THE POSITION
Domestic Assistant (20 hours per week)
Required as soon as possible
We are looking for a reliable and enthusiastic individual to join our friendly Domestic Services team, helping to create a clean, safe and welcoming environment for both our Junior and Senior School communities.
As a Domestic Assistant, you’ll play an important role in delivering high-quality, professional cleaning services that support the day-to-day life of the school. You’ll become part of a supportive and collaborative facilities team, working alongside caretakers, maintenance staff, grounds staff and fellow domestic colleagues.
You will report to the Domestic Supervisor and be supported by an experienced Facilities and Estates leadership team, ensuring you have the guidance and resources you need to succeed in your role.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who takes pride in their work, enjoys being part of a team, and wants to make a meaningful contribution to a vibrant school environment.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The principal duty will be to provide and maintain a clean environment for students, staff and visitors to the school. Other duties will include:
- Daily cleaning throughout the whole school, including teaching rooms, laboratories, sports facilities including pool areas and other special facilities, common rooms, offices and all internal circulation spaces.
- Regular deep cleaning of the school out of term-time and for special events.
- Using a range of cleaning equipment, aids and agents, including vacuum cleaners, floor polishers and a range of appropriate cleaning materials.
- Collecting of waste from bins, including recycling bins.
- Reporting faults, e.g., broken furniture, failed lights, etc.
- Working independently or in close cooperation with other support staff teams, actively assisting in the provision of support services across the school, e.g. setting up and clearing away after events to ensure the school is ready for students the following day.
- Attending and participating in team meetings, training activities and performance development as required.
- Other reasonable additional duties which may be required from time to time.
QUALIFICATIONS, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
The following are essential:
- Cleaning experience.
- Good verbal communication skills.
- A strong commitment to quality standards and good practice as they relate to cleaning operations, including:
- An awareness of health and safety, safe use of cleaning materials and environmental health issues associated with an understanding of COSHH Safety procedures.
- An understanding of hygiene control.
- A willingness to actively support the ethos and vision of the school.
- The post holder must show a professional, positive and enthusiastic approach to work and must be flexible and sensitive to the needs of a wide range of school users.
The post holder must:
- be customer focused.
- be confident and courteous.
- be organised and methodical.
- have good timekeeping.
- have a tidy appearance.
- Show an understanding, or willingness to learn the issues associated with working among young people in a school.
- An ability to work as a member of a team in a busy environment.
The following are desirable:
- Experience of working in a school or similar environment.
- A qualification in cleaning science or similar.
HEALTH & SAFETY
An awareness of health and safety, safe use of cleaning materials and environmental health issues is essential. Assisting the Head of Facilities and Estates in providing a safe environment for the school community and its visitors, the post holder must perform their duties in accordance with the school’s health and safety procedures and policies, taking remedial action and reporting hazards where additional action is required.
- Ensure that appropriate signage is in place when cleaning is in progress.
- Make safe any hazards where possible, and ensure the area is cordoned off.
- During cleaning operations, ensure clear passage is maintained especially on fire escape routes, and that the site is safe and tidy.
- Ensure that all allocated equipment and materials are stored safely and securely in order to prevent unauthorised access and potential accidents/misuse.
- Ensure that cleaning cupboards are tidy, and that tools and equipment are in a safe condition at all times.
MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Start date: as soon as possible pending completion of the successful candidate’s pre-employment and safeguarding checks.
- This is a permanent, all year-round role which will include the compulsory safeguarding training at the start of each academic year and staff training days.
- Normal hours of work are 4.00pm-8.00pm (20 hours a week) on school days during term time.
- During the school holidays, the Domestic Assistant will work between 7.00am and 11.00am (20 hours per week).
- Some work outside these hours, including weekends, may be required in connection with special school events.
- The full-time equivalent salary for this role is in the region of £24852 gross per annum (Full time equivalent based on a 37.5 hour working week). The actual salary for 20 hours per week will be approx. £13524 gross per annum, which is equivalent to £12.71 per hour.
Excellent benefits available- please see job information for full details.
HOW TO APPLY
Candidates are advised to read the ‘Information for Applicants’ with particular care before applying.
Enquiries about this post should be made in the first instance to Scott Moran (Facilities and Services Manager) [email protected] or by telephone on 0191 281 5711.
If, having looked through the website (www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk) and read this job information pack and the Information for Applicants, you think this particular post would suit you, please say so (and why)in:
1. A covering letter and
2. A fully completed RGS application form.
You must complete the application form, even if you want to also attach a CV. Please email all documents to [email protected] by 9.00am Monday 7th September 2026.
Early applications are encouraged. Please note that the school reserves the right to close applications early and may call candidates in for interview as applications are received.
Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment
RGS is committed to the safeguarding of children and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and those working in school to share this commitment. The school applies the Government’s Keeping Children Safe in Education Safer Recruitment procedures to all candidates including appropriate pre-interview checks on shortlisted candidates and pre-employment checks pending any offer. More information regarding the checks can be found in our Information for Applicants here, and ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (September 2026)
Equal Opportunities
We are looking to appoint staff from a wide variety of backgrounds. Not just because it is the right thing to do but because at the RGS we recognise that those different experiences provide fresh perspectives, opportunities to challenge existing beliefs and provide opportunities to act as excellent role models for our diverse student body.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse school culture and our staff are at the heart of this. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of neurodivergence, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
We strive to achieve a diverse workforce, fully representative of our pluralistic society and the ethnic make-up of the student population in the UK. People of colour are under-represented on our staff team. We are keen to attract applicants from a diverse pool of candidates and determined to be a fully inclusive employer, and a great workplace for people of Black, Asian, and ethnic minority heritage as well as White heritage.
We encourage all candidates to complete an ‘equal opportunities’ form with your application. This will be sent directly to the HR team for monitoring purposes.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £12.71 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
