Salary: £27,105.31 - £30,354.94 (£14.43 - £16.16 per hour)
Hours: 40 hours per week | 6:00am - 2:00pm
Contract: Permanent | Full-Time | Term Time Only (41 weeks)
Start Date: 1st December 2026
Love Cooking but Ready for a Better Work-Life Balance?
Imagine having a catering role where you can still do what you love - preparing fresh, nutritious food - but finish your working day at 2pm and enjoy the benefits of term-time working.
Simply Education are recruiting on behalf of a brand-new specialist school opening in January 2027, and we're looking for an experienced and passionate Cook to take the lead in establishing its catering provision.
Starting on 1st December 2026, you'll have the opportunity to join before the school officially opens, giving you the chance to help shape the kitchen, menus and catering service from the very beginning.
If you're an experienced Cook looking to move away from late finishes, evening shifts and year-round hospitality hours, this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for.
What Makes This Opportunity Stand Out?
This role offers a fantastic combination of responsibility, stability and work-life balance:
Competitive salary of £27,105.31 - £30,354.94
40 hours per week
6:00am - 2:00pm working hours
Term-time only - 41 weeks per year
Permanent, full-time position
No late evenings
The opportunity to lead the catering provision within a brand-new school
The chance to create menus and a food service that genuinely contributes to the health and wellbeing of children and young people
Be Part of Something New
The school will provide a nurturing, inclusive and ambitious environment for children and young people aged 5-19 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
With places for up to 96 pupils, the school's aim is to create a safe, enriching and aspirational environment where every young person is supported to thrive.
Food and mealtimes can play an incredibly important part in a young person's school experience, particularly for pupils with additional needs. That's why we're looking for someone who understands that this role is about more than simply preparing meals.
You'll have the opportunity to create nutritious, appealing and home-cooked food while helping to make mealtimes a positive and enjoyable part of the school day.
The Role
As the School Cook, you'll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, ensuring pupils and staff receive high-quality, nutritious meals within a safe and welcoming environment.
You'll help develop menus, manage the kitchen efficiently and maintain excellent food hygiene standards, while working closely with colleagues, pupils and families to accommodate a range of dietary, allergen and sensory requirements.
Your Responsibilities Will Include:
Preparing, cooking and serving nutritious meals using fresh ingredients wherever possible
Planning balanced, varied and appealing menus
Adapting meals to accommodate dietary requirements, allergies and sensory needs
Managing stock control, ordering, portion control and budgets
Ensuring the kitchen operates efficiently and effectively
Supervising and supporting kitchen staff, including rota management, training and day-to-day guidance
Building positive relationships with pupils and encouraging healthy eating
Listening to feedback and using it to help develop menu choices
Maintaining exceptional standards of food hygiene, health and safety
Ensuring compliance with relevant catering and food safety legislation
Maintaining accurate kitchen, food safety and catering records
Working collaboratively with school staff, pupils, families and suppliers
About You
We're looking for someone who is passionate about good food, highly organised and confident taking responsibility for a busy kitchen.
You'll take pride in preparing fresh, nutritious meals and understand the importance of providing food that is not only healthy but enjoyable and appropriate for the individual needs of pupils.
Ideally, you will have:
Experience preparing and cooking meals using a wide range of fresh ingredients
Strong knowledge of food hygiene, food safety and relevant catering legislation
Experience with stock management, ordering, portion control and budgets
Knowledge of special diets, allergens and nutritional requirements
Experience supervising or supporting colleagues within a catering environment
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Strong organisational skills and the ability to maintain accurate records
An understanding of learning disabilities and/or additional needs and how these may influence catering provision
Experience within a school or specialist education setting would be beneficial, but candidates from other catering backgrounds are also encouraged to apply if they have the right skills, experience and approach.
Ready to Swap Late Finishes for a 2pm Finish?
If you're an experienced Cook who loves creating fresh, nutritious food but would welcome more predictable hours, term-time working and no late evenings, this could be a fantastic next step in your career.
You'll also have the unique opportunity to join a school before it opens its doors, helping to build a catering service you can genuinely be proud of from day one.
Simply Education are recruiting on behalf of the school and would love to speak with experienced catering professionals interested in this exciting opportunity.
Apply today to find out more about the role and become part of this brand-new school community
Salary description
£27105.00 - £30354.00 per year