidily in accordance with Health and Safety regulation
  • Keeping materials clean
  • Looking after plants kept in the Faculty
  • Cleaning safety spectacles, safety screens and fume cupboards

MAINTAINING STOCK OF SCIENCE MATERIALS, CHEMICALS AND EQUIPMENT:

  • Taking stock of chemicals, consumables and breakable items.
    Writing orders and checking deliveries
  • Ensuring purchase requirements for experiments are done during working hours

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

  • Advising staff of any problems associated with practical activities
  • Providing advice and assistance on the development of new class practicals
  • Ensure all use and disposal of chemicals follow CLEAPPS Guidelines

SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL:

  • Attending and participating in meetings as required
  • Improving one’s own practice through training, observation, evaluation and discussion with colleagues
  • Keeping abreast of current developments
  • Assisting in the setting up for open evenings and open mornings
  • Accompanying pupils and teachers on science related school trips
  • Support Faculty Science club. 

SUPPORT SCIENCE TEACHERS ACCORDING TO THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE IN SUCH DUTIES AS:

  • Assisting teachers and pupils in the classroom during practical work as and when required by teaching staff
  • Constructing apparatus and equipment
  • Reprographic work - if required in an emergency
  • Development of systems of storage and stock maintenance
  • Development of experimental work in teaching schemes
  • Organise display work according to teacher’s requirement

Other Tasks:

  • Assist in school events and science trips
  • Support the running of a science club
  • Contribute to developing exciting new experiments
  • Help with displays and reprographics

Where you'll work

Kingshill Lane
Cirencester
GL7 1HS

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

NEW COLLEGE SWINDON

Training course

Laboratory technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
  • Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
  • Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
  • Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
  • Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
  • Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
  • Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
  • Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
  • Complete documentation proficiently
  • Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
  • Contribute to the preparation of reports.
  • Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e. g calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
  • Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
  • Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
  • Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
  • Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
  • Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
  • Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
  • Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results
  • Comply with health and safety policies and procedures including HASWA, COSHH, risk assessments, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), manual handling, emergency procedures.
  • Maintain excellent housekeeping, in accordance with organisation Standard Procedures
  • Order and control stocks of laboratory materials where required
  • Identify, organise and use resources effectively to complete tasks applying the concepts of resource efficiency e.g energy, water and waste
  • Adhere to internal and external regulatory requirements e.g. GLP, GMP, GDP
  • Prepare for, and perform, laboratory experiments, tests or tasks following any specified methodologies to provide reliable, accurate data e.g. weighing, pipetting, filtering, spectroscopic techniques, chromatography techniques
  • Demonstrate technical competence in the use of specified instruments and equipment
  • Report faults and seek diagnostic advice to maintain equipment in good working order, including calibration where required
  • Complete documentation proficiently
  • Keep accurate records of laboratory work undertaken and results
  • Contribute to the preparation of reports.
  • Use simple statistical techniques for data presentation and evaluation e. g calculation of median and standard deviation, production of graphs
  • Demonstrate problem solving techniques including identification of sources of error and how they can be reduced e.g. human error
  • Use standard software packages and applications e.g. Microsoft Office suite
  • Use Laboratory Information Management systems to support their work
  • Address non-routine problems with samples and instrumentation, within defined areas
  • Identify relevant information from scientific sources e.g. supervisors, literature etc. in order to contribute to solutions
  • Participate in continuous performance improvement of systems and processes relevant to the work environment e.g. workplace organisation techniques, accreditation (e.g. ISO, UKAS) and proficiency testing.
  • Evaluate data, recognise and call attention to anomalous or unusual results

Training schedule

Delivery will be at the College’s North Star Campus.

Engage in day releases every three weeks at New College Swindon, delving deep into the 'Knowledge' components of your field, with flexible entry points throughout the year.

What You Will Learn and Achieve:

  • Collaboration and Independence: Thrive in a role that demands both teamwork and the ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision, ensuring precision and reliability in every task
  • Problem-Solving: Become adept at identifying challenges and pioneering solutions, contributing significantly to advancements in your field
  • Safety and Ethics: Navigate the complexities of working in regulated environments, mastering the protocols that ensure every experiment and process is conducted ethically and safely

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 5 to 9 (A* to C))
  • Maths (grade 5 to 9 (A* to C))
  • Science (grade 5 to 9 (A* to C))

Desirable qualifications

A Level in:

  • Biology (grade C)
  • Chemistry (grade C)
  • Physics (grade C)

BTEC in:

Applied Science (grade Merit)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Ability to learn
  • Can manage themselves
  • Ability to deal with pressure
  • Loyalty
  • Adaptability
  • Motivation
  • Personal Presentation
  • Commitment
  • Positive Self Esteem
  • Common sense
  • Reliability
  • Enthusiasm
  • Honesty and Integrity

Other requirements

Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

About this employer

As an apprentice, South West Apprenticeship Company Limited, the Flexi Job Agency (FJA) will employ the successful candidate on behalf of this employer. 99% of our apprentices gain full-time employment with their host organisation after completing their apprenticeship or they have progressed onto higher qualifications. The experience and knowledge you gain, plus the relationships you develop, make it easier to progress quickly.

http://www.theswac.org.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

You will have the opportunity to apply for future Professional Support Staff vacancies within the school as they arise.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NEW COLLEGE SWINDON

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000334534.

Apply now

Closes in 16 days (Sunday 17 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

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