Cleaner

Teaching Vacancies; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 9,600 - 9,700; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Job summary

The Harbour School in Portsmouth is seeking a reliable Cleaner for 15 hours per week across 48 weeks per year. The role offers a permanent contract across multiple campuses and requires a calm, friendly approach to keep classrooms and common areas clean and welcoming for children.

We value a positive attitude, willingness to learn, and pride in creating well-presented spaces. Training and ongoing support are provided within a supportive team at The Harbour School and Southern Education Trust.

Qualifications

• No prior experience required; positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• Ability to use cleaning materials safely and follow hygiene standards.
• Reliable, discreet and professional, able to work independently or with others.

Responsibilities

• Keep classrooms, corridors and shared spaces clean and tidy.
• Use cleaning equipment safely and maintain hygiene standards.
• Spot and report hazards to keep the school safe.
• Work flexibly with staff to support the school day.

Skills

Cleaning

Attention to detail

Independent worker

Reliability

Tools

Cleaning equipment

Job description

What skills and experience we’re looking for

Who you are:

• Kind, reliable and the sort of person who finds quiet satisfaction in making things look their best.
• Calm, positive and able to notice the small things – like that mysterious smudge that definitely wasn’t there five minutes ago.
• Discreet, professional and trusted to work independently or with others.
• Flexible, willing to learn and confident using cleaning materials safely.
• No experience needed – just a good attitude, a willingness to learn and a pride in doing a job well.

What the school offers its staff

What we can offer

• A skilled, compassionate, genuinely supportive team who reflect together, and understand the emotional weight of the work.
• Strong induction and ongoing training
• A school that celebrates progress, not just academic data
• A role where the impact is real, human and lasting
• Free access to the Employee Assistance Programme and our Cycle to Work Scheme.
• The opportunity to develop your career in a School, and within the Southern Education Trust – a growing Trust where our mission is “making lives better” and our values are kindness, collaboration and creativity.

Further details about the role

Cleaner – The Harbour School

Salary £25,614 – £26,016 per annum, pro rata to £9,585 – £9,735 per annum for 15 hours per week, 48 weeks per year.

15 hours per week (3 hours a day), some flexibility on working pattern e.g. 5.45am – 8.45am or 3pm to 6pm, or a combination 1.5 hours in the morning and 1.5 hours in the afternoon.

Permanent contract.

Please note: We are looking for a Cleaner at each of our campuses listed below. Please note in your application supporting statement which campus/es you would like to be considered for:

• The Bay – Tipner Lane, PO2 8RA
• The Bridge – Sundridge Close, Cosham, PO6 3LP
• The Lighthouse Campus– Ranelagh Road, PO2 8HA

Do you take pride in creating environments that are calm, clean and welcoming for children to enjoy? At The Harbour School, we recognise that a well-presented corridor or a freshly prepared classroom plays a vital role in supporting an effective school day.

We’re a warm, kind and down-to-earth community where every adult plays a part in helping our children thrive. And yes, that absolutely includes the heroes who keep our schools gleaming.

We’re looking for reliable, friendly and quietly brilliant Cleaner to join our team. If you take pride in creating spaces that feel cared for and ready for learning, we’d love you to bring your cleaning superpowers to our team.

What you’ll do:

• Keep classrooms, corridors and shared spaces clean, tidy and ready for action (glitter may attempt to resist, but you’ll win).
• Use cleaning equipment safely and sensibly, and maintain good hygiene standards with the right tools for each area.
• Spot and report hazards so the school stays safe and running smoothly.
• Work flexibly with staff to help the day go that little bit easier for everyone.

Who you are:

• Kind, reliable and the sort of person who finds quiet satisfaction in making things look their best.
• Calm, positive and able to notice the small things – like that mysterious smudge that definitely wasn’t there five minutes ago.
• Discreet, professional and trusted to work independently or with others.
• Flexible, willing to learn and confident using cleaning materials safely.
• No experience needed – just a good attitude, a willingness to learn and a pride in doing a job well.

About us:

The Harbour School is a multi-site organisation, with campuses at Bay Campus (including Primary at The Bay), The Bridge Campus, The Lighthouse Campus, and the Vista Campus (including The Horizon Service), all based within the city of Portsmouth. We also have an Outreach Support Team and a Hospital tuition service at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.

What we can offer

• A skilled, compassionate, genuinely supportive team who reflect together, and understand the emotional weight of the work.
• Strong induction and ongoing training
• A school that celebrates progress, not just academic data
• A role where the impact is real, human and lasting
• Free access to the Employee Assistance Programme and our Cycle to Work Scheme.
• The opportunity to develop your career in a School, and within the Southern Education Trust – a growing Trust where our mission is “making lives better” and our values are kindness, collaboration and creativity.

Interview date: W/c 9th November 2026

Commitment to safeguarding

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) check is required for this post prior to commencement. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.