Groundsperson

Permanent, Full-Time, Full Year Contract

Salary: Point 16 - £31,751 to Point 18 - £33,147 gross pay per annum depending on qualifications and relevant experience.                 

Whitgift is one of Britain’s leading independent boarding and day schools for boys aged between 10 and 18 years, with approximately 1500 pupils and over one hundred boarding or flexi-boarding pupils. It is set in an attractive 48-acre parkland site in South Croydon enjoying excellent links to London, Surrey and the south coast. 

We are seeking a proactive and practical Groundsperson to support the maintenance and preparation of Whitgift School’s extensive sports facilities, playing surfaces and wider estate. The role involves preparing and maintaining cricket pitches, hybrid sports surfaces, lawns and landscaped areas to a high standard, whilst ensuring the grounds remain safe, attractive and fit for sporting, educational and community use. The successful candidate will also assist with school events, equipment maintenance and the general upkeep of the estate.

The ideal candidate will have experience in grounds maintenance, sports turf management, landscaping or a similar outdoor environment, together with strong practical skills, attention to detail and an understanding of health and safety requirements. They should be able to work both independently and as part of a team, demonstrate flexibility in supporting school activities, and be committed to maintaining high standards across the school's grounds and facilities. Relevant qualifications in sports turf, horticulture or grounds maintenance, together with machinery, pesticide or first aid certifications, would be advantageous.

In return, we offer a generous salary and benefits package, including a money purchase pension scheme (with Life Assurance), access to an Employee Discount Club, membership of a healthcare plan, discounted school fees for permanent posts within the Foundation, and a supportive working environment with opportunities for training and development.

We welcome applications from all parts of our community as we aspire to attract staff that match the social and cultural diversity of our student intake.

To apply, please visit Current Vacancies - Whitgift School. For any queries, please telephone 020 8688 9222 or e-mail the Human Resources Department at SchoolHR@whitgift.co.uk.  

We invite interested candidates to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a daily basis, and interviews may take place at any time. This vacancy may close earlier than the stated deadline if sufficient applications are received, so early submission is encouraged.

Whitgift School (part of the John Whitgift Foundation) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Where applicable, applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service, online media checks and overseas checks. It is an offence to apply for a role at the School if you know that you are barred from regulated activity with children.

All roles within the School involve contact with children and are therefore classed as regulated activity. Child protection and safeguarding are the responsibility of everyone who works or volunteers in our school. All staff must be committed to providing a safe environment for children and supporting the School’s safeguarding ethos. 

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Applicants are required to declare all convictions and cautions, even those that are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules, to assess suitability to work with children. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to disclose information relevant to safeguarding prior to interview.