Job DescriptionScientist-in-Residence for Lab 13,

Irchester Community Primary School, School Lane, Irchester, Northamptonshire, NN29 7AZ

1) Lab_13 at Irchester

In May 2011our child led management committee appointed Miss Jennifer Hogan as our scientist in residence to set up Lab_13 Irchester. We have become a leading light in the Lab 13 network and are now a recognised centre of excellence for primary science. We have been used as a case study for the Wellcome Trust, gained the PSQM (Primary Science Quality Mark) gold award and are awaiting the publication of an OSTED good practice report. We maintain the principals of the Lab 13 child led creative approach to learning whilst extending our remit to include CPD for teachers, plus workshops and training for other schools. We have also expanded beyond the science in STEM and into technology; now

having digital leaders and obtaining STAR code club status. We are looking to develop all aspects of STEM and have recently been engaged with the University of Northampton on a STEAM project – putting the A (Arts) into STEM.

2) Purpose of position

This is an exciting opportunity to work with an ambitious school pupil Lab 13 management team and the rest of the school’s cohort, who are interested in all aspects of STEM discovery. We will ask you to use your creativity and STEM skills to assist Lab 13

in as many diverse ways as they will request of you. You will be our second Lab 13 STEM scientist-in-residence and we will be looking to you to build on the success of our Lab 13 so far.

3) Principle objectives

To support the management team of Lab 13 in all their explorations of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, through experiment, invention, construction, preparation, philosophy, curiosity and discussion.

To support our Science Specialist Leader in Education in sharing good practice, through school to school support and working with other agencies. To promote the work of Lab 13 through working with parents, cluster schools, local businesses and the wider scientific community.

4) The Role:Your main role will be to help the children realise their creative ideas as determined by the users of Lab 13 and the management group of year 5 and 6 students. They will also determine the rules for use, equipment and resources and will have a key role in

selecting the successful candidate. You will be responsible for the safety of the children undertaking experiments in the lab and will ensure that risk assessments are carried out, appropriate to the age of children using the space. This will also apply when working with adults and other schools.Your main responsibilities will be to:

1. Lead and guide the users of Lab 13 in the safe use of equipment and tools;2. Suggest ideas for investigation, experiment, research or exploration;3. Help design or devise experiments or other activities to engage and extend

their curiosity and imaginations;

4. Respond to their suggestions, and research other avenues for experiment or research;

5. Support and advise the management team in the acquisition of equipment or materials;

6. Advise and accompany the management team on opportunities for sharing and discussing the outcomes of Lab 13, at seminars, conferences etc;

7. Produce, and help the management team to produce, guidance notes, records and documentary resources about the experiments and other activities;

8. Other activities as may be requested from time to time by the management team that are consistent with the role of inventor, engineer or scientist in residence.

9. Led out of hours school based clubs, and share expertise with the local community.

10.Assist the Science Specialist Leader in Education to deliver quality CPD11.Work with parents and families to build science family capital12.Develop use of new technologies in STEM 13. Blog, tweet, network, etc

Activities may be based around any aspect of science, and incorporate technology, engineering or maths (STEM) subjects, and must derive new elements of creativity other than those used in the regular classroom.

The initial contract will be until 31st August 2016, with the start date to be agreed with the successful candidate, sometime after 20th April 2015.

A secondment from an education or STEM institution may also be considered.

Person Specification

The management group of Lab 13 have been thinking about the qualities they need in their new resident STEM scientist / inventor, and are seeking an individual who can: ‘work with different ages of children, be helpful and explain things well, have an appropriate sense of humour - because children will enjoy things more if they can have a laugh while doing them, be adventurous and know a lot about science, be lively and exciting with wild ideas, carry out simple, cheap and exciting experiments such as

making wacky cars, communications devices, building models from scrap and finding out how toys work.’

You may be a scientist or engineer or technologist or you may have experience in working with children as a practitioner in science, technology, engineering or maths.

You will have lots of practical experience in making things or finding out how things work and a broad interest in science.

You will have a genuine drive to encourage creativity and independent thought in young people.

You will be skilled in using new technologies to promote and support work in Lab 13.

Person Specification: Qualifications, Experience and Skills

Essential DesirableQualifications Degree level qualification

in a STEM related subject OR extensive accredited experience of working in a STEM environment

A master’s degree or higher in STEM subjectA teaching or STEM related communication qualificationA craft or arts-based qualification

Experience Experience of working in Broad, practical experience of

a STEM research, experiment environmentExperience of preparing and applying risk assessments and operating protocols in a STEM environment

STEM subjectsExperience of designing experiments or activitiesExperience of making things (and/or taking things apart)Experience of working with children

Knowledge and Skills

Ability to communicate effectively with young

Ability to research experiments the children

people and adultsCapacity to receive instructions from the management group of Lab 13 and with the School management group.Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and communication skillsExcellent ICT skills

come up with and to help them realise their goalsExcellent time management skillsUnderstanding of the educational aims and needs of KS2 pupilsUnderstanding of school pressures and opportunities

Personal Qualities Ability to think creatively and intuitivelyPositive attitude Resourceful, dynamic and enthusiasticWillingness to operate under the direction of the youth management group.

Patience, calm under pressureCapacity to seek alternative ways of finding solutionsInterest in the arts

Terms and Conditions This is a fixed term post starting by agreement on or after 20 th April 2015 until

31st August 2016. The job will be for 35 hours per week, attracting a salary of pro rata of £23,945

per annum on Grade I scale from point 28. 41 weeks per year plus holiday pay. Holidays are expected to coincide with the

school holidays.

The post is subject to a probationary period of 2 months and thereafter a notice period of 1 month.

The post will be based in Irchester Community Primary School, Irchester, Northamptonshire.

The post holder will report to the Science subject leader for daily operational tasks.

The head teacher / science subject leader will undertake performance management of the post holder.

As this post requires extensive contact time with young people the successful candidate(s) will be required to have enhanced DBS clearance.

Please note this job description does not constitute a contract of employment.Irchester Community Primary School is committed to Equal Opportunities.