Site Assistant | Collaborative & Supportive Academy |...

CORE PURPOSE

We require a competent, proactive Site Assistant to support the operational management, day-to-day maintenance, and security of our academy’s physical infrastructure and grounds. Operating within a supportive environment, the successful candidate will work closely with the estates team to ensure a safe, clean, and fully operational campus that meets all health and safety requirements for students, staff, and visitors.

THE SCHOOL

An 11–16 secondary school located in Kingston upon Thames, South West London. The school operates with a centralized behaviour system managed by the senior leadership team to maintain a quiet, structured, and respectful environment across the entire campus. The estates and operations department is a supportive, cohesive team that shares duties and utilizes streamlined digital logging tools to keep staff workloads manageable. Clear operational protocols are in place to ensure routine maintenance and compliance tasks are distributed fairly and completed during standard working hours.

KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS

• Site Security & Access: Assist with the daily opening and closing routines of the school campus, ensuring all buildings are secure, alarms are set, and the site is safe for daily occupancy.

• Maintenance & Repairs: Carry out reactive and planned first-line maintenance tasks, porterage duties, and minor repairs across the school fabric and fixtures to a high standard.

• Compliance & Health & Safety: Complete routine statutory testing, including weekly fire alarm checks, legionella flushing, and visual playground inspections, maintaining accurate logs for health and safety records.

• Contractor & Lettings Support: Help monitor external service contractors on-site and support the coordination of school facilities during busy evening and weekend community lettings.

• Emergency Response: Act as part of the rapid-response team for urgent site issues such as adverse weather clearing, localized cleaning requirements, or immediate safety hazards.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

• Qualifications: A recognized health and safety or facilities management certificate (such as IOSH or equivalent) is desirable, along with a valid UK driving license.

• Experience: Proven practical experience in caretaking, building maintenance, or a similar handyperson role, ideally within a school or public sector environment.

• Skills: Strong practical problem-solving skills, clear communication when interacting with school leadership and external visitors, and a reliable, collaborative approach to team tasks.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

• Local Area & Community: Based in the historic royal borough of Kingston upon Thames, the school serves an ambitious and diverse South West London community. The area combines riverside charm, vibrant town-centre amenities, rich heritage, expansive parks such as Richmond Park and Bushy Park, and a strongly supportive network of local families.

• Transport & Commuting: The school benefits from excellent regional transport links, with direct road connections via the A3, A307, and A308 corridors. Comprehensive local bus networks connect the borough across Greater London and Surrey, while Kingston and Surbiton railway stations provide rapid, frequent South Western Railway services into London Waterloo and the wider home counties.

APPLICATION INTAKE

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.