Job Description
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(Y)Our Opportunity
We are looking for a dedicated Assistant Caretaker who brings energy, purpose, and pride to our team at Hylands School, someone ready to ensure a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for our pupils every single day.
At Hylands School, we view a well-maintained, safe, and secure environment as the foundation of our students' ability to learn and thrive. As our Assistant Caretaker, you are granted the trust to take ownership of site operations, the practical resources to solve problems, and the mandate to play a pivotal role in our school community. You will work closely with the Facilities Manager, Headteacher, and senior leaders to maintain the highest standards of estate management and safety.
Whether you have years of experience in premises management, a background in trade and maintenance skills, or proven practical DIY capabilities, your talent will be valued here. In our community, support staff are vital partners in driving standards, embedding our Hylands Habits, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Resilient and foster a strong sense of belonging.
Together, let's maintain an outstanding environment where every child gets their chance to shine.
The ideal Assistant Caretaker will be someone who:
Demonstrates hands-on capability in general maintenance and practical DIY tasks.
Acts as a responsible key holder, executing daily security procedures, opening/closing the site, and responding to emergency calls or alarms.
Carries out routine cleaning, hygiene, and grounds maintenance to ensure a clean, safe, and litter-free site.
Operates heating and hot water systems, performing routine plant safety checks and monitoring equipment.
Manages porterage, delivery distribution, moving furniture, and driving the school minibus (where qualified).
Displays a strong understanding of Health & Safety regulations, First Aid, and building safety systems.
Is self-motivated, proactive, and capable of working independently while collaborating constructively as a supportive team member.
Communicates effectively with colleagues, students, visitors, and external contractors in a positive, professional manner aligned with the school's ethos.
Great Support Starts with a Great Community: Your Benefits
We believe that in education, people matter most. Investing in your wellbeing and professional growth isn't just a perk, it's our priority. As part of Kemnal Academies Trust, you will receive a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both your career and your lifestyle:
Career Development & Leadership
* Exceptional development: Access high-quality development and training opportunities tailored to your role.
* Career Pathways: Receive encouragement and support to grow your skills, with clear routes toward Higher Level Teaching Assistant status (HLTA) or qualified teacher training (QTS) if desired.
Health, Mindfulness & Wellbeing
* 24/7 Confidential Counselling: Free, round-the-clock support for you and your eligible immediate family members.
*Mindfulness Support: Enjoy a free, full subscription to the Headspace app, plus access to an expert-led 8-week mindfulness programme.
Family & Work-Life Balance
* Family-Friendly Policies: Dedicated leave policies and flexible working options to support you through every stage of life.
* Supportive Environment: Work within a forward-thinking culture that actively champions your work-life balance.
Financial Wellbeing & Savings
* Blue Light Card Access: Eligible to apply for the UK's premier discount scheme, unlocking savings across shopping, dining, travel, and entertainment.
* Cycle to Work Scheme: Spread the cost of a new bike and equipment for a healthier, more affordable commute.
* Generous Pension: Secure your long-term future with substantial employer pension contributions.
About Hylands School
Hylands School has a long-standing history of serving the community of Writtle and the wider Chelmsford area, benefiting from excellent transport links via the A12 and A414. As a smaller school, we offer a close-knit community where every student feels known. Our vision is to empower every student to achieve academic excellence and personal growth, guided by our core Hylands Habits: Be Responsible, Be Respectful, and Be Resilient.
About Kemnal Academies Trust
Kemnal Academies Trust is a group of schools with ambition for every child and pride in the communities we serve. We provide a broad and rich education that opens doors. Working together, we give every pupil the support and the skills they need to build a life of purpose, agency, and contribution.
Our ultimate aim is to ensure we drive educational standards through the provision of outstanding teaching, leadership, and learning for all. Our leaders focus on pupil progress and attainment, regularly sharing knowledge, insight, and experience across our family of schools. We believe passionately in the power of collaborative working and actively promote school-to-school support because when we work together, every child benefits.
A Culture of Belonging: Equity, Inclusion & Diversity
Belonging is of utmost importance to us. We strive to create an atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed and respected, where expectations are high, and genuine support is provided. Here, colleagues are trusted to lead, contribute, and grow in alignment with our mission. At Kemnal Academies Trust, we are committed to Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging. We embrace and celebrate differences, value individual experiences, aspirations, and achievements, and continuously learn how to grow better together. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, as we know diversity strengthens our community and drives us forward.
Flexible Working - Kemnal Academies Trust recognises the value of enabling our employees to develop their career while balancing their commitments and interests outside of work. We actively promote flexible working practices and opportunities to support a positive work-life balance.
Application Details & Next Steps - Interview dates for this role are listed in the key vacancy details above; please ensure you hold this date in your diary when applying. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications, so early submission is encouraged.
Be Who You Are: Interview & Workplace Adjustments - Should you be selected and invited to interview, please let us know if you require us to adapt the recruitment process to enable you to participate fully. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments within both the recruitment process and the workplace to support every candidate.
Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment - Kemnal Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all colleagues to share this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to statutory safer recruitment checks prior to appointment. These include, but are not limited to, an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List check, online searches (in line with KCSIE guidelines), identity and right-to-work verification, reference checks, relevant qualification/prohibition checks, and overseas checks where applicable. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended), certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected' and do not need to be disclosed.
Information about the School
Thank you for your interest in Hylands School. We are an ambitious and inclusive secondary academy located in Writtle, Chelmsford. As a proud member of The Kemnal Academies Trust, we belong to a wider family of 45 schools, a partnership that enables us to retain our unique local identity while drawing upon a vast network of expertise and support. This collaboration ensures that our staff are never isolated, benefiting from the guidance of trust lead practitioners and a shared commitment to excellence across the trust.
We are committed to the belief that a child’s background or starting point should never define their destination. This vision is underpinned by our Hylands Habits, which see our students strive to be responsible, respectful, and resilient in every aspect of their life. These habits are the guiding principles that shape our daily interactions and our high expectations for every member of our community, ensuring that Hylands is a place where every individual is valued and supported to reach their full potential.
The school is currently on a significant journey of transformation and sustained improvement. Recent monitoring inspections conducted by Ofsted in October 2024 and July 2025 have recognised this positive momentum, noting that leaders’ actions continue to improve the school and that there have been discernible further improvements in how pupils engage with their learning and how well they behave. We have consciously avoided short term solutions in favour of building robust, evidence based systems that ensure our staff have the knowledge and support required to be exceptional practitioners. This trajectory of improvement makes Hylands an exciting and rewarding place to work if you are looking to make a genuine impact.
At the heart of our school is a research led approach to teaching and learning. Our instructional framework is based on a direct instruction model, valuing our teachers as subject experts who can explain complex concepts with clarity and precision. We invest heavily in the professional growth of our staff, providing bespoke training every Tuesday afternoon and hosting regular pedagogy breakfasts where colleagues collaborate to discuss educational research and refine their craft. We believe that all teachers can improve, and we provide the time and safety net required for staff to take risks and develop their practice.
Our curriculum is designed to be broad and inclusive, providing students with a legacy of knowledge that prepares them for the challenges of the modern world. We place a particular emphasis on reading, oracy, and the creative arts, recognising their power to build confidence and emotional intelligence. By fostering a calm and purposeful environment where teachers can teach and pupils can learn, we ensure Hylands' place as a cornerstone of the local community. We look forward to receiving your application and potentially welcoming an exceptional candidate to join our forward facing team.
Christopher White, Headteacher