Caretaker
Upper Shirley High School, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 7QU21 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
13 April 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
23 March 2026
Job details
Job role
- Catering, cleaning and site management
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: Monday to Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Grade 6, £28,792 - £31,022
What skills and experience we're looking for
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our school as a Caretaker.
The caretaking team plays a vital role in ensuring our school is a safe, welcoming and well‑maintained environment for students, staff and visitors. We are committed to providing high‑quality facilities and we are looking for someone who takes pride in their work and is proactive in maintaining our site to the highest standards.
The successful candidate will have the autonomy to organise, prioritise and carry out a wide range of duties, including general maintenance, repairs, security and supporting the day‑to‑day running of the school. We are seeking someone who can contribute to a positive, well‑managed environment that helps our students thrive.
Job Purpose
Ø The post holder is responsible to the Headteacher/Business Manager/Site Manager for the security, safety, cleanliness, heating and general maintenance of the school site and environs to support the efficient and effective operation of the school.
Ø The post holder is required to be the school’s principal first aider outside of core school hours.
Key Tasks
- To be a key holder responsible for security, including the operation of the intruder alarm, and arrange access to and within the site, responding when available to any call from emergency services, checking the site for break ins, vandalism or damage and organising any emergency repairs to secure the building.
- To prepare the school for any functions and activities, including scheduled lettings, cleaning areas and moving furniture and equipment as required.
- To carry out repair and maintenance work from the USH Premises Helpdesk under the direction of the Site Manager and Assistant Site Manager
- To be responsible for daily cleaning and periodic ‘deep clean’ of allocated areas, regular clearing of litter internally and externally including the perimeter of the site and the emptying of litter bins and cleaning of external hard areas, drains and gulleys as needed.
- When on duty, direct site related contractors to the site of the repair and maintenance works, verify that the contractors have attended and note the completion of the tasks for which they were hired.
- To ensure H&S guidelines are followed.
- To detect and report building and site related defects to the Business Manager or Site Manager, undertaking repairs and alterations within the post holder’s level of competence and paying particular attention to current Health and Safety guidelines.
- To carry out, or in exceptional circumstances, arrange for the movement of furniture and equipment within the site. To distribute (as directed) items delivered to the site, as required.
- To check the operation of the fire alarm(s) Monthly Emergency light checks fire doors Extinguishers fire blankets as scheduled and log findings in the relevant log book report any defects immediately to the Business Manager or Site Manager.
- To be responsible for the checking and operation of lighting, heating and air conditioning equipment, replacing light bulbs and related lighting items as required and ensuring that all clocks are functioning accurately.
- To ensure that all electrical equipment, lighting and other mechanical systems are switched off and unplugged as appropriate when securing the site.
- To attend to and clear up any emergency occurring whilst on duty including spillages, floods and messes.
- To maintain and store premises staff equipment and supplies in a safe, secure and functional manner.
- To ensure the school minibuses are maintained; including a daily H&S check and routine cleaning.
- To maintain the whole site on a daily task ensuring the clearance of rubbish and weeds etc.
- To undertake necessary action as directed by the Head, Business Manager or Site Manager, in the event of an emergency or bad weather.
- The post holder is expected to support the school’s aims, familiarise themselves with school policies and procedures and to reinforce these with students, staff and parents where required.
- All staff is expected to undertake regular training including first aid, health and safety, fire training and take a full part in the school’s performance management cycle.
- The postholder must be prepared to complete MIDAS minibus training and provide minibus driving support as needed.
- To follow safety, communication and lone working procedures under the direction of the Site Manager and Business Manager.
- The post holder will be required to undertake such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Head, Business Manager or Site Manager in order to ensure the security, safety, cleanliness and general maintenance of the school site and environs to support the efficient and effective operation of the school.
Lettings:
- To be available to work evening and weekend shifts (as required) to facilitate regular weekly, monthly and adhoc lettings.
- To manage and oversee the site when lettings are in process.
- To welcome and direct the public when required.
- To ensure the security of the school buildings and assets are not compromised during lettings.
Supporting the school
- At an appropriate level, according to the job role, grade and training received, all employees in the school are expected to:
Ø Support the aims, values, mission and ethos of the school and participate in a team approach to all aspects of school life.
Ø Attend and contribute to staff meetings and INSET days as required, and identify areas of personal practice and experience to develop.
Ø Take appropriate responsibility for safeguarding and children’s welfare and be aware of confidential issues linked to home/child/teacher/school and keep confidences appropriately.
Ø Be aware of health and safety issues and act in accordance with the school’s Health and Safety Policy.
Other Duties:
The postholder may be expected to carry out duties other than those given in the job description where the level of responsibility is similar and he/she has appropriate qualifications or receives appropriate training to carry out these duties.
The postholder must:
- Ensure that Trust policies and procedures are implemented and followed.
- Work as appropriate with the Trust Central Services team in matters relating to finance, HR, IT and Health and Safety.
What the school offers its staff
We can offer you;
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
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.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Upper Shirley High School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1081 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Upper Shirley High School website
- Email address
- recrutiment@ushschool.org
- Phone number
- 02380325333
USH is a heavily oversubscribed community school with just over 1050 students and 140 staff. We are incredibly proud of our family ethos and our success in delivering values-led education. Our students are vibrant, aspirational and well-behaved. We are known for our excellent career progression routes and we attract professionals who are willing to contribute to our sustained success.
USH is a Leading-Edge School, consistently ranked high in Hampshire schools for overall achievement. USH is pleased to be an SSAT Leadership Delivery Partner. The school was delighted to be awarded SSAT accreditation for Engaging with Evidence and Research in 2026 and for Transforming in Professional Learning in 2025.
If you are motivated to make a difference to the lives of young people and have a commitment to excellence, then this could be the job for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the role or would like to come into school to see the USH family in action.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE We positively encourage prospective candidates to enquire about our school prior to applying. Please contact our recruitment team via email or telephone 02380 325333. Full details and application forms can be downloaded from our website: http://uppershirleyhigh.org/staff_vacancies.
Please return your completed applications to recruitment@ushschool.org.
To give your application the best chance at being short-listed, where at interview you can demonstrate suitability for the role, please ensure you read the person specification and job description and give examples in your application. Should you be new to the education sector or do not have direct examples related to the person specification, do please provide examples from a similar experience.
Please submit your application as soon as possible as we may invite candidates to interview before the closing date.
SAFEGUARDING All schools within the Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
THE JEFFERYS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP The Jefferys Education Partnership is part of an umbrella Trust called the Hamwic Education Trust. At the Hamwic Education Trust we offer unique opportunities for those individuals that excel in education. We aim to deliver an outstanding education to our pupils and to do so we must employ outstanding people. We offer a training pathway for all employees including teachers, support staff and our middle and senior leaders. Our staff have opportunities to work on cross phase projects and to work in other schools within the Trust in order to gain invaluable experience and enhance their skills.
Arranging a visit to Upper Shirley High School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recrutiment@ushschool.org.
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