About the Role
We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Lead Cook to lead our school kitchen supported by two kitchen assistants, and play a key role in promoting healthy eating in a positive primary school environment.
Working hours: 8.00am – 1.30pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8.00am – 2.30pm Wednesday
TERM TIME ONLY - 38 term time weeks and a further week equivalent spread through the academic year - total 39 weeks per year.
Pay Grade: KSC - £26,956 FTE (£18,179 pro rata) + Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Purpose of the Job
To provide nutritious, high quality meals and an efficient catering service to all pupils. The postholder will lead the day to day operation of the school kitchen, promoting healthy eating within a primary school environment and ensuring compliance with School Food Standards, food safety legislation, hygiene standards and school policies.
You will be responsible for preparing and serving freshly cooked and nutritious meals, planning termly menus in line with school food standards, managing allergen information, maintaining portion control to support budget management, ordering supplies, and completing regular stock checks.
You will oversee daily kitchen operations, including due diligence and record keeping, ensuring high standards of cleanliness are maintained at all times and that the kitchen operates in full compliance with relevant Food Safety, Health & Safety, and hygiene legislation.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Leading the day to day operational running of the kitchen and taking responsibility for the safe preparation and service of food on site.
- Plan nutritious and appealing meals, reviewing and adapting menus termly in line with nutritional standards and dietary guidelines. Ensure full compliance with allergen legislation and school policies by effectively managing and clearly communicating allergen information throughout menu planning, food preparation and service. Maintain accurate allergen records and implement agreed school procedures to prevent cross-contamination, ensuring the safety of pupils with food allergies and intolerances.
- Ensuring food is cooked and the food service is delivered in a timely and organised way at designated times.
- Prepare baked items weekly to support school catering provision and provide themed lunches at various times throughout the year as necessary.
- Direct the day to day work of the kitchen team and provide supervision where needed to ensure the kitchen performs to appropriate high standards.
- Undertake cleaning and washing up in the kitchen and dining areas including a deep clean throughout the school year.
- Managing food costs and portion control. Ordering food from suppliers and conducting weekly stock takes, taking responsibility for stock levels.
- Monitor food costs and portion control and liaise with the School Business Manager to support catering provision within agreed budget limits.
- Hold a weekly cooking class with a small group of pupils at scheduled times throughout the school year
- Ensure correct Health & Safety and food hygiene procedures are adhered to at all times and that defects to equipment and premises are reported appropriately to the School Business Manager and/or Site Manager to maintain a safe working environment.
- Compliance to HACCP, COSHH procedures. Maintenance of an up-to-date food hygiene plan and overseeing and implementing a cleaning schedule in line with school policy and other members of the school kitchen team.
- Maintain accurate food safety, temperature, cleaning and allergen records in accordance with school procedures.
- Liaise with outside agencies i.e. Environmental Health Officers and suppliers to ensure high standards of food hygiene and quality of supplies are maintained.
- Ensure that all duties and services provided are in accordance with the role for health and safety and safeguarding in the workplace.
- Ensure compliance with relevant risk assessments.
- Attend training courses as required and assist in the training of other catering staff as required.
In all cases
- To be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people within the school, and report to the Headteacher any behaviour by colleagues, parents and children which raise concern.
- Comply with all policies and procedures including (but not limited to) those relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, equal opportunities, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- To carry out additional duties that are commensurate with the grade and expectations of the role as directed by the School Business Manager, Headteacher or Leadership Team.
Qualifications
- Level 2 Food Safety / Food Hygiene Certificate (essential) or Level 3 Food Safety / Food Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to obtain within probation period)
- Level 2 catering / cookery qualification or equivalent proven experience (essential)
- First Aid Certificate (desirable)
Experience
- Experience of working in catering and/or in a school kitchen environment (_essential)_
- Experience of leading day to day kitchen operations (_essential_)
- Experience of planning meals within nutritional, dietary and allergen guidelines (_essential_)
- Knowledge of allergen management and special diets (_essential_)
- Experience of stock control, ordering and budget awareness (_desirable_)
- Experience supervising or supporting staff (_desirable_)
Skills and Abilities
- Organised, self-motivated and have the ability to work as part of a team in a busy school environment (_essential_)
- Good communication skills (_essential_)
- Ability to use kitchen equipment, knives for food preparation and demonstrate and follow strict hygiene standards (_essential_)
- Ability to maintain accurate food safety, temperature and allergen records (_essential_)
- Ability to set up and clear the dining hall for service which involves moving and arranging tables and benches following manual handling guidelines/training (_essential_)
- Ability to carry out the physical element of cleaning work areas to comply with strict hygiene standards (_essential_)
Knowledge
- Knowledge of a range of procedures for preparing, cooking and serving food and relevant hygiene requirements (_essential_)
- Knowledge of food allergen legislation and safe allergen management practices, including prevention of cross-contamination and maintenance of allergen information (_essential_)
- Knowledge of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, Health and Safety procedures and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) (_essential_)
- Basic understanding of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children (_essential_)
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: From £26,956.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- Do you have previous experience of working in catering and/or in a school kitchen environment?
Work Location: In person
Expected start date: 02/09/2026
