Hedge Cutting jobs in Rushden

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about sports turf and grounds care to take pride in maintaining high‑quality facilities used daily by our students and visiting teams. With a diverse forty‑acre site, no two days are the same, and you will be part of a supportive team that values craftsmanship, teamwork, and high standards.

Bedford Modern School (BMS) is an outstanding HMC independent co‑educational day school for students aged 7–18. Our community is a friendly, happy, and supportive one, and all 350 staff members—across both teaching and operational roles, help to make BMS an incredibly special place to work.

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Grounds Person to join our Estates team. You will play a vital role in maintaining and developing the natural and artificial playing surfaces to ensure they are safe and well presented to a high standard. A wide range of skills across cricket, football, and rugby so we can continue to develop and improve surfaces for students. To also assist with lawns, shrubs, plantings, and wider grounds across our forty‑acre site to keep it neat and tidy for all staff, students, and visitors. This hands on role requires a strong work ethic, attention to detail and a willingness to work outdoors in all weathers.

We would be happy to review CV's if they could please be sent to HR@harpurtrust.org.uk. However, please note that should the school wish to proceed with a formal appointment, the successful candidate would be required to submit a full application through MyNewTerm at a later stage.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain natural and artificial sports surfaces, including the preparation and upkeep of cricket wickets, outfields, and synthetic pitches.
• Skills in the upkeep/improvement of cricket to include cutting, rolling, scarifying, aerating, watering, seeding, and top dressing.
• Prepare football and rugby pitches for home and away fixtures, ensuring surfaces are marked and presented to a high standard.
• Mark out pitches and set up goals and boundary markers.
• Conduct general ground’s maintenance including mowing, strimming, hedge cutting, planting, weeding and landscaping.
• Set up and use a range of sports turf and grounds equipment.
• Perform minor machinery maintenance.
• Ensure work is completed safely and in accordance with health and safety legislation, including noise and vibration regulations.
• Provide excellent customer service when interacting with students, staff, visitors, and the wider school community in this customer facing role.
• Assist with additional duties to support the smooth running of the Grounds Department and School, including preparation for high profile school functions and the implementation of the snow/frost plan.

Person Specification

• Practical experience in grounds.
• Good knowledge of sports maintenance preferably cricket.
• Experience with sports turf equipment and pitch preparation.
• Self-motivated and shows initiative.
• Show pride in all aspects of jobs.
• Good working knowledge of health and safety relating to grounds work.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to interact confidently and professionally with members of the school community.
• Reliable, proactive, and able to work independently or as part of a team.

Desirable:

• PA1 and PA6- spraying certificates.
• Tractor driving experience.
• Understanding of health and safety and safe practices, including COSHH.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Friendly and supportive working environment.
• Option to join a private healthcare scheme.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Training opportunities through the Harpur Trust.
• Free lunches during term time.

Hours & Working Pattern

This is a full‑time role, working:

• 40 hours per week.
• Monday to Friday, 7.30am – 4.00pm.
• Plus 10 Saturdays per year on a rota basis to meet school needs.

We encourage applications from all communities as we want to have a workforce that reflects the social, cultural, and ethnic diversity of our students.

Closing Date: 4 November 2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Please note, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of suitable applicants.

Should you wish to discuss the role further, please contact Steve Luker (Site Support Services Manager) on his work mobile 07788 970216 or email SLuker@bedmod.co.uk.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). We may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The school is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview. The Harpur Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and other relevant checks.

Pay: £28,000.00-£30,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person