Site Manager of the Year

Show your site manager how much their work means to you by nominating them for our Exclusive KCS Site Manager Of The Year Award 2023.

Simply fill out the form below before 6th October 2023 with why you believe your site manager should win.

Prize includes a £250 Facilities voucher to be used at kcs.co.uk, a personalised certificate, a feature in our KCS Newsletter and token gift for the winning nominee, with a special hamper for our runner-up.

*Terms & Conditions Apply.

We received many entries in 2022 and were amazed by how many of your wonderful caretakers truly go above and beyond, but there can only be one winner.

And the winner is...

Liz Hill from John Ruskin School, Cumbria

Here's what Peter Blackburn, headteacher, had to say about their phenomenal caretaker:
"In November 2021 Liz completed her fortieth year in post as caretaker at John Ruskin School, a small rural comprehensive school in Coniston, Cumbria. This length of dedicated service in itself deserves recognition, but when I came to the school as head teacher in 2015 I quickly realised that I was working with a member of staff that went above and beyond her specified duties.
 Our staff, students and buildings all benefit from Liz giving up much of her personal time, such is her commitment to the role and to the local community. Our struggles with school funding over the years mean that, as caretaker, it is only through Liz’s focus on keeping us all safe and warm in our buildings that has allowed the school to remain open - she really is part of the foundations of this school. A specific example would be during building works at the school in the summer of 2016 and 2017, Liz was tireless in her commitment to open the school on time at the start of the year. Often this involved being on site well beyond what is required in her role, I remember being on site with Liz until 0200hs one morning as workers fixed our fire alarm ready for the next day. A more recent example in the aftermath of Storm Arwen in late 2021, after four days without power Liz was on site till midnight checking all the essential systems were in operation and taping off areas of the school with damaged trees so we could reopen the school as quickly as possible.
 Liz will always be on site when students leave for trips, and always be there with me to greet them when they return. On many occasions Liz has joined me on site till the small hours of the morning waiting for trips to return, I accept all these responsibilities and commitments are part of my role as head teacher, but Liz gives up her own time to support the school and students without ever asking for financial recognition or time off in lieu.
 Liz also makes a considerable contribution to the wider life of our school. Often Liz will support the school sporting events, particularity fell racing competitions where she often supports the PE department by going along as a member of staff to events in her own time. On our annual Fell Race which the whole school takes part in, Liz will always be on the fell encouraging students (and staff!) to try their best immediately prior to the dreaded ‘river crossing’.
 Charity support - I have tried for some years now to encourage Liz to take a holiday, (without success). At weekends Liz operates our car park, securing much needed donations to support our school finances. During school holidays she opens our site not just to users that generate income for the school but also for many of the charity events that support local and national good causes. Liz has never complained about or been asked to perform these duties, she is a selfless and relentless worker who never claims for the many hours of overtime she puts in. One such event is the Coniston 14 road race which takes place annually from the school site. Organised by a local committee of volunteers the event is not for profit and makes donations to local charities each year. Liz not only gives up her time to provide the event with a school site appropriate for their needs but works throughout the weekend from the preparation on the Friday evening to the event on the Saturday. When everyone else has left, Liz returns to school on Sunday and works tirelessly to prepare the buildings for our students to return the next day, committing her time and efforts to support both the charitable event and the school. National charities that use our site for events include Guide Dogs for the Blind and Great Ormond Street. Again, it is Liz’s behind the scenes work that allows the site to support these charity events so well, but also allows us to operate fully as a school and always provide a safe, clean environment for our staff and students.
 One charity that Liz takes a keen personal interest in is the Christmas Shoe Box appeal that collects items to send as presents to less fortunate children in Romania. Liz will frequently be in school till late in the evening wrapping the shoe boxes in Christmas paper, the front porch of her house often filled to the brim with gifts for this good cause. She motivates the school population to participate and coordinates the delivery of our shoeboxes.
 In Summary it is fair to say that when Liz does eventually decide to retire, we will need at least three staff to replace everything she does. Liz asks for little in return for everything she manages on site; the past two years of Covid have seen her perform three shifts on the school site every day, returning midday to clean frequent contact points. Liz manages this despite her own age and the fact she also supports elderly relatives on a daily basis.
 Our whole school community would nominate Liz for her selfless service to JRS. She has total commitment to our small, rural school and non-stop dedication to supporting both the school and charities using our site. She is one of the great unsung heroes of our community and this award would be a fitting recognition for someone who has dedicated their year to supporting the education of young people in Coniston in such a way."