Art & Photography Technician

Position Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Part-time Contract Term: Permanent Application Close: 30/08/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: w/c 07/09/2026 Join a Community Where We Aspire, Believe, and Achieve Together at St Helena School Do you have the skills to foster a stimulating environment where every child can achieve their very best? Ready to inspire young minds to dream big? At St Helena School, we strive towards a mindset that anything is possible. We provide our young people with the confidence, motivation, and resilience to be successful through a wide and inclusive curriculum. Were looking for an exceptional Art & Photography Technician to provide full technician support to the Art & Photography department, working closely with both staff and students. Start date: ASAP following pre-employment checks - likely October 2026 Contract Type: Permanent Working Hours: 34.5 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term time plus non-pupil/INSET days) Working pattern: 8:15am - 3:45pm Monday to Thursday, 8:15am - 3:15pm Friday (TBC) A Day in the Life: Youll be responsible for bringing your passion and expertise to the following areas: * To ensure equipment prepared for lessons on request of teachers * To ensure effective care and maintenance of Art areas, including organisation of storage areas * To maintain display boards and assist with the annual exhibition * To maintain the ceramics equipment and be responsible for firing, glazing, recycling, mixing glazes and slips as well as packing and firing the kiln. * To provide technical support with film photography and darkroom processes. * Deliveries of supplies and maintenance of department will require manual handling/lifting * To assist in practical Art and Photography lessons and lead smaller groups of students to facilitate their learning. What Were Looking For: You are the perfect fit for our team if you have: * A good standard of education. * Strong traditional art skills, and experience with ceramics and using a kiln would be an asset. * Practical photography skills, with experience in digital photography and proficiency in Adobe Photoshop (experience with traditional film and darkroom chemical processes is desirable). * A commitment to high standards of achievement from students and yourself. * Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to act on your own initiative. Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details. Why Choose The Sigma Trust? We believe in investing in our staff and fostering a culture of collaboration. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package designed to support your professional and personal life. Professional Development: * A robust CPD training program that empowers you to flourish. * Unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, sharing ideas and building strong professional relationships. Employee Benefits: * A competitive salary and excellent pension scheme * A Health Cash Plan to help manage your everyday healthcare costs * Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme to support your well-being * Exclusive perks like the Cycle to Work scheme, access to discounts via free membership to Perkbox, eligibility for a Blue Light Card, and more Commitment to Safeguarding & Diversity The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment processes, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools. The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts, where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity. Interviews are provisionally set to be held during the week commencing 7th September 2026. Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive an overwhelming response. Candidates may be invited to interview prior to the closing date, so an early application is advised. Information about the School St Helena School, part of the Sigma Trust, is a highly-regarded 11-16 co-educational Academy, recognised as Good by Ofsted in 2014 and now on a journey to Outstanding. Located on 17 acres in historic Colchester, the school has a fine blend of traditional and modern facilities and opened a £2.5m new Science block in 2015, and a £2.5m all weather pitch facility in February 2016. On 1 September 2016, the school joined The Sigma Trust, a partnership of schools with The Stanway School, The Thomas Lord Audley School, Clacton County High School, Monkwick Junior School and Monkwick Infants School and Nursery. Working in collaboration with all the schools within The Sigma Trust, St Helena has developed and enhanced its development of outstanding professional practice. SafeguardingThe Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances. Documents Please be aware that some uploaded documents may require special software such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Sigma Trust HR Team St Helena School Sheepen Road, Colchester Essex, CO3 3LE Telephone: 01255 750913 Email: sth.recruitment@sigmatrust.org.uk Design & Technology Technician (Hard Materials) The King Edmund School, Rochford Closing: 31/07/2026 Midday Art Technician - 19 hours per week Philip Morant School and College, Colchester Closing: 09/08/2026 Midnight J-18808-Ljbffr