Most kitchen roles in education are thankless grinds where your skill gets lost in the noise. But this is different: you'll run the kitchen at the heart of a thriving SEND school, leading a skilled team, planning nutritious menus that actually matter, and building real relationships with young people and staff who genuinely appreciate what you do
Imagine walking into a kitchen where you're not just feeding people, you're fuelling young people's progress and success. This school was recently rated Outstanding for its residential provision and Good for education overall, and the food you prepare is part of that story. You'll start early (6:30-7:00) to handle ordering and menu planning, which means you're setting the tone for the day and running a tight, professional operation that young people and staff depend on
You'll be part of an integrated education, care and clinical team where every single young person is celebrated for who they are. The school is built on the idea of 'Changing Lives, Building Futures' and they mean it: young people get a full 24-hour curriculum, therapeutic support woven through everything, and a real chance to develop the skills and confidence to leave ready to live life to the full. As Cook In Charge, you're a core part of making that happen
The best bit? This is term time only with full school holidays included. You work hard during term, you get rewarded with proper time off. The school invests in you too: full induction, on-the-job training, flexible benefits you can tailor to your life, employee assistance, medical cover so you can claim back opticians and dentist costs, high-street discounts, and a £1,000 recommend-a-friend bonus every time someone you bring in gets hired. You'll work in beautiful facilities with the very best equipment
What you will be doing
- Run the kitchen and oversee food ordering, starting early to manage stock and supplier relationships
- Supervise a skilled kitchen team and delegate tasks to keep service running smoothly
- Plan nutritious menus that meet the school's high nutritional standards and food hygiene regulations
- Prepare and serve tasty, nutritious food to young people, staff and visitors every day
- Manage kitchen budgets carefully, ordering in bulk and controlling meal costs without cutting corners on quality
Why you will love working here
- Up to £25,583 salary plus excellent benefits including flexible options you can increase or decrease to suit your life
- Full school holidays - work hard during term time, rest properly during breaks
- Medical cover so you can claim back opticians, dentist and other healthcare costs
- Employee assistance, wellbeing tools and advice, plus high-street discounts
- £1,000 recommend-a-friend bonus every time you bring someone into the team
Is this you?
- You hold a Level 3 Food Safety in Catering qualification (or equivalent)
- You're organised with real experience running a kitchen and planning menus that work
- You've budgeted for meals and ordered in bulk before, and you understand food costs
- You're the kind of person who brings your whole self to work and genuinely values the individuality and talents of the young people around you
- You're ready to be part of a diverse, inclusive team where neurodiversity and different perspectives are celebrated, not just tolerated
Applications close on 12 October 2026. Great roles like this are filled quickly, so the sooner you apply the better.
Safeguarding: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.