Staff Vacancies

ESTATES MANAGER

  

HOURS: 6am – 3pm, with an hour lunch break – Monday to Friday

 

SALARY: Negotiable depending on qualifications and experience

 

SCHOOL: Merton Court Preparatory School, 38 Knoll Road Sidcup Kent DA14 4QU

 

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Friday 30th January 2026

 

We are seeking to appointment a dedicated and experienced Estates Manager to join our vibrant school community.

 

Responsibilities

  • Maintenance of school buildings, grounds and facilities, working alongside another estates personnel
  • Co-ordination of routine maintenance and repairs
  • Swimming pool maintenance and water quality monitoring
  • Legionella control measures
  • Liaison with external service providers
  • Emergency response and out-of-hours support when required

 

Skills and Experience

  • Maintenance experience in a similar facilities management role
  • Professional and caring attitude towards children
  • Excellent organisation and communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Valid driving licence
  • Flexibility to respond to urgent maintenance issues
  • Undertaking of school improvements

 

Desirable Skills and Experience

  • Legionella training
  • Good DIY skills
  • Experience working in a school or similar environment

 

What We Offer

  • Comprehensive training, including swimming pool maintenance
  • Competitive salary
  • 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
  • Development opportunities
  • Supportive and friendly working environment

 

An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required

Two references will be requested prior to interview, one from the present or previous employer

A Google check will also be carried out upon shortlisting

Please contact Ms E Cole, HR Assistant, for an Application Form,

Tel. 0208 300 2112 Email: e.cole@mertoncourtprep.co.uk

 

The welfare of our pupils is the school’s paramount concern. As a School we do all that we can to promote the welfare of pupils and to ensure that children are protected from harm both within the School and beyond our direct control. The School recognises that we have a duty to protect children at risk of harm and also those children who need extra help, including children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

 

All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be required to apply for an enhanced DBS certificate. As the post will involve regulated activity with children, it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are included on the children’s barred list held by the DBS. 

 

Amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013, 2020 & 2023) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. You may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure & Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed.

 

 

 

 

 

Our application procedure:

It is an offence to apply for any role here if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

 

The key information needed on our application forms is:

  • Personal details – current / former names, current address, NI number
  • Present employment and reason for leaving
  • Full history since leaving school (education and employment or voluntary work) with explanation of any gaps
  • Qualifications
  • Referees
  • Personal statement to meet person specification
  • Information for applicants about legal basis and process for disclosing relevant criminal record
  • Clear statement that it is an offence to apply for a role in regulated activity if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity
  • Signed declaration by candidate that all information is true

 

After shortlisting

Once shortlisted candidates have been identified we:

  • Seek reference(s)
  • Ask candidates to complete, sign and return a criminal history / suitability self-disclosure prior to interview
  • Advise candidates that online searches will be undertaken
  • Undertake an online search for each candidate
  • Ensure our panel is advised of any relevant information, issues or concerns provided by the candidate, referees or found online so that the information can be discussed with the candidate at interview

 

References

These are an important part of our process of gathering information before interview:

  • We must have a reference from current or most recent employer
  • If not working with children now but you have done so in the past, a reference will be sought from your most recent employer where the role involved working with children
  • A referee should be a senior person with relevant authority – in a school, Head Teacher / Principal should confirm the reference is accurate
  • We will ask whether you are aware of any behaviour that might give rise to concern, including any disciplinary action
  • We will ask specifically about allegations about your behaviour towards children
  • We will seek specific confirmation of the details and responsibilities of previous post given by an applicant
PARENTS