Vacancies

All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and the successful applicant will be required to hold or undergo a suitable enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure.  However, amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020)) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’.  This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account.  Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website or Unlock.org.uk.
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal record and other sanctions self-disclosure form to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered or protected, prohibitions and disqualifications, to be returned to the school prior to the date of the interview.  You may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process.  If your application is successful, this criminal record self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure & Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed. 
In addition to the above, as part of our due diligence checks, the school reserves the right to carry out an online search on shortlisted candidates.  This will only include a search for information which is publicly available online.
Please note it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Vacancies in John Ruskin School

Senior Science Laboratory and Food Department technician

Permanent post, part time and suitable for job share. Daily start and finish times to be discussed and agreed. 30 hours per week, 38 weeks of term time plus three INSET days a year.

PCD5, scale point 6 pro-rata; £17,858.24 (plus annual leave entitlement based on continuous years of service).

Are you looking for a new challenge? John Ruskin School (Coniston, LA21) is seeking a dedicated Senior Lab Technician to support our science and food departments. The job is advertised as a part time role but could be split for two people in a job share, one supporting science and one food. Please make it clear in your application if this applies to you.

You will lead the day-to-day operation of our science laboratories, ensuring practical lessons run safely, efficiently, and effectively. As Senior Science Technician, you will oversee laboratory safety, manage equipment and chemical inventories. A secondary aspect of this role involves providing support to the Food Technology department.

Key Responsibilities

Senior Science Operations

  • Oversee daily science laboratory operations, prep rooms, and practical lesson setups across biology, chemistry, and physics.
  • Maintain rigorous chemical and biological safety standards, including COSHH compliance, CLEAPSS guidelines, and risk assessments.
  • Manage laboratory equipment maintenance, chemical inventory, stock ordering, and science department budgets.

Food Technology Operations

  • HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) implementation and monitoring
  • Allergen management and control
  • Food safety training completion and application
  • Food sample preparation and storage
  • Set up for demonstrations and investigations
  • Managing product collection and safe storage
  • Upkeep of room, deep cleaning rota e.g ovens, sinks, food waste refuse

We are looking for:

  • Significant experience working in a school or commercial science laboratory, ideally in a senior or lead capacity.
  • In-depth knowledge of science lab safety protocols (COSHH, CLEAPSS, ISO standards).
  • Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage inventories and mentor staff.
  • Basic knowledge of food hygiene/HACCP standards (or a willingness to undertake relevant training).

If you’re proactive, detail-orientated, and committed to supporting the learning of young people in a close-knit school community, we’d love to hear from you.

Safeguarding: John Ruskin School (Coniston, LA21) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All posts are subject to satisfactory safeguarding checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

Closing date: 9am Monday 12 October 2026
Interviews: Date to be confirmed

Contact: admin@jrs.org.uk or 015394 41306 if you would like an informal discussion about the post with Head of Science Dr Elizabeth Rawlinson.
See the relevant blue button at the top of this page for an application form.