Apprentice Caretaker

ASTREA ACADEMY TRUST

Sheffield (S3 9BE)

Closes in 14 days (Thursday 14 August 2025)

Posted on 30 July 2025

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Summary

We are seeking an Apprentice to join the team, working at Astrea Academy Sheffield. You will train and develop the skills to become a caretaker to Astrea Academy Sheffield, supporting the maintenance and upkeep of the school site, ensuring a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for pupils, staff, and visitors. Due to specific operational, legal and safeguarding considerations you must be 18 years old to apply.

Wage

£23,140 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

This role is 52 weeks a year 26 days holiday + bank holidays Local Government Pension Scheme Hours of work are 7:30am to 3:30pm Mon-Thurs 7:30am to 3:00pm on Fridays

Training course
Property maintenance operative (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Thursday 7:30am til 3:30pm Friday 07:30am til 3:00pm

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

Thank you for showing an interest in our Apprentice Caretaker Level 2 advert for Astrea Academy Sheffield Primary. We fully appreciate the importance of ensuring equal access to apprenticeship opportunities; however, due to specific operational, legal and safeguarding considerations, this role must carry an age requirement of 18 or over.  You do not not need to be a school leaver, just aged 18 or over.

The age requirement is due to thehe caretaker role involving numerous practical tasks and responsibilities which, under UK health and safety legislation and safeguarding guidelines, are either prohibited or require intensive supervision for individuals under the age of 18. Specifically, the tasks integral to the caretaker position includes activities subject to statutory age-based restrictions, reflecting their inherent risks.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over at the start of employment. This is due to safeguarding and legal requirements associated with the role. The apprenticeship includes practical tasks that are subject to age-based restrictions under UK health and safety legislation, including activities where young persons are not permitted to work without close supervision or are prohibited entirely due to the level of risk involved. These tasks form a core part of the caretaker’s responsibilities and cannot be legally or safely assigned to individuals under 18. While full training and supervision will be provided, this role is only suitable for adult applicants in line with Trust policies, risk assessments, and insurance obligations.

We acknowledge that apprentices of all ages require structured support, training, and supervision. The requirement to be aged 18 or over is specifically to ensure the apprentice can be legally supervised and developed into competence across the full range of responsibilities listed within the Property Maintenance Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship programme.

The duties of the role is as follows:

Perform routine maintenance tasks and minor repairs across the school site.

Assist with carpentry, plumbing, plastering, brickwork, tiling, painting, and decorating using hand and power tools.

Clear snow off main paths, steps and ramps to facilitate safe access of pupils and staff to premises. Grit as necessary.

Clean and tidy all yards, paths, gullies and drains on a regular basis, including the emptying of all external litterbins, including a daily check for litter and graffiti.

Remove all litter and leaves from Hard/Soft ground areas related to the site.

Support external works including drainage, fencing, and groundworks.

Ensure all work complies with health and safety regulations and building standards.

Record and report maintenance activities using digital tools.

Communicate effectively with staff and contractors to clarify and prioritise repair needs.

Switch on/off intruder alarms, internal and external lights as necessary. Adjust time clocks when necessary.

Make rooms and premises temporarily secure after break-ins or vandalism.

Report incidents to the Operations Manager, Principal, Line Manager and/or Team. Board up if possible. Remove loose or fragmented glass. Tidy up immediate vicinity

Accompany contractor’s on & off site as necessary.

Check operation of fire alarms, extinguisher (visual check) & emergency lights on a regular basis.

Contribute to sustainability efforts by using materials responsibly and minimising waste.

Recognise personal limitations and escalate issues appropriately.

If this is of interest, we look forward to receiving your application.

