Art & Creative Media Technician

Location: Barking & Dagenham

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Term-Time Only + 1 Week (36 hours per week)

An Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ secondary school and Sixth Form in the East London Borough of Barking & Dagenham is seeking a creative, practical, and highly organized Art & Creative Media Technician to join their dynamic Visual Arts faculty. This is a wonderful opportunity for a technical specialist, whether an experienced creative technician, a Fine Art/Design graduate, or a practicing artist/maker, to play a hands-on role in facilitating inspiring fine art, printmaking, ceramics, and photography education.

About the Role

As the Art Technician, you will be the creative and operational backbone of the studio spaces. Working closely with specialist Art, Design, and Photography teachers, you will manage studio logistics, prepare specialized materials, maintain equipment (including kilns, print presses, and darkroom/digital photography gear), and support students across Key Stages 3, 4 (GCSE Art & Design), and 5 (A-Level Art, Craft & Design) as they develop portfolios and master artistic mediums.

• Start Date: Immediate or upcoming term

• Environment: A flagship East London secondary school celebrated for high academic progress, vibrant creative culture, and light-filled studio spaces equipped for fine art, textiles, ceramics, digital media, and darkroom photography

• Culture: A collaborative, imaginative, and supportive department where practical artistry, craftsmanship, and student expression are deeply valued

Key Responsibilities

• Studio & Material Preparation: Prep, mix, stretch, and cut raw materials (paints, clays, canvases, printmaking inks, print paper, and textiles) for daily classroom workshops and examination assessments.

• Specialized Equipment Maintenance: Safely operate, clean, and maintain specialist art machinery and equipment, including ceramic kilns (loading/firing glazes), etching presses, darkroom enlargers, 3D printers, and digital photography gear.

• Health & Safety & Studio Hygiene: Maintain immaculate safety standards across all studio suites and prep rooms, adhering strictly to COSHH guidelines, safe chemical disposal rules (for darkrooms/printmaking), and studio cleanliness routines.

• Exhibition & Gallery Curation: Assist teaching staff with mounting, framing, displaying, and curating student artwork for internal exhibitions, GCSE/A-Level moderation showcases, and local community gallery events.

• Classroom & Portfolio Support: Provide technical guidance to students during practical sessions, assisting with material techniques, kiln preparation, digital editing software (Adobe Creative Suite), and portfolio organization.

Requirements

• A strong educational background or formal qualification in Fine Art, Visual Arts, Ceramics, Photography, Design, or a closely related creative discipline.

• Practical experience working in an art studio, workshop, gallery, or educational environment (prior experience loading kilns, handling printmaking equipment, or operating darkrooms/digital media is highly desirable).

• Working knowledge of studio health and safety protocols, COSHH regulations, and safe chemical/equipment handling.

• Excellent organizational skills, manual dexterity, and a high level of attention to detail when handling fragile materials and artwork.

• Strong team-working abilities, adaptability, and a patient, encouraging approach when supporting young artists.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Outer London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with technical experience, pro-rata for term-time plus 1 week).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous holiday pro-rata allowance, funded specialist technical training (e.g., kiln operation/safety certifications), and access to staff health and wellbeing schemes.

How to Apply

If you are a creative, safety-conscious technician eager to support the next generation of artists and designers at an Outstanding secondary school in Barking, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application as soon as possible for consideration.