Cleaner

Cleaner (part-time)
Required to start as soon as possible

Role
Contract

Start Date
Salary

Job Description & Person Specification

Cleaner
Permanent, part-time (term time plus six weeks)
36.25 hours per week (11.30am - 7.15pm or 11.15am - 7.00pm)
Required to start as soon as possible
Hourly rate: £12.94
Based on 36.25 hours per week: £21,606

Introduction from the Head of Abbey Gate College Infant and Junior School:

I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Abbey Gate College Infant and Junior
School, which is situated in the beautiful, rural village of Aldford near Chester, just a
short distance from our Senior School in Saighton Grange.

Set in extensive grounds, the school benefits from football pitches, a netball court, a
wildlife  garden  and  pond,  a  nature  trail  and  an  adventure  playground.  Our  Junior
pupils occupy the original village school, which has been sympathetically refurbished
to provide a wonderful learning environment.

Opened in September 2018, we have a modern building, which is home to our Foundation and Infant
pupils.   Spacious  classrooms,  with  patio  doors  leading  out  onto  our  extensive  grounds,  ensure  our
youngest pupils have the best possible start to their education. All of our classrooms are welcoming and
equipped with up-to-date technology, including Clever Touch Screens, to support learning.

The  Infant  and  Junior  School  consists  of  seven  classes  from  Foundation  to  J6.    Small  class  sizes  and
specialist teachers ensure we offer our children a broad and balanced curriculum, which aims to develop
the full potential of each and every pupil.

Spiritual, moral, social, and physical development form an important part of the curriculum and help to
prepare pupils for the challenges and experiences of later life.

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 to 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 welcome your application.

Marie Hickey, Head of Infant and Junior School

The Post:
Abbey Gate College is looking to appoint a suitably experienced and skilled Cleaner to join our dedicated
Estates Team.  This post will be based at our Infant and Junior School in Aldford, but the successful candidate
may be required to work at our Senior School in Saighton to cover for absence within the Estates Team.

Both our Saighton and Alford sites are beautifully maintained and enjoyed by pupils, colleagues, and visitors
alike.

Job Description:
Line managed by our Head Caretaker, the working pattern for this role is:

36.25 hours per week, 11.30am - 7.15pm or 11.15am - 7.00pm (including a half-hour unpaid lunch break).

Our  Cleaners  are  required  to  work  during  term  time,  plus  an  additional  six  weeks  during  school  holiday
periods, over a 12-month period.

Our Cleaners, along with the entire Estates Team, perform an essential role in ensuring that the College
buildings are cleaned and maintained in optimum condition for use by our students and visitors.

Key Duties Include:

•  Cleaning (vacuuming, mopping, buffing, wiping down, emptying bins, deep cleaning, etc.) in all

areas of the buildings, including classrooms, communal areas, and toilets.

•  Ensuring all areas are always cleaned to the highest standard.
•  Notifying the Head Caretaker of any issues / damage requiring attention.
•  Taking ownership of Health and Safety for yourself and others, observing and complying with site

rules and regulations at all times.

•  Checking stock levels of all consumables and replacing when appropriate.
•  To work across both sites (Aldford and Saighton) to cover periods of absence of other Cleaners.
•  To be a key holder responsible for locking up the building in the evenings.
•  Helping and assisting with children’s lunch duty.
•  Completing any other cleaning duties, as required.

Support for the College:
In addition to the day-to-day responsibilities of the role, you will also be expected to:

•  Support  the  College’s  commitment  to  safeguarding  children  and  promoting  their  welfare  in

accordance with the College’s policies and procedures.

•  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.

•  Contribute to the overall work and ethos of the Estates Team as required.
•  To contribute to the overall vision, mission, and aims of Abbey Gate College.
•  Participate in training, meetings, and performance development activities as required.
•  Undertake any other duties as reasonably required.

Person Specification:
We are looking for people with a positive approach, a good knowledge of cleaning and high standards.
We want the successful candidate) to care about, and be proud of the wonderful, historic, educational
facilities and operations of our College!

The successful candidate will possess the following:

Experience / Qualifications:

•  Previous experience in a similar role would be an advantage, but is not essential, as training will be

provided.

•  A good working knowledge of Health and Safety is essential.
•  An understanding of COSHH regulations is desirable.

Skills / Personal Qualities:

•  Strong  time  management  /  organisational  skills,  with  the  ability  to  prioritise  and  meet  deadlines

whilst work under pressure.

•  Attention to detail, accurate and methodical.
•  Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
•  Ability to deal with sensitive information with the utmost discretion and to maintain confidentiality

at all times.

•  A team player, willing to support other members of the Estates Team, with the ability to work using

their own initiative.

•  Ability and willingness to adapt to and embrace change.
•  Willingness to learn new skills and promote new initiatives.
•  Willingness and adaptability in tackling the variety of tasks arising in a school environment.
•  Willingness 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.
•  Willingness to attend evening meetings and events as required (not a frequent requirement).
•  Commitment to CPD and training opportunities.
•  Other requirements for the role are good communications skills and ability to work alongside other

staff and contractors.

Salary:
The hourly rate for this position is £12.94 per hour.

The salary for 36.25 hours per week equates to: £21,606.

The above includes a 30-minute unpaid lunchbreak per day.

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: Friday 20th March 2026 at midday.

In  order  to  apply  for  our  Cleaner  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  the Head of the Infant and Junior
School, Mrs Marie Hickey, 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  assistance  regarding  your  application,  please  also
contact Sue Moran.

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