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Grounds Apprentice
The school is seeking to appoint a Grounds Apprentice to assist with the day-to-day set up and maintenance of the School’s sports pitches and surrounding grounds. This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone with a keen interest in Sportsturf. You will join a friendly and professional team to learn more about groundsmanship.
Wage: £16,640 a year
Training course: Sports turf operative (level 2)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 08:15 - 17:00, with 1 hour unpaid lunch. 38 hours 45 minutes a week
Start date: Tuesday 1 September 2026
Duration: 2 years
Positions available: 1
What you'll do at work:
- Wicket preparation
- Grass cutting
- Line marking
- Scarifying and feeding
- Outfield mowing
- Ground repairs
- Machinery maintenance
- Tree work
- Astro turf upkeep
- Hard landscaping (e.g. paths, fences and hedges upkeep)
Where you'll work:
MAGDALEN COLLEGE SCHOOL, COWLEY PLACE, OXFORD, OX4 1DZ
Training provider:
MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE
Training course: Sports turf operative (level 2)
What you'll learn:
- Apply the correct rates and range of materials to sports turf surfaces (e.g. grass seed, granular fertilisers, bulky top-dressing, turf and root zone).
- Set and mark out the sports turf surface in accordance with the relevant governing body rules (including line marking, the 3-4-5 squaring technique, and marking arcs and semi-circles).
- Prepare machinery and equipment to ensure their safe and effective use when carrying out sport turf tasks.
- Maintain levels of soil moisture using either irrigation or drainage systems.
- Inspect the condition of sports turf, make observations and communicate findings (e.g. PQS, weeds, pests, diseases, thatch content).
- Prepare the ground and established grass areas as part of sports turf renovation tasks (e.g. overseeding, turfing).
- Carry out cylinder mowing of sports turf surface(s) in accordance with set requirements.
- Carry out repair of sports turf surfaces using relevant equipment and machinery (e.g. divot repair, foot hole repair, animal damage).
- Prepare and safely operate a tractor and its attachments.
- Select and use relevant communication styles (e.g. verbal, written, digital) to convey information to different audiences (e.g. clients, staff, suppliers).
- Adopts a systematic approach to troubleshooting and solving day-to-day resource or equipment issues.
- Identify a range of turf grasses (vegetative and seed). (Including, perennial ryegrass smooth stalk meadow grass, annual meadow grass, fescue grass (fine), bent grass).
- Carry out maintenance of sports turf surface using relevant equipment and machinery (including scarification, and aeration).
- Dispose of waste in a safe and sustainable manner.
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Training schedule:
- Apprentices will achieve the Level 2 Sports Turf Operative Apprenticeship qualification and will then be eligible to join the IOG Register of Turf Management Professionals
- Delivery is work-based using blended learning technologies on the employer’s premises
- There is an expectation that 20% of the working week will be off the job training, which is a legal requirement
More training information:
- The end point assessment will contain 2 components:
- A written and online test
- Practical assessment
- There will be 3 levels of achievement: Pass, Merit & Distinction.
Essential qualifications:
- GCSE in:
- 2 other subjects (grade 2-9/E-A*)
- English (grade 2-9/E-A*)
- Maths (grade 2-9/E-A*)
- Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
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Skills:
- Physical fitness
- Passion for sports
- Passion for the outdoors
- Enthusiastic
- Ability to work flexibly
- Independent working
Other requirements:
- You will be expected to work outdoors in all weather conditions
- You will also need to complete a separate application form, this will be emailed over to you after submitting this application
About this employer:
MCS is one of the country’s leading independent day schools. Shaped by its Christian Collegiate foundation and links with the university city of which it is part, it aims to inspire in all its pupils a desire to learn, flourish and serve. There are around 950 pupils, boys aged 7-18 and Sixth Form girls, and 350 members of staff who learn and work on the School’s central Oxford site. During the coming decade MCS will become a fully co-educational school from J1 to Upper Sixth, offering places to high achieving boys and girls as we prepare to commemorate our 550th anniversary in 2030.
Company benefits:
- Free lunch provided whilst working
After this apprenticeship:
- Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay.
- Successful candidates will be eligible to join the IOG Register of Turf Management Professionals
Ask a question:
- The contact for this apprenticeship is: MYERSCOUGH COLLEGE, Employer Services Team, employerenquiries@myerscough.ac.uk, 01995 642222
- The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000043737.
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