Grounds & Garden Apprentice
SEDBERGH SCHOOL
Sedbergh (LA10 5HG)
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 7 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 22 August 2025
Contents
Summary
The gardening team of Sedbergh School provide pupils, staff and visitors to the School with gardens commensurate with the School’s long standing position as a leading Independent School. Tasks will vary on daily determined by the Assistant Grounds Manager or Head Gardener and will include use of hand tools & light machinery to maintain the gardens.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 8:00am-4.30pm, 30 minute unpaid lunch break
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 22 September 2025
- Duration
-
2 years
- 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
- Soil cultivation, digging, forking, mulching, weeding watering, raking, weeding, edging, pruning, seed sowing, bed preparation & planting
- Lawn maintenance & cultivation
- The use and maintenance of hand tools and basic light machinery and plant
- The use of cylinder and rotary movers, strimmers & leaf blowers
- Adjustment of mower height & quality of cut, etc. Oil level checks and checks for damage to any mower.
- To respond to emergencies and assist other departments i.e. Sports, Maintenance as directed by the Grounds Manager, Assistant Grounds Manager, Head Gardener or Bursar (operations)
- To be aware of Heath and Safety requirements noting that all duties must be carried out to comply with current Health and Safety at Work legislation
- To ensure all equipment, machinery & buildings are secure
- To keep the mess rooms & tool sheds clean & tidy
- To be aware of and report any security risks posed within the school
- To undergo training as required
- To keep gardens, thoroughfares and highway footpaths clear and free from litter
- To carry out gritting, salt spreading & snow clearing
- To complete leaf collection
- To assist with chainsaw work
Where you'll work
Sedbergh School
Station Road
Sedbergh
LA10 5HG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE
Training course
Horticulture or landscape construction operative (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- (Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
- (Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
- (Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
- (Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
- (Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
- (Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
- (Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
- (Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
- (Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
- (Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
- (Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
- (Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
- (Core) Install turf for situation.
- (Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
- (Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
- (Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
- (Landscape construction) Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.
- (Landscape construction) Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
- (Landscape construction) Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.
- (Landscape construction) Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
- (Landscape construction) Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
- (Landscape construction) Install drainage in landscaping.
- (Landscape construction) Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).
- (Horticulture) Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil.
- (Horticulture) Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use.
- (Horticulture) Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics.
- (Horticulture) Maintain soft landscapes for example - staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting.
- (Horticulture) Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents).
- (Horticulture) Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs).
- (Horticulture) Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form).
- (Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
- (Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
- (Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
- (Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
- (Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
- (Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
- (Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
- (Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
- (Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
- (Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
- (Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
- (Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
- (Core) Install turf for situation.
- (Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
- (Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
- (Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
Training schedule
Training will be delivered by Myerscough College where
you will work towards the Level 2 Horticulture / Landscape
Construction Operative Apprenticeship qualification.
Delivery is work-based using blended learning technologies
on the employer’s premises. There is an expectation that
20% of the working week will be off the job training, which
is a legal requirement. The apprentice will also need to
attend college courses to complete the required additional
qualifications.
More training information
The following qualifications are also included in the
apprenticeship:
- Level 3 award in emergency first aid at work
- Pesticides: Level 2 Principles of Safe Handling and
Application of Pesticides Guidance OR Level 2 - Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides
The end point assessment will contain 3 components:
Online Knowledge Test:
- Synoptic Practical Assessment
- Professional Discussion
- There will be 2 levels of achievement: Pass & Distinction
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- 2 other subjects (grade 2-9/E-A*)
- English (grade 2-9/E-A*)
- Maths (grade 2-9/E-A*)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Number skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Following instructions
- Flexible
- Personable
- Consientious
- Self-starter
Other requirements
You will be expected to work outdoors in all weather conditions. To ensure your application has the best chance of being considered for the vacancy you must provide information on all qualifications undertaken stating highest grades achieved in every subject, paying particular attention to maths and English. Along with this you need to state any previous work experience
About this employer
Independent School, with two sites, one in Sedbergh and the Preparatory School is based in nearby Casterton
http://www.sedberghschool.org/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
Use of swimming pool and gym outside of pupil useage
After this apprenticeship
- To be able to work as a gardener, either for an organistaion or self employed
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE
Employer Services Team
hradmin@sedberghschool.org
01995 642222
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000338516.
Apply now
Closes in 16 days (Sunday 7 September 2025 at 11:59pm)
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