At Wellspring, we are ambitious about the potential of our external environment. Creating vibrant, diverse, exciting outside spaces is central to our Cathedral Thinking. All too often, environments for children are austere and uninspiring. This role is designed to disrupt the status quo, reimagining the potential of the education estate.

 The outdoor environments at our settings are as crucial as the indoor spaces in shaping how our young people learn. As we grapple with the existential threat of climate change, the way we develop and utilise our outdoor spaces will play a vital role in addressing these challenges. Biodiversity is one of the five key areas of Wellspring's Sustainability Strategy, reflecting our commitment to enhancing the public realm. This commitment benefits not only the planet but also our staff, pupils, and the wider community.

This opportunity is a new role reporting to the Trust Capital Lead. The Capital Lead is responsible for the strategic, prioritised investment of the Trust’s capital allocation, including supporting the construction of new facilities, extensions, adaptations and the development of our outdoor environments.

 We're seeking an individual whose expertise can help shape the future of Wellspring’s outdoor spaces. The ideal candidate will have a background in designing educational settings and will support our Capital Lead in the strategic development and management of Wellspring's external estate. 

You'll be responsible for designing and developing innovative outdoor spaces that inspire learning, play, and environmental awareness. You'll implement sustainable landscaping strategies to promote biodiversity and ecological balance, creating engaging play areas that encourage physical activity and imaginative thinking. 

A key aspect to ensure we can deliver such change will be the development of site master plans for every one of our academies. Wellspring has committed to every academy having a fully developed site master plan by 2030. You will play a vital role in the delivery of this ambition.

 At Wellspring we believe that school environments should be imaginative and inspiring places that are focused on what makes a child happy. This extends to our outside environments. We are looking for an individual that is not just passionate about nature but also about developing bespoke, colourful and creative play spaces for our young people. The successful candidate should possess a strong creative vision and a deep understanding of child-centred design.

By collaborating with schools, staff, and students, you'll gain a deep understanding of their needs and preferences, ensuring that your designs meet their specific requirements. You'll also oversee projects from concept to completion, ensuring timely delivery and budget adherence.

Location: Hybrid of remote and office working, travelling to academies across the Trust.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, full time weeks.

As part of your application, please could you share a portfolio of your work with us.  Please click on the blue box (which will be to the right of your completed application in My New Term) to send a message which should allow you to upload a Word or PDF document.   If you are unable to attach your portfolio in My New Term, please e-mail us at hr@wellspringacademies.org.uk before the closing date.

Main Duties will include:

 Design & development

• Develop Master Plans for the outside environments for all academies and joining academies.

• Develop site plans, planting plans and construction drawings.

• Produce detailed design proposals including 3D visualisations.

• Implement sustainable landscaping practices such as rain water harvesting, rain gardens

• Designing sensory gardens to stimulate the senses, promoting well-being, calmness and a connection with nature.

Biodiversity enhancement

• Implementation of sustainable landscaping strategies across the Trust estate to promote biodiversity.

• Selection of school appropriate plants species to attract pollinators and wildlife.

• Designing of natural play spaces and wildlife corridors throughout the school grounds.

Creative Play Spaces

• Designing of bespoke play equipment that is visually colourful and bold. This may include working with artists in cross collaboration.

• Designing of playgrounds that encourage physical activity and the imagination of young people.

• Ensuring that play spaces cater to all children of differing ages and abilities.

Project Development

• Support academies in the development of external spaces projects across the Trust from inception through to completion with over sight from the Capital Lead.

• Management of budgets, timelines and resources to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

• Development and management of project programmes, risk registers and project trackers.

• Co-ordination with contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders to ensure smooth project delivery.

• Monitoring of profess and address any issues or challenges that arise.

Community engagement

• Aid schools in developing relationships with their local community through their landscapes.

• Help school develop community initiatives such as community gardens, community allotments, gardening workshops etc.

• Aid the school through design in being able to open their sites up to the public during non school time.

Sustainability and Environmental impact

• Consideration of the environmental impact of design decisions, such as materials selection, energy use and water consumption.

• Promotion of sustainable materials and practices, such as recycled materials, low-maintenance planting and water efficient irrigation systems.

• Contribute to the Trust’s overall sustainability goals and targets.

• Monitor and evaluate the environmental performance and impact of outdoor spaces.

Other duties include:

• In partnership with other lead and promote a strong Health and Safety culture across the Trust.

• Aid the Capital lead in the development of documentation for project reporting purposes. 

Further Information:

Wellspring Academy Trust recognises that it has a statutory and moral duty towards safeguarding the welfare of children, young people and, if appropriate, vulnerable adults who participate in any Trust activities and expects all staff to share this commitment. An Enhanced DBS is required for this post. As this role involves working with children in regulated activity, please note that it is an offence to apply for the role if barred from engaging in regulated activity with children.

References will be requested and an online search carried out for shortlisted candidates, prior to attendance at interview. Further pre employment checks, including prohibition from teaching, childcare disqualification and section 128 checks, if deemed relevant for the role, will be completed for the successful candidate upon acceptance of the post.

If you are currently living overseas or have lived / worked overseas in the last five years please be aware that you will be required to provide an overseas criminal records check from the country/ countries you have resided in, if you are the preferred candidate for the post