Groundsperson apprentice
ST BENEDICT'S SCHOOL EALING
LONDON (W5 2ES)
Closes in 20 days (Monday 16 March 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 23 February 2026
Contents
Summary
We seek a Groundsperson to join our Estates Team, maintaining and securing the Sports Field to the highest standards. This varied outdoor role involves year-round work in all weather, ensuring excellent upkeep, appearance, and full compliance with health and safety requirements.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Advanced sports turf technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday–Friday, plus alternate Saturdays in term time. Rotas cover operating hours, pitch preparation, fixtures, and events. Additional hours may be required, like cricket season and key events. 35 days’ holiday, taken during school holidays.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 23 March 2026
- 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
- Prepare and maintain sports pitches and grounds.
- Operate and look after grounds machinery and vehicles.
- Set up facilities for lessons, training, fixtures, events, and lettings.
- Support site security, including alarms, CCTV, and emergency response.
- Ensure safe use of chemicals and maintain stock levels.
- Keep records (e.g., weather, flooding) and manage lost property.
- Liaise with staff, users, and external authorities.
- Promote health and safety and assist with other duties as required.
Where you'll work
ST. BENEDICTS SCHOOL
54 EATON RISE
LONDON
W5 2ES
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP
Training course
Advanced sports turf technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self, team and others. Implement safe working practices in accordance with statutory legislation and regulations (including carrying out risk assessments).
- Allocate work and supervise staff in accordance with agreed maintenance plans.
- Oversee the preparation of playing surfaces in accordance with relevant governing body rules/regulations.
- Monitor sports turf surfaces and oversee the control of weeds, pests, diseases and disorders to an agreed plan. Develop a basic Integrated Pest Management plan.
- Develop a basic maintenance plan for the facility, for a determined time period (for example, preparation for key competitions or events).
- Apply a range of turfgrass growth and plant protection products (pesticides) in line with the agreed plan.
- Set run times and precipitation rates (irrigation) and drainage fall.
- Apply a range of techniques to gather agronomic and playability data by recording, interpreting and communicating in suitable formats (for example, electronic soil moisture, salinity, pH probes, soil sampler, thermometer, surface firmness testing equipment and playability testing).
- Evaluate sports turf surfaces and make recommendations for improvements based on findings.
- Promote environmental best practice and sustainable working practices.
- Estimate and programme resource requirements to meet the scope of the turfgrass maintenance plan.
- Oversee the preparation, general maintenance and storage of machines for use.
- Apply basic fault finding techniques in order to identify problems with powered machinery and equipment.
- Source information from suppliers/distributors/dealers to inform selection or tender services and or resources.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the maintenance budgets.
- Identify, evaluate, plan and prepare sites for renovation.
- Supervise and monitor the renovation or establishment of a sports turf facility.
- Communicate information to stakeholders utilising formal and informal methods.
- Supervise meetings and brief colleagues.
- Assist with the training and mentoring of staff.
- Use information technology to assist with effective communication and record keeping.
- Manage own Continuing Professional Development, keeping up to date with working practices, environmental developments and advances in technology.
- Oversee and undertake the operation, maintenance and servicing of irrigation or drainage systems, including minor repairs and problem solving issues.
- Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self, team and others. Implement safe working practices in accordance with statutory legislation and regulations (including carrying out risk assessments).
- Allocate work and supervise staff in accordance with agreed maintenance plans.
- Oversee the preparation of playing surfaces in accordance with relevant governing body rules/regulations.
- Monitor sports turf surfaces and oversee the control of weeds, pests, diseases and disorders to an agreed plan. Develop a basic Integrated Pest Management plan.
- Develop a basic maintenance plan for the facility, for a determined time period (for example, preparation for key competitions or events).
- Apply a range of turfgrass growth and plant protection products (pesticides) in line with the agreed plan.
- Set run times and precipitation rates (irrigation) and drainage fall.
- Apply a range of techniques to gather agronomic and playability data by recording, interpreting and communicating in suitable formats (for example, electronic soil moisture, salinity, pH probes, soil sampler, thermometer, surface firmness testing equipment and playability testing).
- Evaluate sports turf surfaces and make recommendations for improvements based on findings.
- Promote environmental best practice and sustainable working practices.
- Estimate and programme resource requirements to meet the scope of the turfgrass maintenance plan.
- Oversee the preparation, general maintenance and storage of machines for use.
- Apply basic fault finding techniques in order to identify problems with powered machinery and equipment.
- Source information from suppliers/distributors/dealers to inform selection or tender services and or resources.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of the maintenance budgets.
- Identify, evaluate, plan and prepare sites for renovation.
- Supervise and monitor the renovation or establishment of a sports turf facility.
- Communicate information to stakeholders utilising formal and informal methods.
- Supervise meetings and brief colleagues.
- Assist with the training and mentoring of staff.
- Use information technology to assist with effective communication and record keeping.
- Manage own Continuing Professional Development, keeping up to date with working practices, environmental developments and advances in technology.
- Oversee and undertake the operation, maintenance and servicing of irrigation or drainage systems, including minor repairs and problem solving issues.
Training schedule
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
- Sports grounds experience
- Safeguarding awareness
- Adaptable
- Willing to learn
Other requirements
- Involves working mainly outdoors in all weathers.
- A valid full driving licence.
About this employer
St Benedict’s is a leading independent co-educational Catholic school situated in leafy Ealing, West London. We offer the distinct advantage of a seamless education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, enabling pupils to begin their first steps in the Nursery at age three and continue through to Year 13 within one supportive, values-driven community. Our five-acre site, along with 14 acres of playing fields and sports facilities, is a rarity for London schools. We are easily accessible via the Elizabeth, Central and District Lines.
Staff enjoy working here. They benefit from an exceptional environment, as well as a supportive ethos where career progression and professional development is actively encouraged.
After this apprenticeship
A permanent role for the right candidate.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
THE WINDSOR FOREST COLLEGES GROUP
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000017223.
Apply now
Closes in 20 days (Monday 16 March 2026 at 11:59pm)