Role
Contract

Start Date
Salary

Job Description & Person Specification

Caretaker
35 hours per week on a full year basis (i.e. term time plus school
closure periods).
Temporary role to provide necessary additional support
Required to start as soon as possible
£25,116 (Grade AGS 3, Grade Point 11) / Hourly rate: £13.76

Introduction from the Head:

Our  wonderful  Senior  School  and  Sixth  Form  are
enviably  located  in  the  historic  Saighton  Grange
buildings,  with  stunning  views  across  beautiful
countryside  towards  the  Welsh  mountains  and  the
Cheshire  sandstone  ridge;  and  our  dedicated  Infant
and  Junior  School  is  just  down  the  road  in  the
charming and picturesque village of Aldford.

Our  College  is  a  unique,  inspiring,  and  memorable
place  to  learn  and  grow,  where  our  caring  and
committed teaching and support staff will do all that
they can to help our pupils to be the best that they can
be.

We are a safe and friendly school community, where we look out for each other and where we
work with each child’s individual interests, passions, and strengths; while also encouraging them
to try new things, take risks, and be creative.

Our Mission:

We are committed, within our safe and caring community, that each one of our pupils will become
the best that they can be and have the self-belief to go forward into this changeable world with
courage and with compassion.

Our Aims:
We pursue our whole College mission, guided by three defining and aspirational aims:

Thank you for taking the time find out more about us. If you feel that you could bring the right
balance  of  care,  commitment,  expertise,  and  enthusiasm  to  this  role,  we  would  welcome  your
application.

Craig Jenkinson, MA (Oxon), PGCE, MInstLM, MCCT

The Post: Caretaker
Reporting to the Head Caretaker, this post involves working 35 hours per week, on a full-year
basis, requiring the successful candidate to work both during school closure periods, and during
term time.

We operate a 3-shift weekly rota and the working pattern for this role is as follows:

1.  7.00am - 3.00pm
2.  10.00am - 6.00pm (flexi shift)
3.  1.30pm - 9.30pm

Shift 1 includes opening up the site in the mornings.
Shift 2 is a flexi shift - it could start a little later and end a little later if we need additional
support on site for a College event in the evening, for example.
Shift 3 is needed as we hire out sports facilities to external hires, so this shift involved securing /
locking up the site in the evening.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities:

•  Open  /  lock  up  all  buildings,  ensuring  the  sites  are  completely  secured  and  all  alarms

correctly set before vacating in the evening.
Janitorial duties.

•
•  Keep  the  sites  clean  and  tidy  at  all  times,  to  include  litter  collection,  emptying  bins,

removing all waste etc. to the appropriate area.

•  Cleaning tasks, if required.
•  Responsible  for  forward  planning  of  work  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the

weekly / termly events schedule.

•  Move and set out of staging, chairs and tables for all school events, using correct manual

handling techniques.

•  Delivery of packages / equipment to various departments within the College.
•  Carry  out  daily  maintenance  checks  of  all  buildings  and  plant  /  equipment  (including
heating  and  lighting)  ensuring  issues  are  reported  immediately,  and  good  records  are
maintained.

•  Assist the Estates Manager and Head Caretaker in annually recording and updating Risk
Assessments  of  the  whole  site,  ensuring  that  the  College  complies  with  all  current
legislation in relation to Health & Safety and maintaining appropriate records.

•  To  work  across  both  sites  (Aldford  and  Saighton)  to cover  periods  of  absence  of  other

caretakers, as and when required.

•  Any other duties as required.

Support for the College
In addition to the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, the Head Caretaker will also be expected:
1)  To  support  the  College’s  commitment  to  safeguarding  children  and  promoting  their

welfare in accordance with the College’s policies and procedures;

2)  To  be  aware  of  and  comply  with  policies and  procedures  relating to  health  and  safety,
security,  confidentiality  and  data  protection,  reporting  all  concerns  to  the  appropriate
person;

3)  To contribute to the overall work and ethos of the Estates Team as required;

4)  To contribute to the overall vision, mission, and aims of Abbey Gate College;
5)  To participate in training, meetings, and performance development activities as required;
6)  To undertake any other duties as reasonably required.

Competencies, Skills & Experience
The successful candidate will demonstrate the following skills, experiences and qualities:

•  Be caring, supportive, enthusiastic, innovative and creative, acting as a role model to

colleagues and pupils;

•  Have prior experience in a similar role;
•  Have a full, clean driving licence;
•  Have a good level of literacy and numeracy;
•  Have a good knowledge of health, safety and welfare, together with an understanding of

COSHH regulations;

•  A first aid qualification is desirable;
•  Be confident in communicating with pupils, parents / carers and colleagues throughout

the Abbey Gate College community;

•  Be experienced and proficient in i-Auditor, Every Compliance Management System, and

competent in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel spreadsheets and emails;

•  Be proactive and organised, with excellent planning, time-keeping, and organisational

skills;

•  Have the ability to maintain confidentiality at all times;
•  Be a team player, willing to support other members of the Estates Team, whole College

staff body and contractors, with the ability to work using their own initiative.

•  Have the ability and willingness to adapt to and embrace change;
•  Be willing to learn new skills and promote new initiatives;
•  Be  willing  to  be  flexible  regarding  the  variety  of  tasks  arising  within  the  College
environment, and to be flexible regarding working hours, within reason, in response to
the needs of the College;

•  Be  willing  to  attend  evening  meetings  and  events  as  required  (not  a  frequent

requirement);

•  Have a commitment to CPD and training opportunities.
•  Be committed to the mission, aims, ethos and standards of Abbey Gate College.

The successful candidate will have the determination and drive to get a job done and a have a
vision for maintaining, developing, and enhancing the buildings and site as required. We want
the successful candidate to care about and be proud of the wonderful, historic, and educational
facilities and operations of our College!

Salary:
The hourly rate for this position is £13,76 per hour.

The salary for 35 hours per week equates to: £25,116.

There may be the requirement to work additional hours to assist in the preparation of  sites for
important events, such as open days, at the College.

Workwear, equipment and personal protective equipment will be provided, and the post-holder
is responsible for the maintenance and safety of these items.

Safeguarding & Child Protection:
Abbey Gate College is committed, as a priority, to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants will, therefore, be subject to stringent vetting and induction processes, including an
enhanced DBS disclosure. References for shortlisted candidates will be requested prior to
interview; please inform your referees.

Whilst criminal convictions are not necessarily a bar to appointment, this safety consideration
will be central to all decisions regarding the employment of staff, approval of volunteers, and
standards of external contractors.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and to treating all staff with dignity and
respect. Therefore, applications from individuals are encouraged, regardless of age, disability,
sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief,
and marriage and civil partnerships.

Process for Applications:

•  Closing date for applications: Monday 22nd September 2025

In order to apply for our Caretaker vacancy, please complete our Abbey Gate College application
form (available at https://www.abbeygatecollege.co.uk/about-us/vacancies/).

Please also include a covering letter, which should be addressed to our Head, Mr Craig Jenkinson,
outlining your interest in, and suitability for, the role and the College.

Your completed application form and covering letter should be returned to Mrs Sue Moran, HR
and Staff Wellbeing Manager, at: sue.moran@abbeygatecollege.co.uk by the above closing date.

Should you require any additional information or have any difficulties in completing / submitting
your application, please also contact Sue Moran.

Please visit our website at www.abbeygatecollege.co.uk for more information about the College.