Job Summary
The Site Manager and Groundskeeper is responsible for the safe, secure, well-maintained and welcoming operation of the school site. This is a practical, hands-on role combining planned and reactive maintenance, statutory premises checks, security, contractor coordination and outdoor-site upkeep.
The postholder will take pride in the school’s distinctive setting, respond calmly to day-to-day issues and help ensure that pupils and staff can use the buildings, outdoor learning areas and grounds safely throughout the year.
SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES
- Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people and follow the school’s safeguarding, child-protection, staff-code-of-conduct and whistleblowing procedures.
- Remain alert to safeguarding concerns and report any concern immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Do not investigate safeguarding concerns personally.
- Know the identity of the Designated Safeguarding Lead and deputies and how to contact them.
- Understand the procedure for reporting concerns about a child, another pupil, a member of staff or another adult.
- Know what to do if the usual safeguarding lead is unavailable or if the concern relates to the Head of School.
- Ensure contractors and visitors under the postholder’s supervision follow the school’s signing-in, identification, access and safeguarding arrangements.
- Ensure contractors and visitors are not given unsupervised access to pupils unless appropriately checked and authorised.
- The post is subject to safer-recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, references, identity and right-to-work checks, and any other checks required for work in a school.
Site safety, compliance and records
- Reporting premises issues to senior leadership.
- Carry out and record routine site inspections, identifying hazards, defects, damage or security concerns and taking prompt action within the limits of the role.
- Maintain clear and accurate premises records, including maintenance requests, completed works, contractor visits, statutory checks, accidents or near misses relating to the premises, and actions arising from risk assessments.
- Undertake designated fire-safety checks, including weekly fire-alarm testing, emergency-lighting checks, checking escape routes and fire doors, and supporting termly evacuation drills and record keeping.
- Support SLT with premises-related risk assessments, emergency procedures, business-continuity arrangements and actions arising from fire, health and safety or insurance inspections.
- Coordinate or facilitate scheduled compliance checks by competent contractors, including fire systems and equipment, gas safety, electrical safety, portable appliance testing, water hygiene and Legionella, asbestos management where applicable, lifts or access equipment, play equipment, tree safety and other site-specific systems.
- Understand personal limits of competence. Isolate or make an area safe, report the matter promptly and arrange an appropriately qualified contractor where specialist work is required.
Inspection and audit readiness
- Understand the premises aspects of the school’s health and safety, fire safety, safeguarding, emergency and business-continuity arrangements and be able to explain how these are implemented in day-to-day practice.
- Support inspections and audits by accompanying premises tours when requested, answering accurately within the scope of the role, identifying current risks and controls, and referring governance, safeguarding or policy questions to the appropriate school leader.
- Maintain an organised premises compliance file, in the school’s agreed format, and make current documents and evidence readily available to school leaders, auditors and inspectors.
- Ensure the compliance file includes, where applicable:
- The current fire risk assessment and action plan
- Fire logbook
- Fire-alarm testing and servicing records
- Emergency-lighting inspection and servicing records
- Fire-extinguisher servicing records
- Emergency evacuation drill records
- Asbestos survey and register
- Asbestos management plan
- Legionella written control scheme and monitoring records
- Gas-safety records
- Boiler and heating-system servicing records
- Fixed electrical inspection and EICR reports
- Portable appliance testing records
- Certificates and reports for any other statutory systems
- Retain relevant inspection and maintenance evidence for play and outdoor equipment, trees, gates and boundaries, water temperatures, lifts or lifting equipment where present, security systems and any other site-specific risks.
- Maintain evidence that defects, recommendations and remedial actions identified through inspections or risk assessments have been completed or are being safely managed.
- Keep routine premises inspections, maintenance and defect logs, contractor visits, risk-assessment actions and servicing dates current.
- Monitor renewal and review dates and alert SLT in good time when an assessment, inspection, certificate or service is due.
- Monitor and report on premises standards relevant to pupils’ health, safety and welfare, including toilets and washing facilities, drinking water, hot-water temperatures, medical accommodation, lighting, acoustics, accessibility, outdoor play space and the suitability of facilities for pupils’ ages and needs.
- Know the location of key controls, registers and emergency information relevant to the role, including utility isolation points, alarm panels, fire-safety information, hazardous-material information and current contractor or maintenance records.
Maintenance and repairs
- Plan, prioritise and complete routine, preventative and reactive maintenance across the buildings and outdoor learning areas, giving immediate priority to safeguarding and health and safety risks.
- Undertake minor repairs and practical tasks within the postholder’s competence, including:
- Basic carpentry
- Furniture assembly
- Shelving and fixtures
- Doors, handles and locks
- Gates and fences
- Floor coverings
- Painting and decorating
- Sealant work
- Minor plumbing tasks
- Replacement of lamps or fittings
- Inspect and maintain boardwalks, paths, steps, decks, shelters, tarpaulins, outdoor classrooms, play structures, rope or balance equipment, sandpits and fire-circle areas.
- Remove or make safe trip hazards, sharp objects, exposed nails, unstable structures and other hazards, restricting access when necessary.
- Monitor the condition and safe operation of heating, lighting, ventilation, water, drainage and sanitation systems.
