Freelance Workshop Leader (Hands on Science Ltd) [GUI1220HS/LR]

Hands on Science delivers science workshop days in Primary and Secondary schools in the UK. In primary schools these are typically running a day of five 1 hour workshops with a class 30 of children at a time typically based within the classroom setting or school hall. In secondary schools a science day is typically STEM challenges with up to 24 teams of 5 children. Our team are based all over the UK so we can provide a cost-effective service to all UK schools.

As we are expanding our network of freelance workshop leaders, we are looking for new people to join us from all over in the UK. As a skilled science communicator – our workshop leaders have a love of science that they want to share. Our Workshop leaders have excellent class management skills and enjoy working with children. We look for a sense of fun and inclusivity to make sure every child gets stuck in with practical investigations and experiments. This way we help as many children as possible develop a real enthusiasm for science.  

Dedication, presentation, diplomacy and reliability are crucial. When our workshop leaders are in school, they represent Hands on Science to everyone they meet, not just the children but their parents, teachers, head-teachers, even external visitors and Ofsted.

As our representative, our reputation and future relationship with the schools visited are in our workshop leaders hands. We want teachers to love what we do and how we do it so they invite us back year after year.

Working with children can be challenging. Despite practice and preparation, experiments sometimes don’t work. Things can go wrong.  Our workshop leaders need to be proactive, quick thinkers to alleviate these challenges as they occur, whilst remaining calm and professional, at all times.

Each workshop leader is expected to travel up to a 50 mile radius from their home.

Paid for mileage to and from each school location.

Finally, but no less importantly, all workshop leaders must be able to provide us with a current Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Check. You cannot work in a UK school without it and we can help with this.

Practicalities

• Events are offered to workshop leaders as they come into the business according to the location of the event and the match between the event and the Leader’s skills.
• As a freelancer you are not obliged to take an offered booking.
• Every workshop has a detailed set of leaders notes. These notes provide all the guidance and information needed to run the workshop. However they are not a script, so you must be able to adapt the content and style of delivery to suit the age and abilities of the children you are working with on the day.
• All workshop resources are provided. 
• As a freelancer you must be able to provide evidence of 3^rd party insurance for the work that you do on our behalf. We can point you in the right direction.
• You will need access to a car.

What's involved in a typical HOS day:

• Upon receiving a booking enquiry, we contact you asking for availability.
• If the school makes a booking, we confirm the booking with you.
• You receive full schedule for the day or days, including timetable and full details about the school, along with any leader notes.
• We courier the resources to the school or to you if preferred.
• You prepare to deliver the workshops, learning or refreshing your knowledge.
• Punctuality is essential. It is expected to arrive at each school in plenty of time allowing for traffic and delays, normally aiming for 8:00am arrival.
• Clean the repack resources at end of day ready for courier collection.

Skills required:

• A skilled science communicator
• Excellent engaging and fun approach to presenting to children
• Proactive thinking
• Punctuality
• Good organisational skills
• Quick acting and adaptability - can adapt workshop formats to suit audiences
• Flexible and reliable
• Has own car or access to a car
• Love working with children

Desirable:

• Has previously worked with children
• Has some teaching experience
• DBS (CRB) checked

This vacancy is on a self-employed basis, which means that you will be responsible for paying your own tax and national insurance.  Please follow this link for guidance: https://www.taxguideforstudents.org.uk/working/self-employed

Please note that international students from outside the EEA cannot work as self- employed due to visa restrictions.