Part-time, 15 hours per week during School term times plus hours in the holidays
Permanent, required as soon as possible
THE SCHOOL
Ipswich School is one of the top 130 schools in the country and is certainly one of the foremost independent schools in East Anglia. We were established prior to 1399, although we moved to our present site in 1852. We have circa 1000 pupils aged between 3 months and 19 years and are fully co-educational.
Our trading arm, Ipswich School Enterprises Ltd (ISE), incorporates all of our revenue generating activities (including lettings, room and facility hire, private functions, sporting events and school holiday camps) which fall outside school fee income.
The School operates a 5 day week during term time (35 weeks per annum), with representative sports played during the week and on Saturdays. During the school holiday periods each year, our cleaning team helps to keep our facilities clean and tidy for staff working throughout the year, and for residential and day lettings of the school site. The team also carry out ‘deep cleans’ during the quieter holiday periods.
THE ROLE
We are seeking motivated and collaborative individuals, with exceptional cleaning standards, to take responsibility for both cleaning in a designated area and line managing a small team of cleaners.
You will be responsible for the practical organisation of cleaning operations in your area, including monitoring and ordering supplies, agreeing tasks within your team, ensuring safety and security, liaising so that appropriate cover is in place for absences, and co-ordinating deep-cleaning projects during school holidays. You will mentor team members, ensure consistent performance and adherence to health and safety, COSHH, and PPE regulations. By fostering a collaborative “whole school” approach and managing cleaning resources efficiently, you will ensure a safe, hygienic, and welcoming environment for all students and staff.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
You should be well organised, efficient, reliable and flexible, and have the ability to work effectively as part of a team. Previous cleaning or similar experience is essential.
The skills and attributes required for this post include:
- Preferably experience of managing a team effectively, providing positive leadership and building strong working relationships.
- Good administration skills with excellent attention to detail
- The ability to plan ahead effectively and make sure the team meet set deadlines
- Flexibility, reliability and punctuality
- A positive ‘can do’ approach to work
- Excellent organisation and communication skills.
WORKING HOURS AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
This is a part-time post with hours to be worked as follows:
- During Ipswich School term time (35 weeks per annum)
Mondays to Sundays according to a rota, for 3 hours per day, 15 hours per week (mornings, afternoons and evenings available according to the area that you are responsible for supervising) to be agreed with the postholder; and
- During Ipswich School holiday periods
150 hours to be worked as required Monday – Sunday during the School’s holiday periods. The weeks to be worked, and the timings of the shifts, will be discussed with the Estates Manager at interview, and these may be subject to some change each year to meet the School’s holiday clearing requirements, and to ensure residential lettings and holiday camps (through Ipswich School Enterprises Ltd (LSE) are serviced effectively during school holiday periods.
There may be some flexibility around start and finish times above, and there may be opportunities for additional hours to be worked when required. Exact working arrangements can be discussed further at the interview.
- The starting salary (for the hours outlined above) will be £10,386 per annum, which includes statutory holiday pay.
- Salaries are paid monthly in arrears by BACS on the last working day of each month throughout the year and are reviewed annually.
- Statutory holiday is to be taken in the School holiday periods and at other times which do not form part of the contracted working hours for this post.
- Staff are able to use the School’s swimming pool and fitness gym (in compliance with appropriate rules and regulations) free of charge.
- You will have access to Smarthealth, the School’s wellbeing app for staff which offers 24/7 GP access and mental health support. A Cycle to Work scheme is also offered.
- After 3 months’ service and/or in line with workplace pension legislation, you will be entitled to join a defined contribution pension scheme with a 10% employer contribution, and will receive 3x death in service life cover.
- After 3+ years’ service, support staff are eligible for staff fee remission.
APPLICATION, CLOSING DATE AND INTERVIEW ARRANGEMENTS
We would encourage you to download an application form and a full job description for this role from our website: www.ipswich.school/vacancies or contact the HR team on 01473 408300 or hr@ipswich.school.
Please advise us of any special requirements you may have if you are called for an interview. If your special requirements mean that you need to submit this application in a different format please contact us.
Completed application forms should be returned by noon on 16 January 2026 to: the Director of Human Resources, Ipswich School, 25 Henley Road, Ipswich, IP1 3SG or email hr@ipswich.school.
Candidates shortlisted for interview will be advised as soon as possible after the closing date and interviews are likely to be held from the week beginning 19 January 2026 onwards. If we have not been in touch with you by the end of January to invite you to an interview then we regret that your application will have been unsuccessful, but we would like to thank you for your interest.
PLEASE NOTE
Ipswich School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the job, including checks with past employers and an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.