Minibus Driver

The Portsmouth Grammar School is a leading co-educational school located in the historic heart of Portsmouth. We are very much a family school known for excellent teaching, superb pastoral care and wide-ranging co-curricular opportunities and offer an education across the age range from Pre-School to Sixth Form.

Our Minibus Drivers work on a term time and part-time basis, either 30 hours per week Mon-Fri, for both AM and PM runs, or 15 hours per week, for either a PM or a AM run, to drive school minibus routes as part of the school’s home to school transport service for pupils.  The routes to be covered by this service include Bishop’s Waltham, Corhampton/Droxford, Clanfield, Chichester, Hayling Island and Eastney, and the Isle of Wight Hovercraft, although this may be subject to change. 

The main duties of the role are:

• Driving a transport route, with pupils, in the mornings before school and at the end of each school day.

• Undertaking other ad hoc driving duties such as driving the minibus shuttle service to and from the main site in Old Portsmouth and our sports ground at Hilsea and supporting the catering team between these two locations for collections and deliveries.

• Maintaining appropriate electronic and paper records and registers, using school email and phone systems as required.

• Undertaking all necessary training required by the school, for example in Safeguarding and Manual Handling.

Previous experience of a similar paid or volunteer role offering a professional driving service would be an advantage. Candidates should be able to demonstrate an interest in working with children and young people in an educational setting.

The post is a term time only appointment from September 2026, with training where necessary provided beforehand. The hours of work will be part-time, 30 or 15 hours per week, with a working pattern subject to individual route requirements. Morning run first stop pick-ups occur between 07:00 and 07:30 (with route specific timings), and afternoon return runs leave the school at 16:00.

Person Specification

This role carries significant responsibility for pupil safety and as such the ability to follow instructions safely and effectively is critical, together with a willingness to undertake all necessary training. 

To be able to drive the minibus transport routes, the postholder must hold a full clean and current driving license with D1 category (this must be held at all times during employment), and be in date with MIDAS training. MIDAS training can be provided by the School on appointment where required. The role requires a good level of physical fitness to carry loads in accordance with Manual Handling regulations. Medical fitness for the role is confirmed through the completion of a satisfactory Minibus Driver medical check through the school’s occupational health provider.

The postholder will be:

• Professional and friendly, and able to demonstrate an interest in working with children and young people in an educational setting.

• Able to demonstrate good interpersonal skills which are critical for effective communication with pupils, parents and staff across the school.

• Adaptable and resilient to respond to the varied needs of pupils who use the minibus service, and to follow the appropriate school channels for reporting any pastoral concerns.

• Proactive and flexible to adapt on a daily basis to the driving conditions on the roads, and to be able to plan ahead in accordance with varied bookings and pupil numbers.

• Able to use email and school transport management software. A school phone will be provided.

How to apply:

Candidates are asked to apply using the application form linked to our advert MyNewTerm and linked on the ‘Work With Us’ page of our school website.

Any enquiries about the role or how to apply are welcome at recruitment@pgs.org.uk

The closing date for receipt of applications is midday on 11th May 2026 (for roles starting in September 2026)

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as early applications are welcome, and we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

 Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants and applicants may be required to provide details of their online profile, including social media account names/handles, as part of their application.

 The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are ‘spent’ unless they are ‘protected’ under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.