Head of Grounds

Summary

We are looking for an experienced, knowledgeable and motivated Head of Grounds to lead our grounds team and take responsibility for the day-to-day management, preparation and maintenance of the school’s grounds and outdoor facilities.

Detail

Head of Grounds

· Monday to Friday 8am to 4.30pm

· Saturdays on a rota during term time.

· 5 weeks (25 days) leave, plus Bank Holidays

· Salary range: £35,000 pa to £45,000 pa

· Start date: as soon as possible

Contributory pension scheme and Employee Assistance Programme

Located in Farnham Royal, South Buckinghamshire

Caldicott is one of the country’s leading independent boarding and day preparatory schools for boys. We are a flourishing school of around 250 boys aged 7 to 13, offering a full and varied boarding provision alongside day education. Set in 40 acres of beautiful grounds, the school provides an outstanding environment in which to learn, develop and enjoy a wide range of academic, sporting and extracurricular opportunities.

Sport is a major part of life at Caldicott, with an extensive programme of cricket, rugby, football, athletics and other activities taking place throughout the year. Our grounds include a wide range of sports pitches, playing fields, gardens, landscaped areas, flower beds, trees, hedging, boundaries and other outdoor facilities, all of which require careful preparation and ongoing maintenance to a high standard.

We are now looking for an experienced, knowledgeable and motivated Head of Grounds to lead our grounds team and take responsibility for the day-to-day management, preparation and maintenance of the school’s grounds and outdoor facilities.

The successful candidate will have proven experience in grounds management, ideally within a school, sports, or similar environment, with experience of preparing and maintaining sports pitches for cricket, rugby, football and athletics. You will also have a good practical understanding of the care and maintenance of gardens, flower beds, trees, hedges, fencing, boundaries and other landscaped areas.

You will be responsible for managing and developing the grounds team, organising workloads and ensuring that work is planned and completed efficiently and to the required standard. Good people-management skills, together with the ability to lead, motivate and support a small team, are essential.

You will have:

Proven experience in grounds or sports turf management, with strong knowledge of sports pitch preparation and maintenance.

Experience of maintaining gardens, planted areas, hedges, trees, fencing and site boundaries.

Good organisational and planning skills, with the ability to prioritise both routine and reactive work.

Experience of managing and motivating a team.

A strong understanding of Health & Safety requirements and good working practices.

Experience of managing a departmental budget and controlling expenditure.

Basic IT skills and the ability to use relevant systems for planning, communication and record keeping.

Appropriate professional qualifications, ideally including Grounds Management Association or equivalent qualifications.

A full clean driving licence

This is a full-time, hands-on role and will require early morning working and occasional weekend working, particularly to support the school’s extensive sporting programme and the preparation of grounds and pitches for fixtures and events.

In return, Caldicott offers a friendly and supportive working environment, the opportunity to work across a diverse and attractive 40-acre site, and the chance to play an important role in maintaining and developing the school’s grounds and sporting facilities.

Benefits include 5 weeks’ paid holiday, an Employee Assistance Programme, lunch during term time and uniform.

Caldicott is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check and appropriate safeguarding checks.

Closing Date: 21st October 2026, 1700hrs

For application information visit our website:

http://www.caldicott.com/EmploymentVacancies.aspx

Completed applications should be sent by email with a covering letter to the Director of Finance and Operations, care of: recruitment@caldicott.com

Applications are processed upon receipt.

Documents

• Head of Grounds Person Specification 2026 (002) DOCX Document
• Head of Grounds JD 2026 (002) DOCX Document