Design Technology, Food and Arts Technician

Smithdon High School are looking to appoint an Design Technology, Food and Arts Technician (with some duties in science faculty) to join their team.

Smithdon High School seeks to appoint a creative, motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our team as a Design Technology, food and Arts Technician. As part of the team, you will provide technical and creative support for practical lessons so as to aid the teaching staff in the successful delivery of the teaching programmes.

Start Date: Sept 2026

Hours: 25 hrs per week, 38 weeks per year (term time only)

Salary: Scale E, point 8, £13.90/hour

Email: recruitment@westnorfolkacademiestrust.co.uk

Smithdon High School: https://www.smithdonhigh.org.uk/

Purpose of the Job

The role will involve primarily working in the Art, Design Technology and Food departments (under one Faculty lead). Although there will be some times when you will work supporting the Science team.

You will be responsible for preparing equipment and materials for practical lessons, demonstrating the safe use of tools and machinery, maintaining and monitoring stock, ensuring that all equipment is safe for use, carrying out simple repairs to machinery and arranging for external repairs where required.

Support and training will be provided for the post holder in order to fulfil the responsibilities listed. External training courses will need to be attended as required, including First Aid at Work.

You will need to work on your own initiative, have good organisational skills and work well under pressure. You will work closely with both staff and students, supporting them with their work.

Experience of working in a similar role would be advantageous but support and training will be provided for the post holders in order to fulfil the responsibilities listed.

Responsibilities, but not limited to:

●       Maintain, within the competence of the technician, the equipment within the faculty including undertaking routine maintenance and minor repairs, recording such maintenance, and keeping a daily inspection log of the plant and equipment in the faculty. Report faults found in equipment to the Head of Department.

●       Provide timely preparation of materials and other resources for students’ work.

●       Be familiar with the use of ICT ( Google Suite)

●       Be familiar with or be prepared to learn how to run CAD/CAM equipment such as the laser or 3D printer.

●       Ensure the cleanliness of work areas across the department, including the safe storage of materials and the secure storage of students’ examination work.

●       Exercise stock control of materials, maintaining any necessary records. Advise on the need for replenishment and, if requested, write out orders for approval. Assist in the unloading and storage of incoming goods and the location and fixing of equipment and materials within the department.

●       Ensure that the requisite Health and Safety Regulations and risk assessments are complied with and checked for the safety of all staff and pupils, led by CLEAPPs and COSHH guidance. Any missing risk assessments should be reported to the Head of Department.

●       Work with and support other school technicians as required.

●       Organise and update displays across the department with relevant information or materials.

●       Support exhibitions and co-curricular clubs or trips, as required.

●       Provide help and support for pupils in one-to-one / small group situations, to help them develop their own design solutions, after consultation with the class teacher.

Personal and Professional Conduct

A member of staff is expected to demonstrate consistently high standards of personal and professional conduct. They are to uphold public trust in the profession and maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school.

For a full job description and personal specification please click the link below.

The duties and responsibilities listed in the job description provide a summary of the main aspects of the role. This is not an exhaustive list and the post holder may be required to carry out other tasks, as deemed appropriate to the grade and nature of the post.

Closing Date for Applications: 28 August 2026

Interview Dates: Sept 2026

Start Date: Sept 2026

How to apply

For this vacancy, please click the 'Apply for Job' button, to complete our online application form.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable field is met.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from minority ethnic communities and those with disabilities. An enhanced DBS check will be required.

As part of our recruitment process it is necessary for us to perform an online social media check. The reason for the online search is to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet the safeguarding duties set out in KCSIE. There is no other purpose for a search.

This post is likely to come under the requirements of the Childcare (Disqualifications) 2009 Regulations and the successful applicant will be required to complete a declaration form to establish whether they are disqualified under these regulations.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and you will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check or Enhanced DBS check with barred list. If you have information to declare it may be protected under the Exceptions Orders and you may not be required to declare it. You will be asked to make a criminal conviction declaration if you are shortlisted for the post. 

West Norfolk Academies Trust is fully committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, eliminating discrimination. Applications are invited from all sections of society.

Please click here to view a copy of the Trusts Leave and time off policy