Apprentice Caretaker

We are seeking an Apprentice to join the team, working at Astrea Academy Sheffield. You will train and develop the skills to become a caretaker to Astrea Academy Sheffield, supporting the maintenance and upkeep of the school site, ensuring a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for pupils, staff, and visitors. Due to specific operational, legal and safeguarding considerations you must be 18 years old to apply.

Thank you for showing an interest in our Apprentice Caretaker Level 2 advert for Astrea Academy Sheffield Primary. We fully appreciate the importance of ensuring equal access to apprenticeship opportunities; however, due to specific operational, legal and safeguarding considerations, this role must carry an age requirement of 18 or over.  You do not not need to be a school leaver, just aged 18 or over.

The age requirement is due to thehe caretaker role involving numerous practical tasks and responsibilities which, under UK health and safety legislation and safeguarding guidelines, are either prohibited or require intensive supervision for individuals under the age of 18. Specifically, the tasks integral to the caretaker position includes activities subject to statutory age-based restrictions, reflecting their inherent risks.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over at the start of employment. This is due to safeguarding and legal requirements associated with the role. The apprenticeship includes practical tasks that are subject to age-based restrictions under UK health and safety legislation, including activities where young persons are not permitted to work without close supervision or are prohibited entirely due to the level of risk involved. These tasks form a core part of the caretaker’s responsibilities and cannot be legally or safely assigned to individuals under 18. While full training and supervision will be provided, this role is only suitable for adult applicants in line with Trust policies, risk assessments, and insurance obligations.

We acknowledge that apprentices of all ages require structured support, training, and supervision. The requirement to be aged 18 or over is specifically to ensure the apprentice can be legally supervised and developed into competence across the full range of responsibilities listed within the Property Maintenance Operative Level 2 Apprenticeship programme.

The duties of the role is as follows:

Perform routine maintenance tasks and minor repairs across the school site.

Assist with carpentry, plumbing, plastering, brickwork, tiling, painting, and decorating using hand and power tools.

Clear snow off main paths, steps and ramps to facilitate safe access of pupils and staff to premises. Grit as necessary.

Clean and tidy all yards, paths, gullies and drains on a regular basis, including the emptying of all external litterbins, including a daily check for litter and graffiti.

Remove all litter and leaves from Hard/Soft ground areas related to the site.

Support external works including drainage, fencing, and groundworks.

Ensure all work complies with health and safety regulations and building standards.

Record and report maintenance activities using digital tools.

Communicate effectively with staff and contractors to clarify and prioritise repair needs.

Switch on/off intruder alarms, internal and external lights as necessary. Adjust time clocks when necessary.

Make rooms and premises temporarily secure after break-ins or vandalism.

Report incidents to the Operations Manager, Principal, Line Manager and/or Team. Board up if possible. Remove loose or fragmented glass. Tidy up immediate vicinity

Accompany contractor’s on & off site as necessary.

Check operation of fire alarms, extinguisher (visual check) & emergency lights on a regular basis.

Contribute to sustainability efforts by using materials responsibly and minimising waste.

Recognise personal limitations and escalate issues appropriately.

If this is of interest, we look forward to receiving your application.

The apprenticeship prorgamme is tutor led online and the training provider will attend our school with their mobile training classroom and undertake workplace visits.  You will be supported by a Building Officer and Site Manager.  You will need to be able work independently when required.