- Report faults and coordinate repairs where work falls outside the postholder’s competence.
- Maintain an organised programme of works, including holiday projects, weatherproofing and cyclical decoration.
- Keep SLT informed about priorities, cost implications and progress.
- Keep tools, equipment, plant rooms, stores and work areas secure, orderly and safely maintained.
- Use appropriate personal protective equipment and comply with COSHH requirements and manufacturers’ instructions.
Security, access and emergency response
- Act as a key holder and undertake agreed opening, closing, locking and alarm-setting duties.
- Check gates, windows, doors, fire exits, intruder alarms and CCTV systems as part of agreed site routines.
- Maintain secure control of keys, access devices and security codes, keeping appropriate issue records and reporting any loss or compromise immediately.
- Manage vehicle and pedestrian access when required, including the car-park gates at events, deliveries, coaches and access for emergency services.
- Respond to alarm activations, urgent premises incidents and severe-weather issues in accordance with agreed call-out arrangements.
- Escalate serious incidents promptly to SLT, emergency services or other relevant parties.
- Support safe site arrangements for school events, open days, meetings and occasional out-of-hours use.
Contractors, projects, supplies and deliveries
- Act as the day-to-day premises contact for approved contractors.
- Arrange contractor access, confirm safeguarding and site controls, and provide contractors with relevant hazard information.
- Ensure contractors sign in, display appropriate identification and comply with the school’s safeguarding, health and safety and site-security procedures.
- Monitor contractors’ progress and the quality of completed work, and retain a record of work undertaken.
- Obtain specifications or quotations when requested and help plan repairs, refurbishment and improvement projects.
- Do not appoint contractors or commit expenditure without delegated authority.
- Receive, check and safely move or store deliveries.
- Arrange waste collections.
- Manage stocks of maintenance, hygiene, gritting and household consumables within agreed budgets.
- Report recurring faults and recommend practical and sustainable improvements to the site.
Grounds, cleanliness and seasonal readiness
- Keep entrances, paths, steps, boardwalks, car-parking areas, boundaries, outdoor learning spaces and fire routes clear, presentable and safe.
- Coordinate with the school gardener where responsibilities overlap.
- Carry out litter picking, end-of-day site clearance, bin and recycling management and urgent spot-cleaning.
- Liaise with cleaning contractors or staff about wider cleaning issues.
- Prepare the site for adverse weather by monitoring surfaces, clearing leaves and debris and gritting icy routes.
- Respond to localised flooding, fallen branches or storm damage within the limits of the role.
- Monitor boundaries, fences, gates, external lighting, drainage and pest activity, taking or arranging appropriate action.
- Prepare and safely maintain fire-circle areas, including clearance, log storage and laying fires only in accordance with school procedures and risk assessments.
- Working within the school community
- Work respectfully around pupils and model calm, safe and professional behaviour.
- Stop work or secure tools whenever the presence of children makes a task unsafe.
- Respond courteously to staff maintenance requests, agree realistic priorities and communicate progress or delays.
- Assist with room, furniture, equipment and site set-up for open days, exhibitions, school parties and events.
- Maintain confidentiality at all times.
- Undertake relevant training, including safeguarding, health and safety, fire safety, manual handling and any other role-specific training.
- Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the level and purpose of the role.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential experience and knowledge
- Practical experience of premises, facilities, caretaking, construction, maintenance or a closely related role.
- Competence in a broad range of minor repairs and the safe use of hand and power tools.
- Working knowledge of health and safety, risk assessment, manual handling and safe systems of work.
- Ability to keep accurate written and digital records and manage competing maintenance priorities.
- Ability to explain established site procedures clearly and retrieve routine compliance evidence promptly during an inspection or audit.
- Understanding of the need to use appropriately qualified contractors for regulated or specialist work.
- Willingness and ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions.
- Ability to undertake the physical requirements of the role, with reasonable adjustments where applicable.
Essential skills and qualities
- Reliable, organised, observant and proactive.
- High standards of workmanship and attention to detail.
- Able to work independently and use initiative.
- Able to make sensible decisions and escalate urgent or high-risk issues promptly.
- Calm, discreet and professional.
- Strong communication and people skills.
- Comfortable working in a child-centred environment.
- Committed to safeguarding and inclusive practice.
- Able to respond flexibly to emergencies, events and seasonal demands within agreed working arrangements.
- Committed to the school’s environmental values, including responsible purchasing, reuse, recycling and care for the woodland setting.
Desirable experience and qualifications
- Previous experience in a school, nursery, outdoor-learning setting or other regulated public building.
- A relevant facilities, trade or health and safety qualification.
- Training or qualifications in one or more of the following:
- Fire safety
- Legionella awareness
- Asbestos awareness
- COSHH
- Portable appliance testing
- First aid
- Manual handling
- Experience coordinating contractors, planned maintenance or small projects.
- A full driving licence and the ability to travel locally for urgent supplies or site needs, if required by the school.
ROLE PARAMETERS
This job description describes the main duties of the role but is not exhaustive. It may be reviewed in consultation with the postholder to reflect the changing needs of the school.
Any duty requiring a statutory qualification or specialist competence must be completed by an appropriately qualified person.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered throughout recruitment and employment.
Pay: £32,000.00-£36,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
