Caretaker | Community-Focused Primary Academy | Kingston

CORE PURPOSE

We are seeking a proactive, dependable Caretaker to oversee the daily maintenance, security, and cleanliness of our school site. Working closely with the Headteacher and School Business Manager, the successful candidate will ensure a safe, operational, and welcoming physical environment for pupils, staff, and visitors, taking pride in maintaining high standards across the campus.

THE SCHOOL

Set in a bright, modern campus featuring expansive outdoor sports grounds and dedicated community spaces, this energetic primary academy serves over 400 pupils across South West London. The school provides a warm, inclusive, and nurturing environment where facilities staff play a vital role in day-to-day operations. The site team operates efficiently to maintain building safety, manage contractor access, handle routine repairs, and ensure grounds and facilities are fully prepared for daily learning and extracurricular activities.

KEY TASKS & DAILY OPERATIONS

• Site Security & Keyholding: Manage daily site opening and closing routines, secure all buildings and perimeter gates, respond to alarm activations, and act as a primary keyholder.

• Maintenance & Facilities: Carry out routine DIY repairs, plumbing checks, painting, woodworking, and basic maintenance to keep campus infrastructure in peak condition.

• Health & Safety Compliance: Conduct mandatory safety checks, including water hygiene (legionella testing), fire alarm testing, emergency lighting checks, and playground safety inspections.

• Contractor Management: Supervise external contractors on site, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations and verifying work quality.

• Cleanliness & Groundskeeping: Oversee site cleanliness, manage refuse and recycling areas, clear pathways during adverse weather, and maintain grounds for safe pupil access.

PROFILE REQUIREMENTS

• Qualifications: Relevant trade background or practical qualification in building maintenance, health and safety, or a manual trade is desirable. First Aid and manual handling training preferred.

• Experience: Proven experience in site caretaking, facilities management, or building maintenance—ideally within an educational setting, residential site, or public facility.

• Skills: Practical handyman skills, strong knowledge of health and safety protocols, good communication skills, and the physical capacity to undertake active operational duties.

REGIONAL CONTEXT

• Local Area & Community: Based in the historic Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, the school serves an ambitious, welcoming, and vibrant South West London community. Famous for its ancient market square, thriving riverside dining, and historic shopping quarters, Kingston offers an exceptional quality of life with green open spaces like Richmond Park and Bushy Park nearby.

• Transport & Commuting: Kingston benefits from excellent regional transport connections, situated with convenient road access via the A3, A240, and A307 corridors linking directly to the M25. Transit connectivity is robust, served by frequent South Western Railway services from Kingston, Surbiton, and Norbiton stations (offering rapid routes into London Waterloo), along with extensive local bus routes across Surrey and South London.

APPLICATION INTAKE

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.