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- Tasks: Join us as a Caretaker, maintaining our school site and ensuring a safe environment.
- Company: The Willows Primary School is part of the vibrant Berlesduna Academy Trust, focused on high aspirations.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, paid leave during school closures, and full training provided.
- Other info: Full-time role with 37 hours per week; applications close on 14th September 2025.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values your growth and contributes to children's success.
- Qualifications: We seek enthusiastic, hardworking individuals with a commitment to teamwork and self-improvement.
The predicted salary is between 22700 - 30000 £ per year.
Position Start Date: 16/03/2026 Contract Type: Part-time Contract Term: Permanent
Application Close: 04/03/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: week commencing 9 March 2026
Treetops Specialist School & College
Centre of Excellence
Treetops Approach, Grays, Essex, RM16 2WU
Tel.: 01375 372723
Email: admin@treetops.thurrock.sch.uk
Caretaker
Pay: approx. £8960
Hours: 12 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, as follows;
Saturday 8am – 3pm
Sunday 8am – 3pm
There may be the opportunity to take on more hours in the future.
Leave: 4 weeks annual leave plus 2.8 weeks statutory holiday (pro-rata)
Required: asap
The Trust:
Treetops School is a special academy catering for pupils with a wide range of needs including moderate learning difficulties, speech and communication difficulties, autism and general developmental delay.
In March 2025 Treetops School was judged by Ofsted to have maintained the standards identified at the previous inspection. The previous inspection was in February 2020, at which time Treetops was judged as Outstanding. Treetops Free School, which officially opened in September 2022, was judged Good in its first Ofsted inspection in March 2024.
We are looking to appoint a caretaker to work as part of our site team. The Saturday and Sunday working will be as lettings caretaker. This role will be solo working.
The Job
The main duties will be to support the school\’s lettings program, which runs outside of school hours. The lettings caretaker will work as part of the site team and will support the Site Manager in his objective of ensuring the efficient and effective day-to-day running, presentation and management of the school site, ensuring a warm, clean, safe and secure environment for all authorised users of the site and visitors. Main duties will include;
- Opening and closing the site and relevant buildings to allow use by lettings clients.
- Manning the School entrance during school events and lettings.
- Clean halls after lettings use, as well as toilet and facilities used by lettings clients.
- Secure site by locking and alarming buildings.
- Additional machine cleaning of floors when and where possible as agreed with Site Manager.
- Carrying out minor ongoing repairs and maintenance.
- Supervision of maintenance contractors on site as directed.
- Portering of deliveries and consumables.
- Supporting the School\’s timely waste management collections including all recyclables.
- Moving of furniture and the setting up and taking down of tables and chairs for special events, functions and meetings.
- Maintaining the School grounds; including clearing the grounds of rubbish, leaves, snow/ice as appropriate.
- Ensuring that the boundary area, walls, entrances and exits are clear, accessible and secure at all times.
- Carrying out reasonable duties as required by the Headteacher or senior members of staff.
The successful candidate will become a trusted \’Key Holder\’ for the school and will be expected to carry out any necessary duties that this may involve including opening the school in the morning and locking up in the evening.
An application form can be downloaded from our website www.treetopsschool.org and submitted either by hand, post or email (admin@treetops.thurrock.sch.uk) marked for the attention of Mrs K Lambie, HR Manager.
Closing date for applications: 4 March 2026
Interviews: week commencing 9 March 2026
The governing body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS check, a medical check, satisfactory references.
Information about the School
The governing body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All posts are subject to enhanced DBS check, a medical check, satisfactory references and the successful completion of a 6 month probationary period.
All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.
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Caretaker employer: Shorefields
Contact Detail:
Shorefields Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Caretaker
✨Tip Number 1
Make sure to visit The Willows Primary School and Nursery before applying. This will give you a chance to understand the environment and culture, and it shows your genuine interest in the position.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former staff members of the Berlesduna Academy Trust. They can provide valuable insights about the role and the school, which can help you tailor your approach during the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your hands-on experience with building maintenance and cleaning duties. Be ready to share specific examples that demonstrate your skills and commitment to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with the safeguarding policies of the school and the Berlesduna Academy Trust. Understanding these policies will show your dedication to the welfare of children and young people during the interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Caretaker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description carefully to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Caretaker position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant experience and skills that match what The Willows Primary School and Nursery is looking for.
Craft a Strong CV: Ensure your CV is up-to-date and clearly outlines your previous experience in maintenance, cleaning, or similar roles. Highlight any specific skills related to building maintenance, DIY tasks, and teamwork, as these are crucial for this position.
Write a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the school. Mention why you want to work at The Willows Primary School and Nursery and how your values align with their vision of fostering a positive learning environment.
Double-Check Your Application: Before submitting, review your application to ensure all sections are complete and free of errors. Incomplete applications will not be considered, so make sure everything is in order and reflects your best self.
How to prepare for a job interview at Shorefields
✨Know the School's Values
Familiarise yourself with the vision and values of The Willows Primary School and Nursery. Understanding their commitment to fostering a culture of high aspiration and academic success will help you align your answers with their ethos during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Your Practical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with building maintenance, cleaning duties, and DIY tasks. Providing specific examples of past work will showcase your ability to handle the responsibilities of the caretaker role effectively.
✨Show Your Team Spirit
Highlight your ability to work well as part of a team. Share experiences where you collaborated with others to achieve a common goal, as this role requires cooperation with school staff and the community.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about how you would handle specific situations, such as responding to accidents or managing cleanliness around the school. Think through potential scenarios in advance and be ready to explain your approach to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment.