Caretaker - Dorset Studio School

Salary - £17,284 - £17,560 pro rated per annum (25 hours per week)
Fixed Term Contract to 31st August 2026

About the Role

You will take responsibility for the daily security, maintenance and general upkeep of the school buildings and grounds at the Poundbury site and at times the Kingston Maurward site. Working closely with the Site Manager and Senior Leadership Team, you’ll carry out routine repairs, monitor cleaning standards, manage deliveries and help maintain a safe environment for all.

Key Responsibilities

• Opening and securing the school site, including alarm setting and responding to callouts
• Carrying out minor repairs, maintenance and DIY tasks
• Monitoring fire safety equipment and alarm systems
• Supervising cleaning contractors and supporting cleaning when required
• Maintaining outdoor areas and ensuring safe access during severe weather
• Setting up rooms and moving furniture for school events
• Receiving deliveries and managing storage
• Escorting and supporting contractors on site
• Assisting with minibus driving between sites when required (training provided)
• Upholding the school’s commitment to safeguarding young people

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Skilled in basic maintenance and DIY
• Knowledgeable about health and safety procedures
• Able to work independently and use initiative
• Practical, adaptable and solution‑focused
• Friendly, approachable and confident communicating with staff and contractors

Experience in a similar role is beneficial but not essential if you bring the right attitude and practical skills.

Dorset Studio School values the diversity of our workforce and welcomes applications from all sectors of the community.

Dorset Studio School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Governments safer recruitment guidelines.

The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements.

The salary quoted is the annual salary for the position at the time of advert. The salary will be paid in equal monthly instalments and will be if leaving part way through the school year to ensure the correct salary is received for the work completed in an academic year.

This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Dorset Studio School will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

About Dorset Studio School

Dorset Studio School is a distinctive 11–16 mainstream secondary school located in the heart of the Dorset countryside.

We specialise in land-based education, offering students a curriculum that combines academic rigour with practical, real-world learning across agriculture, animal care, environmental management, conservation, countryside skills and related land and environment sectors.

Our approach is designed for young people who learn best when they can connect classroom knowledge with practical application. Alongside GCSE and vocational qualifications, students develop the confidence, resilience, independence and employment skills needed to progress successfully into further education, training and future careers.

Located on the Kingston Maurward Estate, Dorset Studio School benefits from access to a unique land-based setting. This allows students to experience learning beyond the traditional classroom, with practical lessons, industry-linked activity and outdoor study forming an important part of school life.

Our students are expected to engage fully with both academic and practical learning. They may be working outside in all weathers, developing technical skills, applying subject knowledge in real contexts and building an understanding of the industries that shape the land, environment and rural economy.

We work with local farms, environmental organisations, land-based businesses and industry specialists to ensure our curriculum reflects current practice, emerging opportunities and the skills needed by employers.

At Dorset Studio School, education is about more than qualifications. It is about helping students grow into capable, knowledgeable and confident young people who understand the value of hard work, responsibility and real-world experience.

We are proud to offer a specialist secondary education rooted in the land and environment sectors, preparing students for futures in areas such as farming, equine care, veterinary nursing, animal care, rural craft, environmental management, conservation, countryside management and other related careers.