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Gardener

Gloucester

Required: As soon as possible

Line Manager: Grounds Manager

The Role

The King’s School, Gloucester is seeking a Gardener to work with the Estates team to prepare and maintain the School grounds and gardens, ensuring the professional appearance of the School to all visitors, parents, pupils and staff. As a member of the wider Estates team, the Gardener will undertake a range of duties concerned with the School premises to support the day-to-day running of the School.

The successful candidate will be based at our sports pavilion at Archdeacon Meadow.

The School

The King’s School is one of the dozen oldest schools in the country and has a proud heritage dating back to at least 1087, with a re-foundation in 1541. King’s is the Cathedral School in the city of Gloucester, whilst the surrounding county is home to many excellent grammar and state schools, as well as other independent schools. King’s is held in high regard amidst this competitive area; our academic, co-curricular and pastoral attainment is second to none. As a result, the last three ISI reports for King’s have all been classified as ‘excellent’ in every area. Local media brand SoGlos has awarded King’s the title of ‘Independent School of the Year’ or ‘Highly Commended’ in every one of the last five years – a feat unmatched by any other local independent school. Despite the multiple national-scale challenges of recent years, King’s has seen its pupil roll growing steadily and parental satisfaction scoring very highly indeed. With careful investment in the campus and facilities, as well as a continuous focus on improving teaching and learning and developing our outstanding pastoral care, King’s is now seen as a dynamic, forward-thinking and impressive place to study and to work.

Main Duties

• In depth plant-by-plant bed work, including weeding, planting and creation of new areas in the garden;
• Maintain established plants and shrubs within the borders, including pruning, feeding, mulching, deadheading, and training climbers, as well as soil preparation and pest control;
• Maintain hanging baskets and planters;
• Pruning and maintenance of trees, hedging, shrubs and herbaceous plants with in the school as directed by the Grounds Manager;
• Carry out operations on lawns with the use of pedestrian and ride-on equipment to scarify, aerate, top-dress, over-seed, lift and lay turf, feed, irrigate and cut;
• Maintain garden paths, benches and furniture;
• Keep grounds free from litter, debris and weeds;
• Safely use, maintain and clean grounds and horticulture equipment;
• Support school events as and when required;
• Periodically assist with sports pitch operations such as mowing, pitch maintenance, setting out for matches and other non-gardener tasks within the School as directed by the Grounds Manager;
• Work in a safe and tidy manner and ensure that all work activities are conducted in line with risk assessments and relevant regulations so as not to put yourself or others at risk;
• Work within the School’s Safeguarding guidance for staff and follow relevant organisational procedures;
• Any other duties that may be reasonably be assigned by the Facilities Manager, Bursar or Headmaster.

Personal Profile

• Sound plant knowledge and plant husbandry skills;
• Enthusiastic and proactive attitude to cope with the many demands placed on the department;
• Capable of showing initiative, including the ability to think ahead and work flexibly according to the needs of School events;
• Excellent communication skills, able to build relationships and work well within a small team;
• High standards and attention to detail;
• Good physical fitness and a full, clean driving licence;
• Appropriate RHS Level 3 / NVQ Level 2 qualification in Horticulture, or similar qualification / equivalent experience;
• PA1 and PA6 qualifications and chainsaw certification.

Hours of Work

The Gardener will work 37.5 hours per week, from 08:00 to 16:30, Monday to Friday. There may be other occasions when you are required to work, including evenings and weekends, and remuneration or TOIL will be given for any additional hours worked.

Holidays

Holiday entitlement will be 25 days per annum plus Bank Holidays, rising to 30 days per annum plus Bank holidays after 5 years’ service.

Benefits

• A contributory pension through Aviva APTIS;
• Generous fees remission for children at King’s;
• Before / After School Care for children at King’s;
• Access to a Doctor for advice and short consultations;
• Staff Wellbeing Programme;
• Cycle to Work Scheme;
• Lunches;
• Parking.

Applications

Candidates should apply by completing the application form and a letter of application on our website - please click on apply Now.  A CV is not required. Applications should be addressed to The Headmaster via the contact details. For further details please see information to the right of this advert.

The King’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including: references from previous employers, a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level, as well as eligibility to work in the UK (in compliance with UK immigration regulations). Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates’ suitability to work with children.   In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education an online search will be carried out for short listed candidates only – this will consist of a Google and social media search. The search is looking for anything that  calls into question the candidate’s suitability to work with children, or could cause harm to the reputation of The King’s School. Any information discovered will be shared with members of the interviewing panel prior to interview.

Closing date for applications: 12:00 midday on 26th March

Salary: £25,000 - £28,000pa according to skills and experience

Apply Now

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