Gardener Nov 2022

GARDENER

THE SCHOOL Fettes College is a leading HMC co-educational boarding and day school close to the heart of Edinburgh. It has a strong tradition of academic, sporting and cultural excellence underpinned by outstanding pastoral care. Fettes opened its doors in 1870 and became fully co-educational in 1980: it is now an independent school of some 780 students. There are ~590 students in the Senior School (13-18 years) and ~190 students in the Preparatory School (7-13 years). The academic staff in the College consists of the Head and ~90 members of the Common Room. Our Prep School shares the same site and consists of a further ~30 teaching staff.

The school stands on a magnificent site of 100 acres, but still within walking distance of Edinburgh’s city centre. The historic main building holds the Chapel, Library, the English, Classics and History Departments as well as the Medical Centre and two boarding houses. A large purpose-built teaching block (the Spens Building) houses Art, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Economics, Geography, and Music. The Theatre, Science Laboratories and Dining Hall are adjacent. The Preparatory School and seven further boarding houses (including Craigleith, a purpose-built U6th House) are also on the campus. Our sports facilities (including extensive playing fields, two all-weather pitches and a private Health Club) are excellent.

As well as our teaching staff we employ over 220 Operational Staff across many departments, including Estates, Security, Housekeeping, Finance, Admissions and Marketing with a pervading sense of community amongst staff, students and parents alike.

THE AIMS OF THE COLLEGE Fettes College will ensure that our students: • Feel valued and respected as individuals • Receive the highest possible quality of education, engaging them in rigorous and relevant opportunities in a dynamic curriculum that creates lifelong learners • Feel safe, have a sense of personal worth, are thoughtful and considerate of the needs of others, while possessing a willingness to take on responsibility • Are encouraged to stretch and challenge themselves • Develop a sense of self-confidence, integrity, emotional resilience, loyalty, good manners, leadership skills and teamwork • Value a sense of community • Are surrounded by inspirational caring staff • Feel represented and are provided with equal opportunities regardless of gender, identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or religion.

The Vision and Context Fettes College’s vision and strategy (Fettes Moving Forward: A place to live. A place to learn. A place to grow.) are founded on the four key strands of learning, wellbeing, our community and our people, each of which is integral to the ongoing success and growth of the school. There are many parts to all these strands, including the design of a curriculum for the future, further broadening our engagement in and with the local community and, of course, our steadfast belief in promoting a full boarding ethos but crucial to each in some way is the improvement and/or development of facilities to allow the vision to be fully realised.

This is therefore an extraordinarily exciting time for Fettes College as it embarks on the delivery of our Head’s new vision for the school, which includes a significant and ambitious facilities development programme over the next 5 to 7 years through a combination of new debt facilities, internal resources and philanthropy. A recently approved funding facility is now available to support those key projects and it is critical that the financial reporting is accurate and timely to allow the Bursar to oversee and manage that facility.

Finally, Fettes College has just concluded a significant restructure of its constitution, originally established as a body corporate under statute in 1870. The new entity, a company limited by guarantee and also a charity, represents a much more modern approach to governance whilst retaining elements of the original Trust scheme under which it was originally created. This, coupled with the need to fully embed a new accounting system, offers an exciting opportunity for the right individual to make a real impact on the operational efficiency and success of Fettes College.

THE ROLE An opportunity has arisen for an experienced and qualified gardener to join our Grounds team to maintain, manage and improve all house garden areas to a high standard.

The work involves planned and reactive day-to-day maintenance as well as being involved in various projects across the school.

Main Duties and Responsibilities The gardener will report to the Deputy Head of Grounds and perform the following duties: • • • • • • • • • •

Routine maintenance, future planning and enhancement of all garden areas; Carry out procedures required to maintain and improve to a high quality; Soft landscaping works as required; Drive and operate vehicles as required in a safe manner for grounds maintenance operations; Ensure all grounds vehicles and equipment used by self and work group are regularly maintained in accordance with routine operating requirements reporting defects as required; Safe use, storage and calibration of all non-chemical and chemical weedkillers; Work areas are kept clean, tidy and secure always; Establish effective working relationships with managers and colleagues; Work in line with established safe working practices and procedures; Promote the Health and Safety of self and others.

PERSON SPECIFICATION • • • • • • • • •

A full UK driving licence; Relevant qualifications and experience to perform duties competently; PA1, PA6a (preferable but not essential); A good knowledge of hand tools and their usage; Competence with machinery/equipment use and maintenance; including tractors; Personable and approachable with a helpful attitude; Horticultural qualifications / experience; Able to work on your own and in a team environment; Enthusiastic with a “can do” attitude;

• • • • •

Responsible, punctual and organised; Good eye for detail; Willingness to learn; Awareness of relevant Health and Safety legislation; An understanding of good manual handling techniques.

BENEFITS The remuneration package will be competitive and will, to an extent, depend on the experience of the successful candidate. The position is a full time one with 6 weeks paid holiday and the hours of work are 36.25 hours per week (Monday to Thursday 8 am to 4.30 pm with two 15 min breaks and 30 min for lunch, Friday 8 am to 3 pm with one 15 min break and 30 min for lunch (breaks are unpaid)) and 4 hours every third Saturday. You will be required to work in supporting key calendar events.

In addition to being part of a great team you will be entitled to a range of benefits that include: • Free parking within the campus grounds. The campus is easily accessed by car and bus; there is a bus stop located outside the campus serving several routes across the city and to rail stations.

• Membership of Westwoods gym and health club which offers a range of excellent fitness and leisure facilities including a 25m swimming pool.

• Free lunchtime meals during term time, and at other times when catering is provided, and you are on duty.

• Death in service cover.

• Excellent Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

• You will be opted into the Fettes College Non-Teaching Staff Pension Scheme after 3 months service.

APPLICATION PROCESS The closing date is 12 noon on Wednesday, 16th November 2022, with interviews being held within a fortnight of the closing date.

Applications including the details of 2 referees should be made via the Fettes College page on www.TES.com or by email to recruitment@fettes.com. All applicants are asked to provide, as well as a CV, a covering letter setting out how you meet the person specification and what you feel you can bring to this role. The Deputy Head of Grounds, Mr George McNab, is available to have an informal conversation with any potential candidate prior to applying. If this is of interest to you, please contact recruitment@fettes.com to arrange a time to speak with Mr McNab. An offer of employment will be subject to two satisfactory references being obtained from your referees and a clean report being obtained on you from the Disclosure Scotland PVG Scheme in view of the contact you will have with children during your normal duties. If successful, the candidate must by the start of their employment have a Right to Work in the UK and in the job offered.

New staff at Fettes join a friendly and supportive team with a vibrant mixture of age and experience. We value every member of staff’s contribution to the life of the school. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

We are keen to welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds into our staff body. If you would like a friendly conversation with an employee who identifies as an ethnic minority, please feel free to contact Sara Medel Jiménez (s.medeljimenez@fettes.com) who will be happy to share her experience of Fettes.