Job Description

About this Role

About the School

History

Founded in 1950, Fairstead House is a co-educational day school which occupies a large Victorian House and grounds in the centre of Newmarket. It is within easy reach of Cambridge, Ely, and Bury St Edmunds, with excellent access from the A14, A11 and A142. Pupils are drawn largely from the town and the surrounding villages in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk. The School consists of two sections: the Nursery for children aged twelve months to four years, and the Main School, sub-divided into the Pre-Prep (Reception, Years 1-2) and the Prep (Years 3-6) for pupils aged between four and eleven years. There are currently over 100 children attending the Nursery and approximately a further 100 in the Main School.

Aims and Values

Throughout the School the aims are to provide a family environment in which children are encouraged, challenged, and enthused. Within this friendly, caring, and happy community, with its unique family system and ethos, pupils come to understand and respect the world around them whilst developing their confidence and a lifelong love of learning.? The School aims to excite each child's boundless sense of wonder, to capture their natural enthusiasms and to nurture and celebrate each child's individual talents. The School also aims to encourage and develop self-discipline and to promote caring, polite and well-mannered children, to promote their emotional and social wellbeing and to provide wide-ranging opportunities to foster their leadership and collaboration skills.

The general philosophy of the School is based on Christian values whilst children of all faiths and none are warmly welcomed. The children are encouraged to work as part of the community and to think about others. The School has links with St Mary's Church in Newmarket, where services are held at Christmas and the end of the Academic Year.

About the Department

Fairstead House is a thriving and nurturing independent preparatory school for children aged 12 months to 11 years old. We are seeking an enthusiastic Caretaker to join our team.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

A hard-working, honest, dependable, self-motivated person to act as School Caretaker. You will be required to display a flexible approach to your work and will be required to undertake varying roles
as listed in the job description.

The postholder's duties will involve, but will not necessarily be limited to:

To carry out daily duties in a professional, competent, efficient and friendly manner Carry out general maintenance and repairs and tidying throughout the site, school, nursery and grounds. Maintaining play areas and car parks, including regular safety checks. Porterage of items to buildings and department i.e. parcels, stock/stores and furniture. Ensuring all external waste bins are prepared for scheduled trade collections on a weekly/fortnightly basis. Preparing and setting up social and academic events within the school. This includes erecting gazebos, marking out for races, putting up lights and clearing up at the end of the day. Assist the Fairstead House Parents Association (FHPA) as required for fundraising events. Opening, closing and securing of school gates and buildings. Open and close the school for evening use at times arranged by the Senior Caretaker. Driving children in the school minibuses to sports lessons & fixtures and assisting the Director of Sports and teaching staff with the children. Driving children to and from educational and residential trips, assisting the teaching staff with the children.

Working at Fairstead House

The King's Family of Schools is committed to rewarding our employees who share our passion, vision, and values. The School is committed to investing in our employees with CPD opportunities amongst other things.

The School has its own, generous salary scale. The salary for the role will be commensurate with experience and will recognise the responsibility this post entails.

This is a permanent position.

Hours:

40 hours per week, 8.30am - 5.00pm (30 minute paid lunch break).

Holidays:

33 days' paid holiday per annum, including Bank and Public holidays
(3 days of which must be taken during a whole school shutdown at Christmas).

In addition to the above, staff at Fairstead benefit from:

Generous fee-remission, subject to availability of places and successful admissions procedures. Staff currently enjoy a discretionary discount on fees for children in Reception year onwards, details of which will be provided upon request. Access to Salary Sacrifice Schemes such as: Cyle2Work, Home and Tech Scheme, and Local Gym Membership Limited free on-site car parking School lunch provided when at work over lunch time and tea and coffee throughout the day. Access to an Employee Assistance Programme, available to the employee and their dependents. Discounts at local businesses such as Sushi and Salad (Ely), Griddle Bar and Meathouse, and The Pantry (Newmarket). Responding to, and resetting of, the schools alarms, liaising with the police. Checking and securing the school premises subsequent to out-of-hour intruder alarm activation. Maintenance of the school minibuses, cleaning, and carrying out checks to a prepared schedule. Adherence to company Health & Safety Policy. Carrying out necessary training where required. Any other reasonable duties as directed by the Operations Manager. This post is exempt from The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 as the position involves working within close proximity of young children. The post holder will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

Information for Candidates

How to apply

Applications should be made via My New Term, you can do this by clicking the 'Apply Now' button at the top of the advert. The closing date for applications will be

9am on Friday 9th January 2026

.

Where Applicants have been successful in the shortlisting process they will be contacted for interview. Interviews will take place in the week commencing 12th January 2026.

We reserve the right to invite candidates for interview prior to the closing date and to close vacancies early if we have sufficient suitable applications. Therefore, we encourage interested applicants to submit an application as soon as possible.

If you are selected for interview, you will need to provide proof of identity, birth certificate, documentation confirming your NI number or your right to work in the UK and certification of qualifications.

Shortlisted Applicants should be aware that references will be requested as part of the interview process.

Fairstead House 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 checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.

We appreciate your effort in completing the application and for your interest in working at Fairstead House.

Fairstead House School part of the part of King's Ely family of schools 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 checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.

We reserve the right to invite candidates for interview prior to the closing date and to close vacancies early if we have sufficient suitable applications. Therefore, we encourage interested applicants to submit an application as soon as possible.

If you are selected for interview, you will need to provide proof of identity, birth certificate, documentation confirming your National Insurance Number or your right to work in the United Kingdom and certification of qualifications.

We appreciate your effort in completing the application and for your interest in working for Fairstead House School part of King's Ely family of schools .

Website: Fairstead House School - Fairstead House school

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

Cycle to work scheme Discounted or free food Employee discount Free parking On-site parking Referral programme Store discount
Work Location: In person