Grounds and Gardens Person

Job Description

Job Title:

Grounds and Gardens Person

Responsible To:

Grounds and Gardens Manager

Department:

Estates

About the role

As Grounds and Gardens Person, you will play a vital role in the care and development of the Kingswood
Foundation Estate. This varied and rewarding position involves maintaining high-quality sports surfaces and
pitches, as well as supporting the upkeep and enhancement of gardens, lawns, woodlands, and wider
outdoor areas across the estate.

You will be part of the Grounds and Gardens Team, which is responsible for managing 126 acres of
landscaped and natural grounds at Kingswood School. This includes formal gardens, manicured lawns,
hedgerows, mature trees, and extensive woodland. The estate also houses a range of outdoor facilities
such as turf and all-weather sports pitches, woodland play zones, and playgrounds—all of which are
maintained to exceptional standards throughout the academic year.

A career at Kingswood offers the opportunity to be part of a supportive and forward-thinking community
that values excellence, innovation, and personal growth. Rooted in our core values - Care for Each
Individual, Educate for Life, Serve the Community, and Live Sustainably - we foster an environment where
staff are empowered to thrive.

Key responsibilities

•  Carry out a wide range of horticultural tasks, including soil preparation, planting, pruning, weeding,

mulching, bed maintenance, and lawn care.

•  Maintain sports pitches to a high standard, including mowing, line marking, aeration, scarification,

turf renovation, and the application of fertilisers and pesticides.

•  Operate and maintain a variety of grounds maintenance tools and machinery, such as mowers,

tractors, strimmers, hedge cutters, rollers, and line markers.

•  Ensure all equipment, tools, and vehicles are properly maintained, serviced, and securely stored.
•  Undertake seasonal grounds duties, including gritting, salt spreading, and snow clearance to ensure

safe access across the estate.

•  Support grounds improvement projects such as fencing, gate installation, and assisting external

contractors when required.

•  Set up and maintain sports areas and outdoor event spaces in line with the school calendar and

usage requirements.

•  Work in compliance with Health & Safety legislation and adhere to all relevant risk assessments and

safe systems of work.

•  Communicate effectively with school staff, including the Sports Department, Estates Team, and

Facilities Management, to support the delivery of tasks and support smooth day-to-day operations.

A coeducational, independent boarding and day school for 9 months to 18 years.

•  Report any issues, hazards, or maintenance concerns promptly to the Grounds and Gardens

Manager.

No job description can fully cover all aspects of the role and consequently the responsibilities are likely to
evolve and change over time.

Skills, qualifications and experience

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of two years’ hands-on experience in grounds and gardens
maintenance, including the use of sports turf machinery and a range of horticultural equipment. They
will be physically fit and comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions, demonstrating
resilience and a strong work ethic. A full manual valid UK driving licence is essential, along with a sound
working knowledge of Health & Safety at Work policies and COSHH regulations. Attention to detail,
excellent organisational skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are vital.
The successful candidate will also possess strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach, with
the ability to engage positively with colleagues and members of the school community. Previous
experience in sports pitch preparation and maintenance, particularly cricket pitch preparation, is also
required.

It would be advantageous for candidates to hold a recognised qualification in horticulture, grounds
maintenance, or sports pitch care. Experience using a wide range of horticultural machinery and tools is
highly desirable, as is prior experience working within an educational or similar institutional setting.
Additional certifications, such as the Chainsaw CS30/31 qualification and PA1, PA2, PA5 spraying
certification and PA6 Certificates of Competence in the Safe Use of Pesticides, would be beneficial. Skills
in precision hedge cutting and the ability to mentor or train colleagues are also valued, supporting the
continued development and high standards of the Grounds and Gardens Team.

Child protection

It is your responsibility to help promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for
whom you are responsible, or with whom you come into contact, and to adhere to and ensure
compliance with the School’s Child Protection Policy Statement at all times. If, in the course of carrying
out the duties of the post, you become aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of
children in the school, you must report any concerns to the School’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Protecting children from the risk of radicalisation is part of the School’s safeguarding duties (under the
Prevent Duty).

Competencies

The Kingswood Competency Framework sets out the expected level of performance at a given level –
the ‘competency profile’.

The competency profile is used to support objective setting, appraisal, and continuous professional
development planning.

A coeducational, independent boarding and day school for 9 months to 18 years.

Competency Profile: Level 7 – Team Member (Proficient in Delivery):

Terms and Conditions

This is a full-time, year-round position with a standard working week of 37 hours. Normal working hours
are 8.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8.00am to 3.30pm on Fridays, with a 30-minute unpaid
lunch break each day.

The role offers a paid holiday entitlement of 6.6 weeks per year (equivalent to 33 days), inclusive of
public bank holidays. While the School typically closes for a period over Christmas, the specific dates are
determined annually by the Senior Management Team. Any additional non-working days granted during
this closure period are discretionary and do not form part of the contractual holiday entitlement.

The salary for this position ranges from £25,000 to £29,000 per annum, depending on experience and
qualifications.

A coeducational, independent boarding and day school for 9 months to 18 years.

Benefits

Kingswood School has high expectations of staff and looks to reward them with beneficial conditions of
service.

•  Stakeholder Pension Scheme, matching your contributions up to 5% of pensionable pay
•  All staff enjoy free meals provided in the Dining Room with refreshments available throughout

the day.

•  Parking available around the School site (subject to availability).
•  Professional development and training.
•  Part remission of fees at Kingswood Nursery, Prep and Senior Schools for children of employees
(subject to the normal competitive entry requirements being met).  Please note that remission
of school fees is not a contractual entitlement; the Governors reserve the right to vary the rate
of remission or to withdraw it altogether.

•  Staff are welcome to make use of the leisure and sports facilities (which includes a swimming

pool, gym and tennis courts) set within the beautiful School grounds, at times as agreed by the
School.

•  Death in Service benefit.
•  Cycle Scheme in line with the Government’s Cycle to Work initiative.
•  Employee Assistance Programme, an independent, free and confidential advice service that can

offer both practical advice and emotional support.

•  Kingswood has a strong sense of community and there are many ways to be involved whether

through sport, music or social events.

Application process

Please visit our website Work for Us - Kingswood Bath School to read our policies for Recruitment,
Selection and Disclosure Procedure, and Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy including EYFS.

Please email recruitment@kingswood.bath.sch.uk to request an Application Form.

Completed Application Forms should be returned by email (or by post: Recruitment Administrator,
Kingswood School, Lansdown, Bath, BA1 5RG)

Closing date is Friday 13th March 2026, midday

If you have any questions about the recruitment process please contact Miss Hannah Sweeney,
Recruitment Administrator, on recruitment@kingswood.bath.sch.uk or 01225 734350

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all
staff and volunteers to share this commitment. You will be required to undergo child protection screening
appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask job
applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected"
under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children."

As an equal opportunities employer, Kingswood School is committed to the equal treatment of all current and
prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation,
pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We offer a welcoming and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide
range of backgrounds to apply.

A coeducational, independent boarding and day school for 9 months to 18 years.