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Horticulture Grounds Maintenance Apprentice CHURCHER'S COLLEGE, PETERSFIELD

An excellent opportunity to work with an established grounds team providing high quality grounds maintenance and sports pitch care on the combined schools site 40+ acres. Based in the South Downs National Park. You will have the opportunity to learn all that is required to manage the playing fields, formal gardens and natural areas. Your duties will include maintaining, managing and improving all sports pitches, grounds, all weather pitches, gardens, paths and drives etc.

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Closing date: 07 Jan 2023

Apprenticeship summary

  • Annual wage

    £13,520.00

  • Working week

    40 hours per week 8am - 5pm with one hour lunch break Monday - Friday

    Total hours per week: 40.0

  • Expected duration

    27 Months

  • Possible start date

    17 Apr 2023

  • Date posted

    7 days ago

  • Apprenticeship level

    Intermediate
    Level 2 (GCSE)

  • Reference number

    VAC1000109633

  • Positions

    1 available

What will the apprentice be doing?

JOB PURPOSE:

To maintain and improve the grounds and gardens to the highest possible standards which include all sports pitches, cricket squares, games playing surfaces, all weather surfaces, formal garden areas, paths and drives. Responsible to the Grounds Manager on a day-to-day basis, and to ensure the most effective and efficient use of time and resources. The role encompasses the main College site, Penn’s Place, staff housing, and the Junior School site as required.

MAIN DUTIES:

  • To liaise on a daily basis with the Grounds Manager/Estates Bursar regarding maintenance work to be carried out
  • To maintain, manage and improve all sports pitches, grounds, all weather pitches, gardens, paths and drives
  • To monitor the condition of all the grounds and facilities across all College sites, report any defects and take appropriate action to put in good order
  • To log, update and report works relating to the Grounds, using the College computerised Maintenance Logging system
  • To ensure the maintenance of the College and Junior School grounds is maintained to the highest standards
  • To clean and maintain the workshop and facility areas, based on the team rota system 
  • Play active role in the team litter rota, to ensure bins are regularly empty and site remains litter free
  • To display a friendly, flexible, helpful and courteous attitude to colleagues, students, tenants, parents and the general public
  • To be prepared to work overtime when required, subject to advanced notification
  • To perform all duties in a safe and proper manner and complying with the College Health and Safety policies in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Order 1978, subsequent and other relevant legislation, and Risk Assessments to ensure safe and proper working environment for self, all College employees, outside contractors and members of the public. This includes the use/wearing of personal protective equipment
  • To attend regular team meetings, briefing sessions for staff and any whole staff meetings required
  • To attend training and supervision as deemed necessary and accept all highlighted responsibilities
  • To attend regular one to one’s and annual Individual Performance Planning meetings with The Estates Bursar
  • To perform duties commensurate with the responsibilities of the role and ad hoc projects as required from time to time
  • To follow the guidance set in the ‘Department and Staff Expectations’ document issued
  • To promote the College and Junior School in a positive and professional manner
  • To provide cover for other members of staff during holidays, sickness or other absences and in emergencies
  • To attend work for certain College events that occur during the week and at weekends, such as Open Day, Summer Concert and other school calendar events
  • To keep buildings, sheds and workshops in a clean and tidy condition
  • To keep all Grounds equipment in a clean and maintained manner, on a daily basis
  • To ensure all Grounds equipment is serviced as per the maintenance schedule for each specific piece of equipment
  • To maintain all hand tools, hand power tools and associated equipment used by the Grounds team
  • To carry out other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time
  • To work across any of the College sites as required from time to time

What training will the apprentice take and what qualification will the apprentice get at the end?

  • Horticulture and Landscape Operative Level 2
  • Emergency First Aid
  • PA1 PA6

Apprentices without Level 2 English and maths much achieve Level 1 and take the test for Level 2 before taking the end-point assessment
Apprentices will need to achieve the EPA's to achieve their apprenticeship:

  • On-line knowledge assessment - a 60-minute online test containing 40 multiple choice questions
  • Practical assessment EPA - a range of 3 practical activities taking no more than six hours undertaken in controlled conditions with responses to verbal questioning from the Independent End Point Assessor. The apprentice will undertake two tasks from the core tasks and one task from the optional route - Horticulture or Landscaping
  • Professional Discussion EPA . An hour-long professional discussion under controlled conditions between the EPA and the apprentice to allow the apprentice to demonstrate their knowledge

You will be required to attend Sparsholt College on a day release basis to learn about horticulture, to include:

  • Health & Safety
  • Use and maintain non-powered and handheld powered equipment
  • Use and maintain pedestrian controlled equipment
  • Environment protection
  • Plant identification and nomenclature, Latin and common
  • Vegetation control
  • Soil science and cultivation
  • Plant establish & maintenance
  • Plant grown
  • Plant health
  • Establish & maintain amenity areas
  • Survey and mark out sites for landscaping features
  • Construct hard landscape features
  • Maintain hard landscape features

What is the expected career progression after this apprenticeship?

Potential for full-time role and career progression.

Requirements and prospects

Desired skills and personal qualities

Communication skills, IT skills, Logical, Team working, Initiative, Physical fitness

Qualifications

GCSE or equivalent Maths and English (Grade C/4 or above) Essential

Things to consider

• DBS check and references will be required to work at the school • You will be expected to work outside in a weathers • There are good public transport links We are flexible on start date and are happy for the right individual to start employment in June with a view to starting the apprenticeship in September, or wait till September if an earlier start is not convenient.

About the employer

Churcher's College is an Independent School with 300 year history, situation on two sites, Senior School in Petersfield and Junior School in Hook. Aiming to providing an excellent education and broad opportunities to over 1000 children from 3 - 18 years old.

Employer

CHURCHER'S COLLEGE, PETERSFIELD

Address

CHURCHERS COLLEGE

RAMSHILL

PETERSFIELD

GU31 4AS

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Training

Training provider

SPARSHOLT COLLEGE

Contact

Karen Jackson

karen.jackson@sparsholservices.ac.uk

01962 797452

Apprenticeship standard

Horticulture or landscape construction operative

Level 2 (GCSE)

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