Maintenance Technician - Plumbing

SIR ROGER CHOLMELEY'S SCHOOL AT HIGHGATE; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

SIR ROGER CHOLMELEY'S SCHOOL AT HIGHGATE is looking for a Maintenance Technician - Plumbing to join our Estates team at Highgate, North London. The role focuses on preventative maintenance, rapid diagnosis, and repairs to ensure our historic campus remains safe and well‑maintained.

You will work alongside a supportive team to service a wide range of buildings and facilities, including residential spaces, with emphasis on plumbing and water systems. Start ASAP; closing date 14 October 2026.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Plumbing or Level 2 plus 5 years commercial experience.
• Knowledge of water hygiene and Legionella control.
• Prepared to undertake further training to gain additional qualifications to enable duties.

Responsibilities

• Carry out routine inspections and preventative maintenance on school buildings, facilities, and equipment.
• Respond promptly to maintenance requests from staff, ensuring minimal disruption to teaching and living spaces.
• Perform minor repairs including electrical, carpentry, and painting tasks.
• Be the site specialist in plumbing and water systems.
• Monitor and maintain water, plumbing and drainage systems.
• Test fire alarms and protection equipment in line with statutory guidelines.

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Plumbing

Level 2 + 5 years commercial experience

Water hygiene knowledge

Legionella control knowledge

Further training to gain additional qualifications

Job description

• Job title:Maintenance Technician - Plumbing
• Job Type:Permanent, Full Time, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, 40 hours per week
• Salary:£30,000-£37,000 per annum depending on qualifications, skills and experience (£34,173-£42,146 if full pension flex benefit is used)
• Department:Estates
• Reporting to:Estates Manager
• Location:Highgate, North London
• Start:ASAP
• Closing Date:14 October 2026 at 9:00 am

Highgate School Estates team are looking for someone to join us as a Plumber. We’re looking for someone technically strong, enthusiastic, personable, and hardworking, with a keen eye for detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving. In this busy and rewarding role, you’ll help keep our historic North London campus running smoothly, working alongside a supportive team to deliver high‑quality maintenance across a wide range of buildings and facilities. If you take pride in your craft, enjoy variety in your day, and thrive in a collaborative environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Highgate Estates is made up of Maintenance, Porterage, Grounds, Gardening and Capital Projects teams. The department’s in-house maintenance team has responsibility for all aspects of property and premises management and repairs and the maintenance of the schools landscaped areas and sports fields. The department works closely alongside the School’s other operational departments.

The School is unique as a client organisation in the breadth of facilities it must provide and maintain which include; academic, residential, sporting (internal & external), office and administration, ecclesiastical, performance space and dining and function facilities.

Job Description

THE ROLE

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

To support the Site maintenance team in ensuring that the School’s facilities remain statutorily compliant and in good working order, minimising disruption to teaching and in line with industry standards. A key part of the role is preventative maintenance and the carrying out of rapid diagnosis and repair when building faults occur or requests are made. The role will also require a close working relationship with the Maintenance Supervisor, other Maintenance Technicians, Estates Manager and other teams within the Estates Department and wider school in identifying and prioritising work as part of ongoing refurbishment and upgrade programmes.

The postholder will:

Assist the Maintenance Supervisor and other Maintenance Technicians in maintaining all elements of academic and associated buildings as well as the residential estate.

Work as part of a wider maintenance team responsible for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of School premises, carrying out tasks beyond their core trade as required.

The post-holder will be allocated a building to be visited daily as part of a practice regime of maintenance and care, carrying out the following non-exhaustive list of duties:

• Carry out routine inspections and preventative maintenance on school buildings, facilities, and equipment.
• Respond promptly to maintenance requests from staff, ensuring minimal disruption to teaching and learning or residential tenants.
• Perform minor repairs including basic electrical, carpentry, and painting tasks.
• Be the site specialist in plumbing and water systems.
• Competent in fault diagnosis, repairs and small scale installations
• Monitor and maintain water, plumbing and drainage systems.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, including fire safety checks and emergency lighting tests.
• Assist with setting up classrooms and school events, including moving furniture and equipment.
• Maintain accurate records of maintenance work, inspections, and repairs.
• Report major faults or hazards to the Estates Manager and arrange for specialist contractors when necessary.
• Manage stock of maintenance supplies and tools, ordering replacements as needed.
• Support site security by checking locks, gates, and alarm systems.
• Flagging wider concerns to the Maintenance Supervisor or Estates Manager that may require additional investigation or attendance.
• Test fire alarms and protection equipment in line with statutory guidelines.
• Take energy consumption readings when required.
• Oversee the closing down and starting up of heating, hot water and lighting systems at the beginning and end of each term.
• Respond to emergency situations such as leaks, blockages power outages, or security breaches.
• Carry out other duties as may be reasonably requested by the Maintenance Supervisor or Estates Manager.

These duties and responsibilities are intended as a guide. They are not exhaustive: the employee will be expected to undertake any reasonable task or responsibility as required by their line manager.

Person Specification

• Criteria
• How will these be tested or verified?
• Qualifications and Experience
  • NVQ Level 3 in Plumbing, or Level 2 + 5 years commercial experience
  • Knowledge of water hygiene and Legionella control
  • Be prepared to undertake further training in order to gain additional qualifications to enable duties to be carried out
• Desirable
  • Experience of working in the education sector.
  • C&G Level 3 Advanced Plumbing
  • WRAS qualification
  • Unvented Hot Water Certificate (G3)
  • Knowledge of