Where you'll work

Astrea Academy Sheffield
Andover Street
Sheffield
S3 9BE

Training

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

Training provider

GREY SEAL ACADEMY LIMITED

Training course

Property maintenance operative (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Plan the sequence of work required to carry out routine property maintenance operations.
  • Identify and select the appropriate materials and components for property maintenance tasks, ensuring these are compliant with relevant regulatory requirements and manufacturer's specifications.
  • Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and requirements.
  • Comply with risk assessments, and organise the workplace, to safeguard themselves and the property.
  • Comply with key regulatory and legislative requirements, including building regulations.
  • Uses safe working practices when carrying out property maintenance tasks including the use of PPE, signage, barriers, access equipment and ensuring work area is prepared and reinstated.
  • Select, and use work tools and equipment for property maintenance tasks, applying all safeguards, and ensuring the correct functioning of equipment.
  • Safely isolate and secure electrical or electronic supplies prior to performing property maintenance operations.
  • Apply and implement routine emergency system checks, testing and routine maintenance, identifying and reporting faults as required.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to plumbing systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components and clearing blockages.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to external drainage systems, including clearing blockages and replacing components.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to environmental and energy management systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components.
  • Use carpentry and joinery skills to perform repairs to windows, doors and glazing units, and their associated fittings.
  • Perform repairs to plastered surfaces, including surface preparation, fixing and mixing materials and compounds.
  • Use painting and decorating skills to prepare surfaces for decoration, apply paint using brushes and rollers, and complete sealing activities using gun appliances.
  • Perform tiling repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
  • Perform flooring repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
  • Perform planned, responsive or temporary repairs to buildings or their immediate surroundings, attending to minor defects within either masonry, roofing, fencing or railing, groundwork or landscaping.
  • Select and use technical literature and other sources of information and data to address property maintenance problems.
  • Record and report information, using digital and written techniques.
  • Inspect own work, ensuring it is delivered to the given specifications.
  • Comply with environmental regulations and procedures. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
  • Use and adapt communication methods for different situations and when, working with colleagues and stakeholders, using industry terminology as appropriate.
  • Provide customer feedback whilst maintaining customer service.
  • Escalates issues beyond their level of competence and authority.
  • Plan the sequence of work required to carry out routine property maintenance operations.
  • Identify and select the appropriate materials and components for property maintenance tasks, ensuring these are compliant with relevant regulatory requirements and manufacturer's specifications.
  • Comply with statutory health and safety regulations and requirements.
  • Comply with risk assessments, and organise the workplace, to safeguard themselves and the property.
  • Comply with key regulatory and legislative requirements, including building regulations.
  • Uses safe working practices when carrying out property maintenance tasks including the use of PPE, signage, barriers, access equipment and ensuring work area is prepared and reinstated.
  • Select, and use work tools and equipment for property maintenance tasks, applying all safeguards, and ensuring the correct functioning of equipment.
  • Safely isolate and secure electrical or electronic supplies prior to performing property maintenance operations.
  • Apply and implement routine emergency system checks, testing and routine maintenance, identifying and reporting faults as required.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to plumbing systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components and clearing blockages.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to external drainage systems, including clearing blockages and replacing components.
  • Perform maintenance and repairs to environmental and energy management systems, including fault identification, safe isolation of supply, replacing components.
  • Use carpentry and joinery skills to perform repairs to windows, doors and glazing units, and their associated fittings.
  • Perform repairs to plastered surfaces, including surface preparation, fixing and mixing materials and compounds.
  • Use painting and decorating skills to prepare surfaces for decoration, apply paint using brushes and rollers, and complete sealing activities using gun appliances.
  • Perform tiling repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
  • Perform flooring repairs, including setting out, surface preparation and cutting around obstacles.
  • Perform planned, responsive or temporary repairs to buildings or their immediate surroundings, attending to minor defects within either masonry, roofing, fencing or railing, groundwork or landscaping.
  • Select and use technical literature and other sources of information and data to address property maintenance problems.
  • Record and report information, using digital and written techniques.
  • Inspect own work, ensuring it is delivered to the given specifications.
  • Comply with environmental regulations and procedures. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
  • Use and adapt communication methods for different situations and when, working with colleagues and stakeholders, using industry terminology as appropriate.
  • Provide customer feedback whilst maintaining customer service.
  • Escalates issues beyond their level of competence and authority.

Training schedule

The apprenticeship prorgamme is tutor led online and the training provider will attend our school with their mobile training classroom and undertake workplace visits.  You will be supported by a Building Officer and Site Manager.  You will need to be able work independently when required.

More training information

The duration of the apprenticeship is 21 months.  

During your apprenticeship you will gain
understanding in the following topics:

Building legislation and regulation -
adheres to legislation, regulation and
policies

Health and safety - maintains a safe
working environment for all

Information and data - sources and
records information in line with data
protection

Communication - effectively
communicates and develops positive
working relationships, customer service

Environment and sustainability - adheres
to relevant regulations, safe disposal and
minimisation of waste, practices energy
efficiency

Tools, equipment and machinery -
maintains and safely uses maintenance
tools, equipment and machinery

Maintains competency - continuous
professional development and
understands own competencies

Requirements

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative

Other requirements

A full enhanced DBS disclosure is required (Disclosure and Barring Service). Basic level of English and Maths

About this employer

Astrea Academy Sheffield is proud to be judged by Ofsted as a “Good” school in our latest inspection. We are fully committed to an inclusive, comprehensive curriculum for all, underpinned by our five core values: scholarship, curiosity, tenacity, responsibility and respect. We subscribe fully to our trust’s aim: to make sure that every child gets a brilliant education. We are an incredibly diverse, welcoming and inclusive academy, with our scholars comprising 52 ethnicities and 51 first languages. Principal, Primary Phase Mrs Rachel Flemming Principal, Secondary Phase Mr David Boyd

https://astreasheffield.org/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

Access to the Blue Light Card Employee Assistance Programme Bright Exchange Discounts AXA Health Support Access to a Costco Card Cycle to Work scheme Gym discounts And much more

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

To be the school caretaker, and progression to a career within buildings maintenance and facilities.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ASTREA ACADEMY TRUST

Sarah Fedun

recruitment@astreaacademytrust.org

07591386425

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000334150.

Apply now

Closes in 14 days (Thursday 14 August 2025)

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