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- Tasks: Maintain school grounds and ensure a safe, welcoming environment for students and staff.
- Company: Join the vibrant Oxford High School community with over 150 years of educational excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, free lunches, and discounts on school fees.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and training within a leading girls' school network.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in a supportive environment while enjoying flexible working hours.
- Qualifications: Practical maintenance and gardening experience, good communication skills, and a driving licence is desirable.
The predicted salary is between 27171 - 27171 £ per year.
Required: June 2026
Contract Term: Permanent
Competitive Salary plus benefits: £27,171.00
Working Pattern: Full time, all year round, 36 hour week, working five days out of the seven. There will be a requirement to work early, late and occasional weekend shifts. Hours will vary due to lettings and events and may include week and weekend days. Please be aware that a degree of flexibility with your working arrangements is required to meet the needs of the busy school calendar.
Oxford High School is seeking a reliable, proactive and hardworking Caretaker/Gardener to help maintain our school premises and grounds to a high standard. This role is essential in ensuring a safe, secure and welcoming environment for students, staff and visitors.
Key Responsibilities
- Site & Security: Assist in the security of the school premises, including locking/unlocking buildings and monitoring alarms and surveillance systems. Ensure external areas, gym and swimming pool are secure when not in use. Support the maintenance of access systems, locks and keys.
- Premises Maintenance: Carry out general repairs and maintenance to buildings, furniture and equipment. Support planned preventative maintenance and respond promptly to emergency repairs. Assist with monitoring heating, lighting, water systems, fire alarms and other site services. Help maintain records relating to safety checks and inspections.
- Grounds & Gardening: Maintain landscaped areas, lawns, hedges, planted areas and sports fields across all school sites. Carry out mowing, pruning, planting, watering, weeding and seasonal garden maintenance. Keep school grounds free from litter and vegetation debris. Maintain gardening equipment and report faulty tools or machinery. Assist in designing and developing attractive planting schemes.
- Health & Safety: Follow all health and safety procedures and risk assessments. Assist with fire safety checks, evacuation procedures and site safety routines. Support waste management and site cleanliness. Provide emergency first aid if qualified.
- General Duties: Assist with porterage, deliveries and room setups for school events. Support school functions, lettings and open days when required. Maintain positive working relationships with staff, pupils, parents and contractors. Opportunity to assist with minibus driving following appropriate training.
About You
The successful candidate will:
- Have practical maintenance and gardening experience.
- Be organised, dependable and able to work independently.
- Take pride in maintaining high standards across the school environment.
- Have good communication and teamwork skills.
- Be flexible to support occasional evening or weekend requirements.
- Hold a driving licence (desirable).
About Oxford High School: Since its foundation over 150 years ago in the heart of Oxford’s historic city centre, Oxford High School GDST has been innovative and pioneering in its approach to girls’ education. Today, Oxford High School is a happy and vibrant place to work. As well as our commitment to girls’ education, we are committed to investing in our staff’s personal development through training and learning initiatives and via the Girls’ Day School Trust network.
Benefits: As part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, the leading and largest group of independent girls’ schools in the UK, we offer a variety of benefits, which include:
- Competitive salaries and pay progression
- Access to extensive professional development opportunities
- Training grants for qualifications
- Generous pension schemes
- Free life assurance benefit
- Free school lunches
- A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
- Interest free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans
- A Cycle to Work scheme
- Competitive terms and conditions of employment
Application Details: For further details and to apply please click on the button below.
Closing Date: 2359 Tuesday 2nd June 2026. We encourage early applications and reserve the right to interview candidates as applications are received; please note that the vacancy may close early if a suitable candidate is found.
Caretaker/ Gardener in Oxford employer: GDST
Contact Detail:
GDST Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Caretaker/ Gardener in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Oxford High School. Familiarise yourself with their values and what they stand for. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their community.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to chat with the hiring team, highlight your practical maintenance and gardening experience. Share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in the past, whether it's fixing something or creating a beautiful garden space.
✨Tip Number 3
Be flexible! Since the role requires working various hours, make sure to express your willingness to adapt. Let them know you're ready to jump in for those early mornings, late shifts, or weekend events. Flexibility is key in this job!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We encourage you to submit your application directly on our site. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're keen and tech-savvy!
We think you need these skills to ace Caretaker/ Gardener in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight your relevant experience in maintenance and gardening. We want to see how your skills match the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Show Your Reliability: Since we're looking for a dependable Caretaker/Gardener, emphasise your reliability and proactive nature in your application. Share examples of how you've maintained high standards in previous roles.
Highlight Flexibility: Flexibility is key for this role, so mention your willingness to work varied hours, including weekends and evenings. We appreciate candidates who can adapt to the busy school calendar!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Oxford High School.
How to prepare for a job interview at GDST
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Caretaker/Gardener. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks mentioned in the job description, like maintenance, security, and gardening duties. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare to discuss your practical maintenance and gardening experience in detail. Think of specific examples where you've successfully completed similar tasks or solved problems. This will give the interviewer confidence in your ability to handle the responsibilities of the position.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility
Since the role requires flexibility with working hours, be ready to talk about your availability for early, late, and weekend shifts. Share any past experiences where you've adapted to changing schedules or worked outside of typical hours, as this will show your commitment to meeting the school's needs.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Communication Skills
The job involves maintaining positive relationships with staff, pupils, and parents. Be prepared to discuss how you've effectively communicated and collaborated with others in previous roles. Highlight any instances where your teamwork contributed to a successful outcome, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.