Caretaker - Secondary School - Leicester

Start Date: As soon as possible
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Paid to scale

A secondary school in Leicester is looking for a reliable and practical Caretaker to join its premises team on a full-time, permanent basis.

This is a varied role suited to someone who enjoys practical work and takes genuine pride in the condition of the environment around them. You will help ensure the school's buildings, grounds and facilities remain safe, secure and suitable for students and staff throughout the school year.

The successful candidate should be comfortable working independently, responding to maintenance issues and communicating with school staff and external contractors.

School Information

The school is an established secondary school in Leicester with a large student and staff community. It provides a busy environment where classrooms, sports facilities, communal areas and external spaces are used throughout the school day.

The Caretaker will be an important part of ensuring that the school site operates effectively. You will work closely with school leaders and administrative colleagues to identify and resolve premises issues.

The role requires a practical mindset. Some days may involve completing routine checks and maintenance, while others may require you to respond to an urgent problem or prepare the site for a school event.

The school values staff who are reliable and take ownership of their responsibilities.

Caretaker - Key Responsibilities

Your duties will include:

• Carrying out regular checks of school buildings and grounds.

• Ensuring classrooms and communal areas are safe and ready for use.

• Identifying maintenance issues.

• Reporting defects and hazards promptly.

• Completing minor repairs within your competence.

• Checking doors, windows and fixtures.

• Monitoring the condition of furniture and fittings.

• Supporting basic grounds maintenance.

• Checking external pathways and access areas.

• Assisting with deliveries.

• Moving furniture and equipment.

• Preparing rooms for meetings and school events.

• Supporting examination room setups.

• Assisting with assemblies and activities.

• Supporting the opening and closing of the school site.

• Managing keys and access appropriately.

• Checking the security of buildings.

• Supporting alarm and security procedures.

• Liaising with contractors.

• Providing access to authorised contractors.

• Supporting scheduled maintenance visits.

• Maintaining basic premises records.

• Supporting fire safety procedures.

• Reporting health and safety concerns.

• Responding to urgent facilities issues.

• Keeping storage areas organised.

• Ensuring equipment is stored safely.

• Supporting the wider premises team as required.

The successful candidate will need to be comfortable changing priorities when necessary. A maintenance issue that needs immediate attention may take priority over a routine task, and you should be able to make sensible decisions about what needs dealing with first.

Practical Maintenance

The school is looking for someone with practical ability and a willingness to undertake general maintenance tasks.

You may be required to assemble furniture, carry out minor repairs, replace basic fittings or support the upkeep of school facilities.

You must understand your own level of competence. Specialist electrical, gas, plumbing or other regulated work must be referred to an appropriately qualified professional.

A good Caretaker will also notice small issues before they become major problems. You should be comfortable reporting damaged equipment, leaks, broken fixtures, security concerns or other potential issues.

Site Security

Security is another important part of the position.

You may assist with opening and closing the school, checking doors and windows and ensuring access points are appropriately secured.

You will also need to follow procedures when contractors or visitors arrive on site.

Health and Safety

The school expects the Caretaker to contribute actively to maintaining a safe environment.

You will need to identify hazards, report concerns and follow appropriate procedures. You may also assist with fire safety checks, emergency arrangements and other routine site responsibilities.

A sensible and responsible approach is essential.

Caretaker - Experience and Requirements

The ideal candidate will have previous experience in caretaking, facilities, premises management, maintenance or a similar role.

You should have:

• Previous experience in a practical premises-related role.

• Good general maintenance skills.

• Understanding of health and safety.

• Ability to identify and report hazards.

• Good organisation.

• Ability to work independently.

• Strong reliability and punctuality.

• Good communication skills.

• Ability to work professionally with contractors.

• Basic IT skills.

• Good record keeping.

• Ability to prioritise tasks.

• Calm approach to unexpected problems.

• Pride in maintaining a safe and presentable environment.

• Commitment to safeguarding.

Relevant qualifications in maintenance, facilities, construction, health and safety or a related trade would be beneficial.

Safeguarding

The Caretaker will work within a secondary school environment and will have regular contact with students, staff, visitors and contractors.

You will be expected to maintain professional boundaries and follow all safeguarding and site security procedures.

Any concern relating to student welfare, safety or the security of the premises must be reported through the correct channels.

Application

To apply for this Caretaker position in Leicester, please send your CV as soon as possible. The school is keen to appoint a practical and dependable candidate who can start ASAP.