Job Title: School Gardener
Location: Mill Hill Village, Barnet
Contract Type: Part-time, ongoing (Zero Hours)
Start Date: Late August – Early September
Pay Rate: £30 per hour

A fantastic school with a brilliant reputation is seeking an enthusiastic and knowledgeable School Gardener to lead engaging gardening sessions for pupils aged 7–13. This is a unique opportunity to combine practical gardening with teaching, supporting children to connect with nature, sustainability, and food growing.

This hands-on role involves delivering weekly gardening lessons, planning and maintaining the school’s garden, and helping to develop a long-term vision for a working market garden on our 150-acre site.

Working Hours

• During term time: 5 hours per week
  • 3 hours teaching:
    • Wednesday 10:40–11:35 and 13:15–14:10
    • Thursday 12:25–13:15
  • 2 hours planning and preparation
• During school holidays: 2 hours per week for garden maintenance
• Potential for growth: This role is likely to progress to 10 hours per week during term time in the future as the programme expands

Key Responsibilities

Teaching (3 hours per week during term time)

• Deliver age-appropriate gardening sessions with a focus on fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers
• Foster awareness of sustainability, environmental care, and healthy eating
• Encourage teamwork, responsibility, and curiosity through hands-on activities
• Guide pupils in practical garden tasks including planting, composting, weeding, and harvesting
• Adapt lessons for different age groups, learning styles, and weather conditions

Planning and Garden Maintenance (2 hours per week during term time and 2 hours per week during holidays)

• Prepare lesson materials and maintain the garden area
• Manage tools and ensure safe, ready-to-use equipment
• Plan and support the development of a market garden project
• Ensure the garden space is safe and inclusive for all pupils

Essential Criteria

• Experience in gardening, including working with plants, flowers, and food crops
• A horticulture qualification
• Excellent communication skills, especially with children
• Self-motivated, reliable, and able to work independently
• Strong commitment to sustainability and environmental education
• Willingness to obtain a DBS check prior to employment

Desirable Criteria

• Experience teaching or working with children in outdoor or educational settings
• Background in schools or similar environments
• First aid training (or willingness to complete)

Benefits

• Lunch provided on working days
• Free on-site parking
• Be part of a forward-thinking school focused on sustainability and outdoor learning
• Contribute to a long-term educational and environmental initiative