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Job title: School Cook
Location: Bower Lodge School, Dibden, Southampton, SO45 5TD
Salary: £22,000 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 30 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8.30am - 2.30pm
Contract: Permanent | Term Time only
Start: September 2026
UK applicants only; no sponsorship available
About the Role
We're looking for a passionate and reliable School Cook to join our friendly team. In this rewarding role, you'll be responsible for preparing nutritious, high-quality meals that support the health, wellbeing, and learning of our pupils. You'll lead the day-to-day running of the school kitchen, ensuring every meal is prepared to the highest standards of quality, safety, and care.
If you enjoy creating delicious food, take pride in maintaining an organised kitchen, and want a role where your work has a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.
What you will be doing
- Planning and preparing healthy, balanced menus that meet the dietary needs of our pupils.
- Preparing and serving fresh, high-quality meals in a safe and welcoming environment.
- Managing kitchen stock, including stock rotation, portion control, and ordering within budget.
- Leading and supervising kitchen staff to ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of the kitchen.
- Maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and health & safety.
- Preparing the kitchen for daily service and ensuring all areas are cleaned and maintained after use.
- Minimising food waste and promoting efficient use of resources.
- Catering for pupils and staff with special dietary requirements, allergies, and medical needs.
What you will bring
- Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (essential).
- NVQ or City & Guilds Diplomas (Levels 1, 2, and 3) in Culinary Skills (or equivalent) required
- GCSE or equivalent in English and Math's required
- Experience working in a catering or school kitchen environment.
- A good understanding of food safety, hygiene, and nutritional standards.
- The ability to manage workload effectively and work within set budgets.
- A genuine commitment to providing excellent food and service for children and young people.
About us
Bower Lodge School is a brand-new specialist day school in Dibden, Southampton, for boys and girls aged 4–11 with a diagnosis of autism and complex learning, communication, and sensory needs.
With capacity for 40 pupils, we provide a small, nurturing, and inclusive environment. Our approach is tailored to each child’s individual strengths and needs. Through personalised learning and high levels of support, we help pupils thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
At Bower Lodge School, every child is valued, understood, and empowered to reach their full potential.
For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided specialist care and education for children, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are pioneering innovative, evidence-based approaches that deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for everyone in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.
Why Join Us?
We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
- Life Assurance
- Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
- “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
- Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
- Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
- Hundreds of UK and international discounts
- Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
- Critical illness cover
- Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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