Minibus Driver
The Portsmouth Grammar School is a leading co-educational school located in the historic heart of Portsmouth. We are very much a family school known for excellent teaching, superb pastoral care and wide-ranging co-curricular opportunities and offer an education across the age range from Pre-School to Sixth Form.
The Minibus Driver works on a part-time (30 hours per week), term-time only basis to drive school minibus routes as part of the school’s transport service for pupils. The route is expected to be to and from the Isle of Wight (IOW) Hover and local areas, but this may be subject to change.The Minibus Driver is responsible for supporting the successful day-to-day operation of the Estates Team, working with and alongside the Estates Support Officer, and accountable to the Estates and Operations Bursar to provide a professional driving service.
The main duties of the role will be;
o driving a transport route to and from the IOW ferry and local areas (or an alternative route as required), with pupils, in the mornings before and at the end of each school day.
o undertaking other ad hoc driving duties such as driving the minibus shuttle service to and from the main site in Old Portsmouth and our sports ground at Hilsea and supporting the catering team when needed.
o maintaining appropriate electronic and paper records and registers, using school email and phone systems as required
o undertaking all necessary training required by the school, for example in Safeguarding and Manual Handling.
The Bursar is responsible for all the support functions within the school, including Finance, Payroll, Estates and Operations, ICT and HR. The Minibus Driver will report to, and be tasked by, the Estates Support Officer who is responsible to the Estates and Operations Bursar for all transport support functions within the school.
The postholder will be professional and friendly and be able to demonstrate an interest in working with children and young people in an educational setting and have good interpersonal skills which are critical for effective communication with pupils, parents and staff across the school.
The job carries significant responsibility for pupil safety, and as such the ability to follow instructions safely and effectively is critical, together with a willingness to undertake all necessary training.
It is particularly important that the postholder can be adaptable and resilient to respond to the varied needs of pupils who use the minibus service and to follow the appropriate school channels for reporting any pastoral concerns.
A proactive and flexible approach is important to adapt daily to the driving conditions on the roads and to be able to plan ahead in accordance with varied bookings and operational demand.
In addition, the role requires the ability to use email, databases and other software such as the school’s in-house Estates Management System. A school phone is provided.
To be able to drive the school minibus and van, the postholder must hold a full clean driving license, a D1 licence, and be in date with MIDAS training (which will be provided by the school). The role requires a good level of physical fitness to carry loads in accordance with Manual Handling regulations.Medical fitness for the role is confirmed through the completion of a satisfactory Minibus Driver medical check through the school’s occupational health provider prior to start date, as required.
The post is a part-time, term time only appointment for 30 hours per week, with a usual work pattern of 07.30-10.30 and 15.30-18.30 Monday to Friday.
How to apply:
Candidates are asked to apply using the online form linked to our advert on Tes
Any enquiries about the role or how to apply are welcome at recruitment@pgs.org.uk
The closing date for receipt of applications is midday on 3rd June 2025 and interviews will be scheduled to take place on the school site soon after. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as early applications are welcome and we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects 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). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants and applicants may be required to provide details of their online profile, including social media account names/handles, as part of their application.
The 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 (including those which are ‘spent’ unless they are ‘protected’ under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.