School Catering Assistant

School Catering Assistants for September 2026

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

About OSH

Old Swinford Hospital is one of the country’s leading state boarding schools. A large number of the School’s students are boarders who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and also from the EU and overseas. A third of our pupils are day pupils, who usually go home after lessons, unless they are involved in sport or music, CCF or DofE. The School is now fully co-education.

OSH is calm place to work. It is inclusive, tolerant and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and orderly, and it is also very relaxed because for many of our pupils their school is also their home. Parents, pupils and staff are all on the same side and our pupils want to learn before going out into the wider world and making their own contribution to it.

We have had two very favourable Ofsted visits, one for boarding and one for curriculum. We enjoy a very good academic reputation and regularly feature in the lists of the most academically successful maintained schools. We’re not about league tables, however. We pride ourselves on developing in our pupils a balance of academic achievement, character and resilience and we’ve been doing this now for nearly 360 years.

Our extensive extra-curricular programme contributes to our pupils becoming happy, healthy and interested young people, for whom sport, music, art, drama, outdoor pursuits feature in their everyday lives.

Person Specification

The successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following skills:

* Flair and passion for food;

* Good customer service skills;

* Experience of working in a catering environment would be desirable;

* Knowledge of basic catering practices;

* Able to pay attention to detail and is able to check own work;

* Reliable and punctual;

* Self-motivated with the ability to work under pressure;

* Be a team player with a ‘can-do’ attitude;

* Demonstrate a high standard of personal cleanliness and appearance;

* Polite manner in dealing with pupils and staff;

* Good communication skills.

Job Specification

Overall Objectives: To provide a professional catering service, ensuring that standards are maintained and that Schools expectations are met within the agreed objectives.

Specific Responsibilities:

* To ensure all food is presented and served in line with School standards, using innovation in the method and style of presentation and food service;

* To ensure that all agreed service objectives are met in line with client expectations;

* To treat your team at location as you would expect to be treated;

* Preparation of fresh food;

* The serving of meals ensuring correct portion control;

* Ensure the food safety of pupils with particular and special diets;

* General kitchen duties, for example washing up, cleaning of floors, walls and catering equipment.

* Preparation of the serving and dining area;

* Laundering of kitchen towels / clothes etc;

* Cleaning of dining furniture;

* Ensure good food hygiene and health and safety regulations are adhered to at all times;

* To have good communications skills to enable effective dialogue with colleagues, staff, pupils and visitors;

* To be organised and self-motivated, able to meet deadlines and targets and work well under pressure;

* To carry out all reasonable duties as requested by the Catering Manager or the Bursar.

General Duties:

* To ensure that all standards of food preparation and service are established and achieved in line with the School guidelines and policies;

* To adhere to existing working practices, methods, and procedures;

* To comply with all company policies.

Health & Safety, Food Safety, the Environment:

To help ensure that the School meets statutory and company requirements in Health and Safety, Food Safety and environmental legislation and procedures;

To record and report all accidents within the location adhering to location and company procedures;

To ensure all equipment is well maintained and is in good working order;

To maintain and record cleaning schedules;

To attend all health and safety training courses as required;

To promote and encourage environmental improvement initiatives as appropriate within the business.

The School reserve the right to vary or amend the duties and shift patterns of the post holder at any time according to the needs of the School’s business. In exceptional circumstances the Post holder will be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities of a similar post in order to support workload peaks, skills shortages, to ensure priorities are met.

Hours of Work

The hours of work are 20 / 30 per week for 37 weeks (term time) to suit the needs of the school. The pattern of work will be agreed and subject to regular change, in advance, by the Catering Manager and will include either mornings (7am start), or evenings (8.00pm finish) and will include some weekend shifts.

Remuneration

The rate of pay is the National Living Wage which is £12.71 per hour plus statutory holiday pay.

In line with current regulation you will, if you are eligible, be offered a workplace pension through NEST.

Equal Opportunities

Old Swinford Services Limited welcomes applications for employment from all sectors of the community.

Suitability to Work with Children

Old Swinford Services Limited is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised date if a large number of applications have been received