About Us
The Sir Robert Woodard Academy, one of the ‘happiest’ schools in the country (The Sunday Times, 2025) and part of the Woodard family of schools, is a thriving 11–18 Academy serving primarily the students of Lancing, Sompting and West Shoreham, though we welcome students from all surrounding areas. We are committed to ensuring that every student is known and nurtured and is provided with teaching and learning experiences that allow them to fulfil their potential. In January 2026, the Academy was proudly evaluated under the new Ofsted toolkit as being at ‘Strong Standard’ in four areas and ‘Expected Standard’ in three, further building on the Academy’s 2021 rating of ‘Good’ in all areas.
From the January 2026 Ofsted Inspection Report:
This is a warm and welcoming school where pupils truly thrive. Pupils are happy. They attend regularly and behave well. Pupils are kind and respectful.
Pupils' needs are thoroughly understood, which helps them to feel well cared for and safe. Positive relationships are evident throughout the school.
Pupils have high aspirations and recognise the importance of their education.
Job Details
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our committed and dedicated Site and Facilities team at The Sir Robert Woodard Academy as an Apprentice Site Officer. We are looking for a polite, physically fit and hard-working individual, with a positive ‘can do’ approach, to join us and the site team from September 2026. The key role responsibilities are:
- To assist with the maintenance, security, cleaning and day to day running of the Academy
- Under supervision, to provide support to the delivery of health and safety compliance across the Academy
- To assist with the regular day to day classroom running as required, e.g. lighting, heating, locks, windows, tools, appliance testing etc.
- To assist with preparation of specific areas and/or rooms, such as for exams, assemblies and lettings, and the reinstatement thereafter; to include (re)arranging, moving, dismantling fixtures, fittings and furniture
- To support in providing a porterage service on site as necessary, to include assisting staff or students with the movement of bulky items around the site
- To support with cleaning and the removal of litter or other obstructions from paths, drives and other hard surfaces, grass areas and flower beds and all areas within the Academy’s boundaries.
Role type: Fixed term Apprenticeship, full time, 52 weeks per year
Duration: 15 months (including 3 month End Point Assessment)
Hours: 37 per week, Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm (3.30 Fridays)
Salary: Actual salary: £19,586p.a.
Holiday: 28 days per year, plus public holidays
Benefits:
- modern and spacious working environment
- free use of the Academy’s fitness suite (gym)
- free employee wellness programme and onsite wellbeing support
- generous employer contribution pension scheme of 18.9%
- free on-site parking and easy access to local public transport
- cycle to work scheme.
Alongside the school site officer role, 20% of your contracted working hours will be allocated to training for a Level 2 Facilities Services Operative qualification, more details here: https://www.iwfm.org.uk/professional-development/qualifications/level-2.html
The training will be delivered by Straight A training; during the Apprenticeship programme, you will be assigned a tutor to work with and you will benefit from monthly workshops and a minimum of two 1:1 online tutorials to support you in meeting the training standards.
What You Need to Succeed
At SRWA, our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with wellbeing support, coaching, mentoring and a wide range of top-quality training and CPD programmes delivered at every level up to senior leadership.
A Staff Well-being survey in May 2025 revealed our staff consider these areas ‘outstanding’:
Academy ethos and overall sense of common purpose
Staff morale and job satisfaction
Support from line managers and colleagues
Caring teachers
Appreciation of staff contribution and opportunities for staff to develop.
The successful post-holder will:
- Be well-presented with strong interpersonal skills and a good level of fitness
- Have relevant skills/experience & able to do a range of duties, including some heavy lifting
- Show initiative, work well under pressure and be able to multi-task
- Be a team player who will consistently implement Academy policies
- Understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality
- Relate well to young people and adults alike
- Work flexibly and be comfortable with changing shifts and priorities.
Further Information
Sir Robert Woodard Academy and West Sussex County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check along with other relevant employment checks, including satisfactory references.
Our commitment to Safeguarding:
The Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share in this commitment. All posts will be subject to full safeguarding and vetting checks, including the receipt of two satisfactory references. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal record self-declaration form and to give consent for an online search to be carried out against their name.
The successful applicant for this post will be engaging in ‘regulated activity’, therefore they will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check. It is an offence to apply for this role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children, so individuals on the children’s barred list (and adults barred list where relevant) should not apply.
Please be aware that the Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will reveal both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings, and any other information held by local police that is considered relevant to the role, unless any such information is ‘protected’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended). If you are unsure, please visit this URL: https://www.gov.uk/tell-employer-or-college-about-criminal-record
There is a six-month probation period for all post-holders.
Our Commitment to Equal Opportunities:
The Academy is committed to equality of opportunity. We positively welcome applications from suitably qualified individuals from all sections of the community.
We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at our Academy is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.
How to Apply
Application Process:
If you are interested, please apply online via the My New Term link below before the closing date* demonstrating how your skills and experience meet the essential requirements of the role.
CVs alone will not be accepted. Only those applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role will be considered in the shortlisting process.
Please apply by clicking on the link: https://mynewterm.com/jobs/135744/EDV-2026-SRWA-56307
Closing date: 9/7/26*
Interviews: ASAP
- Please note we reserve the right to close the advert at any time before the deadline date, should a sufficient number of strong applications be received. If you are interested, then you are advised to apply early.
NOTE TO CANDIDATES - Please do not select the ‘Apply online’ button as the School processes your applications directly rather than through this site.
