Cleaner - 16 hours per week (Maternity Cover)

Shorefields; Colchester; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 17,000; Part time

Job summary

Philip Morant School and College in Colchester is seeking a reliable Cleaner for 16 hours per week as a maternity cover until June 2027. The role runs Monday to Friday from 3:30pm to 6:42pm, across term time with additional weeks during school closures.

You will maintain hygiene, safety and cleanliness throughout the site, including basic safety compliance and equipment handling.

Qualifications

• Ability to use general cleaning products safely and effectively.
• Clear verbal information exchange with colleagues and users.
• Ability to follow written and spoken instructions accurately.
• Basic understanding of health and safety practices in school environments.

Responsibilities

• Clean all designated areas of the school to maintain high hygiene standards.
• Assist with locking and unlocking school buildings and rooms.
• Replace towels, renew toilet rolls and bin liners as needed.
• Support snow/ice clearing in emergencies to keep access safe.
• Attend training on cleaning equipment and safe chemical use.

Skills

Cleaning products

Clear communication

Follow instructions

Health & Safety

Job description

Cleaner - 16 hours per week (Maternity Cover)

Position Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Part-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 22/11/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: TBC

Join a Community Where Everyone Feels They Belong at Philip Morant School and College

Are you a passionate individual who holds high expectations and aims for excellence? Are you ready to use your skills to contribute to a community where everyone feels they belong?

At Philip Morant, we encourage everyone - students and staff - to aim for the best they can achieve, but always to do so with kindness. Our commitment to providing the very best care, guidance, and support for our young people is made possible by the contributions of a skilled and dedicated team.

We are seeking a reliable, thorough, and conscientious Cleaner to join our team on a fixed-term basis to provide maternity cover until June 2027. You will play a key role in maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene, and safety across our site.

• The successful candidate will work 16 hours per week (3:30pm until 6:42pm, Monday to Friday)
• This is a 43-week-per-year role, which includes term time, non-pupil days, and an additional 4 weeks working during school closure periods.
• This is a fixed term position to provide maternity cover until June 2027.

A Day in the Life:

You’ll be responsible for bringing your passion and expertise to the following areas:

• To carry out cleaning in all and any areas of the school.
• Assisting with the locking and unlocking of school buildings and rooms.
• To carry out, as necessary the replacement of roller towels, renewing supply of toilet rolls and replacement of bin liners.
• In emergency situations to assist with the clearing of snow and ice from paths and entries.
• To undertake training in the correct use of cleaning equipment such as floor machines, Vacs, wets pic-ups and in health and safety and the use of cleaning chemicals.
• To notify the Cleaning Supervisor or other senior members of staff, of any damage to buildings and equipment or of anything you see that may be dangerous to pupils and/or staff.

What We're Looking For:

You are the perfect fit for our team if you have:

• Ability to use general cleaning products
• Ability to exchange routine verbal information clearly
• Ability to follow instructions
• Basic understanding of Health & Safety

Why Choose The Sigma Trust?

We believe in investing in our staff and fostering a culture of collaboration. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package designed to support your professional and personal life.

Professional Development:

• A robust CPD training program that empowers you to flourish.
• Unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, sharing ideas and building strong professional relationships.

Employee Benefits:

• A competitive salary and excellent pension scheme.
• A Health Cash Plan and Employee Assistance Programme for your well-being.
• Exclusive perks like the Cycle to Work scheme, discounted gym memberships, cinema tickets, and eligibility for a Blue Light Card.

Commitment to Safeguarding & Diversity

The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment processes, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision 'To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts', where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive an overwhelming response. Candidates may be invited to interview prior to the closing date, so an early application is advised.

We are unable to provide sponsorship for this position, so please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before you apply.

We are managing all current recruitment directly and kindly request that agencies do not contact us regarding open positions.

Information about the School

We are a large secondary school in Colchester and also enjoy a thriving Sixth Form College. We are a popular School with waiting lists for every year and are proud of our strong academic record. We have an excellent and enthusiastic staff led by a strong senior leadership team and we work hard to provide an environment where every student is valued and their varying needs met. Our pastoral care is based upon a highly successful house system and ensures support both for students and parents.

SafeguardingThe Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.