Job Description

Job Introduction

Westminster School has a 10-acre playing field at Vincent Square, the largest square in Central London, which allows for pupils to engage in sport close to the School. The playing field is comprised of cricket pitches, football pitches, along with tennis courts of both tarmac and artificial grass surfaces. In addition, there is an activity area with apparatus which are used by the pupils who attend Westminster Under School.


The grounds staff at Westminster School are expected to maintain the School's playing surfaces and surrounding areas to the highest of standards, with the supervision of the Head Groundsperson.


Main Responsibilities

Line managed by the Head Groundsperson, the postholder will be expected to do:

Grounds maintenance duties, including grass cutting, hedge trimming, strimming, weeding, tractor operation, ride-on and pedestrian machinery. Initial marking and overmarking of sports areas such as football pitches, cricket squares and athletic tracks. Maintain artificial / synthetic playing areas. Horticultural operations, including ground preparation, planting, turfing, seeding and pruning. Assemble and dismantle sports equipment, ensuring it is maintained to a high standard. Liaise closely with games staff and external parties to ensure the availability of sports pitches and equipment, in the absence of the Head Groundsperson. Arrange the correct provision of sports kits for the various teams, via liaison with the school's Site Services. Ensure the highest standards of works are achieved in a timely and efficient manner. Provide effective materials and machinery management to ensure all equipment is correctly stored and maintained. Ensure the security of equipment, machinery, and buildings. Maintain cleanliness and general tidiness of all internal / external areas. Help clear leaves, snow, ice, moss, and detritus as appropriate, including treatment of surfaces with salt, with the rest of the grounds team. Report any minor works issues through the appropriate channels. Supervise the weekly inspections of the activity play equipment. Assist, when necessary, with the assembly and maintenance of school equipment. Be the main point of contact for all visitors and staff to the grounds, in the absence of the Head Groundsperson. Ensure vehicles and equipment used by the team are regularly maintained in accordance with routine operating requirements and recorded, with any defects reported to the Head Groundsperson in a timely manner. Adhere to Health & Safety requirements, complying with current legislation and the School's Health and Safety Policy. Carry out regular stock checks of consumables and replace where required. Ensure the safe use, storage, calibration and disposal of pesticides and other similar substances. Use the irrigation system, when required, to maintain the grass sports pitches to optimum condition. Promote the health and safety of others, responding to emergencies where possible. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with managers, colleagues, and end users. Collaborate with and, where possible, make recommendations to the Head Groundsperson regarding improved work systems, labour, and machinery utilisation.

This job description is written at a specific time and is subject to change as the demands of Westminster School and the role develops. The role requires adaptability, and employees of the School may be asked to perform tasks and be given responsibilities not detailed in this job description. Any changes to the job description will be discussed with the postholder before being implemented.

Hours of Work

07:30 - 16:00, Monday to Friday and Saturdays on rotation (equating to 13 Saturdays to be worked per year). This is a full-time, permanent role.


Hours worked in addition to those above will be paid at the standard overtime rates. All overtime must be approved in advance by the Head Groundsperson.




The Ideal Candidate

Please refer to the below (attached) person specification.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer. We therefore encourage candidates to apply irrespective of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

Westminster School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.


About The School

Working at Westminster

Westminster School is a busy, purposeful and vibrant place to be and an excellent workplace. The community is made up of 750 pupils, 120 teaching staff and 108 support staff.


Westminster School is friendly and welcoming, and all newcomers quickly become part of the rhythm of life here.


There is a real sense of community here as, being a boarding school many members of staff and pupils live on site and the School's premises are very much treated as a home away from home. School life starts before breakfast and continues way beyond the working day; as a result, there is always a lively atmosphere in and around School and always someone to share a tea and biscuit with in the Common Room. Support staff as much as teaching staff are encouraged to embrace the School's day-to-day activities, whether that be attending an evening concert or a morning service in the Abbey.


At Westminster we will always select the best candidate for every position. We do know, however, that we can only truly choose the best person on every occasion if a broad and diverse pool of candidates see the job advertised and are encouraged to apply.


As such, we continue to work on how our job roles are encountered, and particularly welcome applications from groups who have traditionally been underrepresented here.


Westminster School is for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. We hope you are encouraged to apply.

The School

Westminster School is an independent day and boarding school for boys aged 13-18 and girls aged 16-18, with a long history, a distinctive ethos, and a unique sense of place in the very heart of London. Pupils achieve exceptional examination results and entrance to some of the top universities in the world. It is a busy, passionate and purposeful place where independent and deep thinking is enjoyed, encouraged and respected by all, and where holistic excellence is nurtured and valued.


While the School is one of the foremost centres of academic excellence in the country, its commitment to academic life does not make it a hothouse for passing examinations. Pupils' success at examinations and entry to leading universities is instead a result of their enjoyment of academic enquiry, debate and search for explanation, well beyond published syllabuses. Pupils are intellectually, socially, ethically and politically engaged and our aim is to ensure that their enthusiasm for learning is developed further, allowing them to take full advantage of the opportunities presented to them in the future. At Westminster, pupils have the freedom to lead on projects outside of the classroom and embrace a whole range of extra-curricular activities and interests. A host of pupil-led societies take place every week at the School, often with expert guest speakers, and pupils can choose to study an additional language, play an instrument or two, volunteer in local primary schools, row along the Thames, take part in plays and musicals, and much more.


The School's ethos resides in the enduring values of the liberal tradition reflected in the 1560 Charter of Westminster's Elizabethan foundation, where it is stated that: 'the youth which is growing to manhood, as tender shoots in the wood of our state, shall be liberally instructed in good books to the greater honour of the state'. Whilst academic and cultural attainments are highly prized at Westminster, the School is fully committed also to each pupil's spiritual, moral, emotional and physical development and wellbeing - with a particular emphasis on drawing out individual talent wherever it lies - and to prepare young people for fulfilled private and public lives.


From September 2028, the School will welcome both girls and boys at 13+ entry, offering a Westminster education to all. By 2026, Westminster Under School will have opened its brand new pre-prep for girls and boys at 4+ and girls will have joined boys in Years 3 and 7, at the 7+ and 11+ entry points. By 2030, all year groups at Westminster School and Westminster Under School, from ages four to 18, will be fully co-educational, reflecting the School's dedication to inclusivity and excellence.


Package Description

Required for:

October 2025

Location:

Vincent Square, Westminster School

Contract:

Permanent, full time

Salary:

35,000 per annum

Benefits include:

Free school meals when on-site 25 days paid holiday, as well as bank holidays and a discretionary Christmas shutdown period Generous School pension scheme and Free access to the School's leisure facilities, including a fitness gym (restricted hours). Cycle to Work Scheme and season ticket loans following completion of our standard probation period Private medical insurance (opt in).

The deadline for applications is 09:00 on Wednesday 24th September 2025. Interviews will take place in-person shortly after the closing date.