Information Pack
Completed applications should be emailed to
Closing date: 09:00 Monday 22 September 2025
Term-time Laboratory Technician (Chemistry) at the Manchester Grammar School
Job Description
We are looking for an organised, hard working person, who can manage a busy lab timetable
and deal with the organisation of the associated practical classes, and to provide support for
effective teaching and learning within the department. This person will work with the other
Chemistry technicians to support the safe delivery of experiments and practical activities
within science lessons in order to optimise teaching and learning. The post-holder will report
to the Senior Chemistry Technician and the Head of Chemistry on a day to day basis, whilst
the Bursar has overall line management of non-teaching staff in school. The School is
working towards increased communication and flexibility between the science departments,
and the postholder may be expected to work in other science departments as required,
depending on the needs of the School.
The main areas of the post are shown below:
Reporting to: Senior Chemistry Technician, Head of Chemistry and the Bursar
Liaison with: Science technicians and teachers from other departments
Teaching staff
Pupils
Other school staff
Main duties and responsibilities
* Providing apparatus as requested by members of the teaching staff and clearing away
apparatus after use.
* Checking that all apparatus is working correctly prior to use.
* Setting up demonstrations when required.
* Providing administrative support within the department as required, particularly mass
photocopying and preparation of exam papers for distribution.
* The maintenance of departmental resources
* Restocking the laboratories with essential consumables.
* The development of practical resources and activities.
* The maintenance of a safe working environment.
* Be willing to work flexibly in other school science departments as appropriate
* Be aware of all relevant emergency procedures and take prompt action to deal with
emergencies such as spillages.
Person specification
Experience and qualifications
* Science qualifications would be an advantage but experience will also be considered.
* Experience of working in a school laboratory or similar establishment
* Practical competence within a chemistry department
Skills and Abilities
* Good verbal and written communication skills appropriate to the need to
communicate with colleagues and pupils
* Good practical common sense and organisational ability
* Good ICT skills as required for the position
* Ability to work constructively as part of a team, understanding the departmental
priorities
* Willingness to work flexibly with the other school science departments as required
* Good standard of literacy and numeracy skills
* Ability to work flexibly to support others and to respond to unplanned situations
* Commitment to the school's standards of child protection
* Recognition of the importance of health and safety within the department
* Commitment to the school's ethos, aims and community
* Ability to approach duties with a positive and helpful attitude
Terms and conditions of service include the following:
The post-holder will be part of the school non-teaching support staff and will report directly
to the Senior Chemistry Technician and the Head of Chemistry. In addition, the Bursar has
ultimate responsibility for all support staff and will be the point of contact for any contractual
matters.
This is a full-time, term-time position of 35 hours per week, typically from each
day, with an hour's unpaid lunch break. The actual hours will depend on the needs of the
school and will be discussed with the post-holder. The salary will be in the region of £24,342,
for a full-year position, resulting in a payable salary of £19,473 to reflect the weeks worked.
Support staff are enrolled into a Defined Contribution scheme, managed by TPT (The
Pensions Trust).
Further details about the school and the post are available on our website
). Applicants should complete an application form which can be
downloaded from the 'vacancies' heading on the front page of the School's website and
emailed to The closing date is 09:00 on Monday 22 September and
interviews will be held shortly after.
Our safer recruitment policy may be viewed on our website ).
We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in the School and for taking the time
to apply. However, please note that, because of the high volume of applications we receive,
we regret that we are unable to reply individually to each application. Applicants who have
not heard from us by Monday 29 September should assume that they have not been
shortlisted for interview.
The Manchester Grammar School is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome
applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to safeguarding and
promoting the welfare of children and successful applicants will be required to undergo child
protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
JOINING THE NON-TEACHING STAFF AT MGS
Who works at MGS?
All members of staff at MGS work together to serve the interests of our pupils. The School
does its best to provide a good working environment for its entire staff and we are all
responsible for creating a happy and purposeful working atmosphere.
Our network of around 100 non-teaching staff ranges from administrators, librarians, cleaners,
grounds team, nurses, secretaries, caterers, technicians, etc. The roles of our non-teaching staff
are vital in ensuring the smooth day to day running of our School and each individual enjoys
working as part of a small team which work well together and take part in a number of joint
activities for the benefit of pupils. For example, in recent years several members of the non-
teaching staff have joined teachers in School camps and visits with the pupils. We aim to
encourage professional development for all staff, by providing training in the School or sending
people on courses elsewhere. A number of staff have obtained promotions recently.
Where did MGS come from?
The School was founded in 1515, by Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, to prepare able boys
from the Manchester area, regardless of their background, to go to Oxford or Cambridge. We
take our motto Sapere Aude (Dare to be Wise) as meaningthat we must challenge our pupils,
and expect to be challenged by them. The owl is the symbol of the School – not because of its
association with wisdom, but because those who sought to make a heraldic crest for Bishop
Hugh Oldham made a pun on the old Lancashire pronunciation of "Owldom".
For most of our life we were situated in the centre of Manchester, in Long Millgate, the site
now occupied by Chetham's School of Music. In 1931 we moved out to a new, purpose-built
28-acre site in the Fallowfield area of the city, adjacent to the halls of residence of The
University of Manchester.
Where are we going?
The Foundation Bursary Appeal has been the most successful appeal of its kind held by any
School. Its aim is to ensure that a place at MGS is available to any boy who passes our entrance
examination, regardless of his race, colour and creed, and regardless of his social or economic
standing. As a result of the Appeal and other measures, MGS is now independent of
government funding for free places. Our aim is to be a pure meritocracy and our results are
among the best in the country.
Do pupils want to come?
Boys come from a vast area, which can stretch from Sheffield to Blackpool. We are the largest
independent day School in the UK, with around 1500 pupils in the School. Recruitment remains
very healthy despite intense competition locally, and the 200+ boys who join the School each
year come in equal numbers from maintained and independent primary Schools.