Groundsperson

Bring your grounds expertise to a varied Monday to Friday role, caring for beautiful school grounds and preparing pitches pupils are proud to play on.

Groundsperson / Estates Grounds Technician

Location: Maidenhead, Berkshire
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 52 weeks per year
Contract: Permanent, full time

Start: October 2026

Are you an experienced groundsperson, greenkeeper or grounds maintenance professional looking for more variety, responsibility and the chance to see the difference your work makes every day?

Join Claires Court and take pride in creating safe, attractive and professionally maintained grounds where pupils can learn, play and compete. From preparing sports pitches for fixtures to caring for landscaped areas throughout the seasons, this is a rewarding outdoor role where your expertise, initiative and attention to detail will be genuinely valued.

About the Role

As Estates Grounds Technician, you will help maintain the school’s gardens, grounds and sports facilities across its local sites. Working independently and alongside the wider Estates team, you will ensure every external area is safe, compliant, ready for use and presented to an excellent standard.

No two weeks will look quite the same. You could be preparing natural turf or synthetic surfaces for an important fixture, completing seasonal horticultural work, maintaining machinery or identifying an improvement that makes the estate work and look better.

This is an opportunity to take real ownership of your work in a stable Monday to Friday position, while contributing to an environment used and enjoyed by pupils, families, staff and visitors every day.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain natural turf and synthetic sports surfaces
• Complete mowing, scarifying, aerating, fertilising, rolling and accurate line marking
• Maintain gardens, landscaped areas, woodland and external thoroughfares
• Carry out seasonal planting, pruning, hedge cutting and weed control
• Identify and suggest practical improvements to the grounds and landscape
• Safely operate, inspect and maintain mowers, tractors, strimmers, hedge cutters and other equipment
• Support deliveries, school events and winter weather preparations when required
• Complete machinery records, safety checks, risk assessments and COSHH documentation

About You

You will have proven experience in amenity grounds maintenance, commercial gardening or greenkeeping, supported by practical knowledge of sports turf, pitch marking and horticulture. You will also be confident using and maintaining petrol powered and mechanical grounds machinery safely.

A full, clean UK driving licence is essential, as the position involves collecting materials and travelling between local school sites.

An NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Sports Turf Management, Amenity Horticulture or a similar qualification would be advantageous. PA1 and PA6 pesticide certificates and qualifications for operating tractors, chainsaws or woodchippers are also desirable, but not essential.

Most importantly, you will be dependable, organised and comfortable undertaking physical work outdoors throughout the seasons. You will bring a proactive, can do approach, take pride in high standards and work confidently both independently and as part of a supportive team.

Why Join Claires Court?

Claires Court is an independent school for children aged 2 to 18, guided by the values of responsibility, respect, loyalty and integrity. You will join a positive working environment where staff are valued for their contribution and supported to develop.

Benefits include:

• A good pension scheme
• Free parking at each school site
• Uniform and equipment provided
• Meals and refreshments during the school day when the kitchen is operating
• Death in service cover and personal accident insurance
• Cycle to work scheme
• School fee concession, subject to qualifying conditions
• Regular professional development and training opportunities

Closing date: 8am on 31 August 2026

What Happens After You Apply?

Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received. A member of the recruitment team will contact suitable candidates to discuss their experience, suitability and interest in the position.

Candidates who meet the initial requirements will be sent the Claires Court application pack to complete. The completed application form must then be returned directly to the school for formal consideration. Please note that a CV cannot be accepted in place of the school’s application form.

Claires Court will review all completed applications and invite shortlisted candidates to attend an interview.

Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position. No agencies, please.

Applications will be considered as they are received. Claires Court reserves the right to interview and appoint before the closing date, so early applications are encouraged.

Claires Court is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must be prepared to undergo appropriate child protection screening, including checks with previous employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.