Caretaker
Oakfield Park School, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF7 7DT44 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
30 November 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
17 October 2025
Job details
Job role
- Catering, cleaning and site management
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time: 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday, year round. Statutory holidays to be taken during school holidays.
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Grade 4
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking for a reliable and proactive Caretaker to help maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming school environment. Working under the direction of the Headteacher and Premises Manager, you will support with site maintenance, security, cleaning, and general upkeep of the premises and grounds.
Key Responsibilities:
- Locking/unlocking buildings and ensuring site security
- Carrying out minor repairs, maintenance, and basic plumbing/electrical tasks
- Overseeing heating, lighting, and fire safety systems
- Maintaining cleanliness and assisting with waste disposal
- Setting up rooms, moving furniture, and supporting school lettings
- Ensuring health & safety standards are met across the site
- Supporting with the running of the Hydrotherapy pool (training provided)
About You:
- Practical handyperson experience
- Willingness to train in basic maintenance, health & safety, and cleaning procedures
- Able to work as part of a team and communicate effectively with staff and pupils
- Reliable, organised, and able to use initiative
- Physically fit and comfortable with manual tasks
- Enhanced DBS check required
Essential Requirements:
- Willingness to undertake induction and relevant training
- Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
- Enhanced DBS check required
Desirable:
- Ability to drive to travel between sites if required have own vehicle and business insurance
- Ability to drive school minibuses and refuel.
- NVQ Level 1 in Cleaning & Support Services or equivalent
- Support Work in Schools (SWiS) Level 2 qualification
What the school offers its staff
Oakfield Park School is a Local Authority maintained school situated in the pleasant village of Ackworth, near Pontefract. We provide a high level of specialised education for young people aged 11 to 19 years who have severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Many of our pupils have additional complex needs including ASDs, sensory impairment, challenging behaviour and physical difficulties. We provide high-quality specialist resources across the school, including a hydrotherapy pool, a sensory room, activity and soft play area, a food tech room, and a variety of outdoor resources.
We aim for all our students to develop a ‘voice’, to be as independent, social, and healthy as possible, enabling them to become citizens who engage positively with society while leading happy and fulfilled lives.
We are dedicated to providing a safe learning environment for all of our students as well as ensuring the well-being of our staff. We offer a wide range of training and in-house CPD to support staff to up-skill and meet the needs of all our learners. We also aim to support staff where possible to pursue further external qualifications.
We have a team of over 130 staff supported as part of smaller class teams. Our three Assistant Headteachers provide in and out of class training to all staff within their Key Stage and are available throughout the school day to advise and support.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Oakfield Park is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The Governing Body has a duty of care to students and all members of the school community. There is a comprehensive Safeguarding policy in place which, along with a policy for Health and Safety, is regularly reviewed by the Governing Body.
Our Safeguarding policy can be found on the school website under the Policies section and is also available upon request from the school office.
Applying for the job
This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Oakfield Park School
- School type
- Special school, ages 11 to 19
- School size
- 162 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Oakfield Park School website
- Email address
- Recruitment@oakfieldpark.wakefield.sch.uk
Oakfield Park School is a Local Authority maintained school situated in the pleasant village of Ackworth, near Pontefract. We provide a high level of specialised education for young people aged 11 to 19 years who have severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties. Many of our pupils have additional complex needs including ASDs, sensory impairment, challenging behaviour and physical difficulties. We provide high-quality specialist resources across the school, including a hydrotherapy pool, a sensory room, activity and soft play area, a food tech room, and a variety of outdoor resources.
We aim for all our students to develop a ‘voice’, to be as independent, social, and healthy as possible, enabling them to become citizens who engage positively with society while leading happy and fulfilled lives.
In October 2019 we received our second consecutive Ofsted judgement of “Outstanding”. The inspectors found that:
• The quality of education at Oakfield Park is outstanding.
• Oakfield Park is a remarkably friendly and welcoming school.
• Pupils work hard and achieve highly at Oakfield Park.
• Pupils say they love coming to school
• They (pupils) feel happy and safe because they know that adults care about them.
• By the time students leave school, they are exceedingly well prepared for adult life.
• Sixth form students get precisely the right support to help them to get ready for when they leave school.
• [There are] exceptionally strong relationships between pupils and staff
Pupils attend from across the Wakefield Metropolitan District. The school is well equipped providing excellent accommodation for pupils with disabilities including those with physical and complex needs. It is a single-storey construction allowing access for wheelchairs. We have:
- A heated hydrotherapy pool which is used by school pupils and hired out for community use.
- Activity soft play room
- Sensory Room
- ICT Suite
- Specialist Food Technology Room
- Independent Living flat
- Adventure playground
- Horticulture area including a large poly-tunnel
- Sensory garden
- Large wildlife area
- Spacious playing fields
- Well resourced specialist classrooms
- 3 adapted minibuses and a people carrier
Our Aims
We are a school which provides a centre of excellence through:
• Working in partnership with parents, families, staff, governors and other professionals to ensure the right of every person who has special educational needs to access the quality of education to which they are entitled.
• A shared commitment to building on knowledge and skills to develop independence in preparation for lifelong learning.
• Having high expectations of pupil standards, achievements and behaviour.
• Ensuring the care, safety and welfare of all of its pupils.
• Valuing every member of the school community.
• Providing a highly trained, professional staff team who are committed to delivering quality learning experiences that are challenging and rewarding.
• Celebrating progress, success and achievement through building on ability rather than disability.
• Being inclusive and promoting equal opportunity for all.
“All Different, All Valued, All Equal”
Arranging a visit to Oakfield Park School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email Recruitment@oakfieldpark.wakefield.sch.uk.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in West Yorkshire