School Estates Operative
Job description
Original text imported from Reed
This is a hands-on role requiring a proactive individual who can take help to take responsibility for the upkeep, safety, and security of the school premises.
The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the school environment is safe, clean, and well-maintained at all times.
Please send your CV ASAP or call Holly at Aspire People for more information. This role is required ASAP until at least the end of August.
Key Responsibilities:
-Opening and closing the school site daily, including securing all buildings
-Carrying out general maintenance, repairs, and DIY tasks
-Monitoring and maintaining health & safety standards across the site
-Conducting regular site checks and risk assessments
-Ensuring cleanliness of external areas, including litter picking and basic grounds maintenance
-Setting up rooms and facilities for school events and activities
-Responding promptly to maintenance issues and emergencies
Requirements:
-Proven experience working as a school care taker / estates operative or in a similar role
-Strong practical skills in maintenance and basic repairs
-Good understanding of health & safety regulations
-Ability to work independently and manage workload effectively
-Reliable, trustworthy, and committed to maintaining high standards
-Flexible approach to working hours when required
Important Information:
An Enhanced DBS on the Update Service is required, or willingness to obtain one at your own cost
#hollyaspirepeople
Aspire People Limited provides services as an Education Agency and an Education Employment Business. Aspire People is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and expects every candidate to share this commitment. Placements are subject, to appropriate Child Protection screening, including checks with former employers and the Disclosure and Barring Checks.
Key skills
AI-extracted from the job advert
Application advice
5 AI-generated recommendations to maximise your chances.
🔧 Highlight your hands-on maintenance and DIY repair experience prominently as the role requires strong practical skills for general upkeep
🛡️ Emphasise your Enhanced DBS certification and safeguarding experience as this is essential for working in school environments
⚡ Showcase your ability to respond promptly to emergencies and maintenance issues as the role requires immediate problem-solving
📋 Detail your experience with health and safety regulations and risk assessments as these are core daily responsibilities
🏫 Mention any previous school caretaker or estates operative experience as this is specifically preferred by the employer
Suggested CV bullets
3 bullets our AI drafted for this specific advert, mirroring its ATS keywords.
Add these 3 bullets under your most recent experience:
- •Managed daily opening and closing procedures for 3 school buildings, maintaining 100% security compliance across 15-acre site
- •Conducted weekly risk assessments and health & safety inspections, identifying and resolving 12 potential hazards per month
- •Responded to emergency maintenance calls within 30 minutes, completing 85% of repairs same-day using DIY and basic trade skills
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Letter preview — tailored to Aspire People Limited
Dear Hiring Manager,
I am writing to apply for the School Estates Operative position at Aspire People Limited in Sale. With proven experience in school caretaking and strong practical maintenance skills, I am well-equipped to ensure the safety, security and upkeep of your school premises. My Enhanced DBS certification and thorough understanding of health and safety regulations make me ideally suited for this education sector role.
My background in facilities management has equipped me with the hands-on skills needed to excel in this position, from conducting daily security checks to responding promptly to maintenance emergencies.
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Interview questions
10 questions generated from this advert.
Technical
- ›How would you conduct a daily site security check for a school premises?
- ›What health and safety regulations are most important when maintaining school grounds?
- ›Describe your approach to carrying out basic electrical or plumbing repairs
- ›How do you prioritise maintenance tasks when multiple issues arise simultaneously?
- ›What steps would you take to prepare facilities for a school event?
Behavioural
- ›Tell me about a time you had to respond to an emergency maintenance situation
- ›Describe a situation where you had to work independently to solve a complex problem
- ›How do you ensure you maintain high standards when working without direct supervision?
- ›Tell me about a time you had to be flexible with your working hours to meet urgent needs
- ›Describe how you would handle discovering a potential safety hazard on school premises
STAR answer examples
Model answers using the Situation-Task-Action-Result framework. Adapt to your own experience.
Tell me about a time you had to respond to an emergency maintenance situation
Describe how you would handle discovering a potential safety hazard on school premises