Groundsperson (Sports Turf)
Ipswich School
Ipswich
- £23,985 per year
- Expired
- Salary:
- + generous benefits package
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- as soon as possible
- Apply by:
- 30 May 2024
Job overview
Full-time, permanent, required as soon as possible
Founded during the fourteenth century, Ipswich School is regularly judged to be Suffolk’s top independent school. We have over 1,100 pupils aged between 3 months and 19 years and are co-educational throughout. The School moved to its present site overlooking Christchurch Park in 1852. We have extensive grounds, including grass and astro turf sports pitches, cricket pitches, formal gardens and amenity areas.
We are looking for a keen, enthusiastic person who will take pride in ensuring the School always looks its best. We offer a range of sports (including hockey, rugby, cricket, netball, tennis, football and athletics). You will be able to work independently as well as in a small team, and be responsible, positive in your approach, willing and flexible and able to get on well with others.
An annualised hours contract (total 1950 hours) is in operation to ensure that the School runs smoothly (which may mean longer days on some occasions, and shorter days on others, and will be directed by the Grounds Manager). The typical working hours are Mondays – Fridays 7.30 am – 4.00 pm throughout the year, plus very occasional weekend work as required. These start and finish timings may be subject to change to reflect seasonal requirements.
In this role:
- A clean, valid driving licence and experience of driving tractors and operating grounds machinery are highly desirable.
- Qualifications and/or experience and knowledge of sports and working with sports surfaces, particularly maintaining cricket squares, and other sports pitches, would be a distinct advantage, for example: NVQ Level 2/3 in Sports Turf Maintenance or Sports Ground Maintenance or equivalent. We would be happy to offer workplace training and to fund sports turf qualifications as required.
- Experience and/or qualifications in using chainsaws and tree surgery is desirable.
- Experience and/or relevant qualifications in the use of herbicides, e.g. PA1 and PA6 pesticide/herbicide applicator would be beneficial.
Benefits include:
- Starting salary of £23,985 per annum (for an appropriately qualified/experienced Sports Turf Groundsperson)
- 28 working days’ paid holiday per year, including public holidays. One extra day’s holiday may be taken for each completed 2 years’ of service, up to a maximum of 5 extra days. This brings the total holiday allowance up to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Membership of a pension scheme with 10% employer contributions and 3x salary life cover
- Membership of Smart Health, a wellbeing app for staff offering 24/7 GP access and mental health support
- After 3 years’ service, generous fee remission
- Free lunch during term time
- Use of the School’s swimming pool and gym
- A friendly, welcoming working environment.
We would encourage you to download the full job description and application form for this role from our website: www.ipswich.school/vacancies, or contact the HR team on 01473 408300 hr@ipswich.school
Completed application forms should be returned by noon on 30 May 2024 to: Alison Knights, Director of HR, Ipswich School, 25 Henley Road, Ipswich, IP1 3SG or email hr@ipswich.school. Interviews are likely to be held in early June.
Ipswich School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the job, including checks with past employers and an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Attached documents
About Ipswich School
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Ipswich School is one of the leading independent schools in the area. It has a long history dating back to at least 1399 and is known for its academic success, without being an educational ‘hot house’, its extensive sport, drama and music activities and its commitment to the local community.
Pupils at the school come from a really broad range of backgrounds, and this makes the school different to many others in the independent sector. The atmosphere is very positive and pupils really do get on well with each other and with teachers. Behaviour in lessons is first class and teachers are able to focus fully on their teaching and pupils’ learning without having to spend time and effort keeping everyone in order.
Those applying for teaching posts in the Senior School will find that class sizes are generally smaller than in the maintained sector, with Lower School classes typically being around 20, Middle School can be a little larger or smaller depending on subjects – but are never larger than 24. A Level classes in the Sixth Form are typically have around 10 – 12 students, with 15 students being the upper limit.
Teachers are well supported by Heads of Department and there is a first-class CPD programme in place which not only provides the latest on class room practice, but also involves a range of optional social events. Additional training is also available for all teachers.
For those looking at Prep School posts they will find wonderful purpose-built classrooms in a state-of-the-art Prep School building, small class sizes – typically around 15 in the Lower Prep and between 18 and 25 in the Upper Prep. They will also find parents are very supportive and keen to develop the potential in their children.
Those applying for support staff posts will feel themselves very much part of a community. There are no great boundaries between teachers and support staff. There is a well-refined CPD programme for members of the support staff, great opportunities for development and a fantastic range of benefits.
There are regular opportunities for all staff to get together socially. Recently staff events include drawing sessions, juggling instruction, gin and wine tasting, orienteering, a casino night and curry and carols at Christmas. Every other year the staff – support staff alongside teaching staff - put on a major end of year show for pupils to raise funds for charity, and these have included a pantomime, Staff do Strictly and – most recently - Staff Have the X Factor.
Facilities throughout the school are excellent with a brand new Music School, the extensive Ipswich School Sports Centre at nearby Rushmere, a specially-built Prep School and a recently-opened day nursery – The Lodge.
There is free car parking on site for teachers and support staff (though this can be a little tight at times in the Senior School) and a range of other benefits.
Supporting the community is one of the school’s core values. The school has a significant community programme with pupils visiting local care homes giving music and drama performances, pupils growing vegetables and giving them to a local charity, local primary schools taking part in our annual Festival of Music and a large pupil-led termly fundraising programme.
Please have a look at our current vacancies listed here.
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