Sports Turf Grounds Apprentice

Summary

Join King Edward VI School as a Grounds Apprentice! You'll assist with maintaining sports pitches, gardens, and outdoor areas, learning key skills in groundskeeping.

Wage

£15,392 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course

Sports turf operative (level 2)

Hours

Full-time 37 hours per week Monday – Thursday 7.30am – 4.00pm Friday 7.30am -3.30pm This will include day release at college

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 15 September 2025

Duration

1 year 9 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Are you passionate about the outdoors and keen to build a hands-on career in grounds maintenance? Join King Edward VI School as a Grounds Apprentice and take the first step toward a rewarding future in landscape and sports turf management.

The successful candidate will work alongside experienced grounds staff to maintain and enhance our sports pitches, gardens, and outdoor learning environments.

You'll gain practical experience in the following:

mowing
line marking
planting
machinery use
seasonal grounds care

As part of this unique opportunity, you will have the chance to work across all King Edward’s school sites, giving you a broad, varied experience in different environments and settings. You will learn new skills daily while working towards a recognised apprenticeship qualification, with full support from our dedicated team.

We are looking for someone enthusiastic, and willing to learn. No previous experience is required, just a passion for working outdoors.

Where you'll work

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

Highwood House, Highwood Lane, Romsey, SO51 9ZH
KING EDWARD VI SCHOOL, WILTON ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON, SO15 5UQ
Worthy Park House, Worthy Park, Kings Worthy, Winchester, SO21 1AN

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

SPARSHOLT COLLEGE

Your training course

Sports turf operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Apply the correct rates and range of materials to sports turf surfaces (e.g. grass seed, granular fertilisers, bulky top-dressing, turf and root zone).
Set and mark out the sports turf surface in accordance with the relevant governing body rules (including line marking, the 3-4-5 squaring technique, and marking arcs and semi-circles).
Prepare machinery and equipment to ensure their safe and effective use when carrying out sport turf tasks.
Maintain levels of soil moisture using either irrigation or drainage systems.
Inspect the condition of sports turf, make observations and communicate findings (e.g. PQS, weeds, pests, diseases, thatch content).
Prepare the ground and established grass areas as part of sports turf renovation tasks (e.g. overseeding, turfing).
Carry out cylinder mowing of sports turf surface(s) in accordance with set requirements.
Carry out repair of sports turf surfaces using relevant equipment and machinery (e.g. divot repair, foot hole repair, animal damage).
Prepare and safely operate a tractor and it's attachments.
Select and use relevant communication styles (e.g. verbal, written, digital) to convey information to different audiences (e.g. clients, staff, suppliers).
Adopts a systematic approach to troubleshooting and solving day-to-day resource or equipment issues.
Identify a range of turf grasses (vegetative and seed). (Including, perennial ryegrass smooth stalk meadow grass, annual meadow grass, fescue grass (fine), bent grass).
Carry out maintenance of sports turf surface using relevant equipment and machinery (including scarification, and aeration).
Dispose of waste in a safe and sustainable manner.
Apply the correct rates and range of materials to sports turf surfaces (e.g. grass seed, granular fertilisers, bulky top-dressing, turf and root zone).
Set and mark out the sports turf surface in accordance with the relevant governing body rules (including line marking, the 3-4-5 squaring technique, and marking arcs and semi-circles).
Prepare machinery and equipment to ensure their safe and effective use when carrying out sport turf tasks.
Maintain levels of soil moisture using either irrigation or drainage systems.
Inspect the condition of sports turf, make observations and communicate findings (e.g. PQS, weeds, pests, diseases, thatch content).
Prepare the ground and established grass areas as part of sports turf renovation tasks (e.g. overseeding, turfing).
Carry out cylinder mowing of sports turf surface(s) in accordance with set requirements.
Carry out repair of sports turf surfaces using relevant equipment and machinery (e.g. divot repair, foot hole repair, animal damage).
Prepare and safely operate a tractor and it's attachments.
Select and use relevant communication styles (e.g. verbal, written, digital) to convey information to different audiences (e.g. clients, staff, suppliers).
Adopts a systematic approach to troubleshooting and solving day-to-day resource or equipment issues.
Identify a range of turf grasses (vegetative and seed). (Including, perennial ryegrass smooth stalk meadow grass, annual meadow grass, fescue grass (fine), bent grass).
Carry out maintenance of sports turf surface using relevant equipment and machinery (including scarification, and aeration).
Dispose of waste in a safe and sustainable manner.

Your training plan

Day release to Sparsholt College during term time. Working towards Level 2 Sports turf operative apprenticeship standard.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade C(4) or above)
Maths (grade C(4) or above)

Other in:

License (grade Full)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Team working
Physical fitness
Health & Safety aware
Willingness to learn
Enthusiasm for outdoor working
Can do attitude

Other requirements

Ideally the successful candidate will work across all King Edward’s sites, so they should have a driving license. We are 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 the Disclosure & Barring Service and past employers.

About this company

King Edward’s is a leading independent day school in Hampshire, with a long and distinguished history. It is a fantastic place to work with a warm, supportive and happy atmosphere and highly qualified and dedicated staff. We aim to be a beacon of inclusivity, where every pupil and staff member is empowered to achieve their full potential. King Edward’s is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our Community and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

https://kes.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

King Edward’s offers a range of benefits including a free lunch, free parking, Health Cash Plan, contributory pension scheme, onsite gym and a reduction in school fees.

After this apprenticeship

KES is looking for an apprentice who is keen to continue developing into a Grounds Person role if the opportunity presented itself.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SPARSHOLT COLLEGE

Karen Jackson

karen.jackson@sparsholtservices.ac.uk

01962 797452

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000328257.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Friday 18 July 2025 at 11:59pm)

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