Assistant Cook

Outcomes First Group; England; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Wellbeing support

Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista)

Cycle to Work Scheme

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Critical illness cover

Family Growth Support (enhanced leave,

Discretionary discounts

Job summary

Abbey Gardens, part of Outcomes First Group, is seeking an Assistant Cook to prepare, cook, and serve nutritious meals for students. You will work with the Cook/Supervisor to ensure efficient, safe operations in line with food hygiene and health and safety standards.

The role focuses on supporting on-site meal service, stock handling, and accurate meal records, while upholding high cleanliness and customer service standards in a school kitchen.

Qualifications

• Has previous catering, kitchen, or food preparation experience.
• Excels in a fast-paced environment and adapts quickly to changing priorities.
• Remains calm, organized, and flexible when managing short-notice changes.
• Is a positive team player who enjoys collaborating with colleagues.
• Possesses a good standard of education, including basic literacy and numeracy skills.
• Takes pride in maintaining high standards of cleanliness, food hygiene, and customer service.

Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation, cooking, and serving of meals, catering to special dietary requirements.
• Help maintain a clean, safe, and hygienic kitchen and dining environment.
• Support food preparation for both on-site meal service and other locations as needed.
• Ensure food hygiene and health and safety procedures are followed at all times.
• Assist with stock management and report any shortages or concerns.
• Maintain records related to meal numbers, cancellations, and additional requests.
• Support the smooth running of lunchtime service, creating a positive dining experience for students.
• Observe and report any concerns or incidents to appropriate staff members.
• Attend relevant training and collaborate as part of the wider school team.

Skills

Catering/kitchen experience

Fast-paced environment

Calm under pressure

Team player

Basic literacy & numeracy

High cleanliness & hygiene standards

Education

Basic literacy and numeracy

Job description

About the Role

Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of students? We are seeking a reliable and enthusiastic Assistant Cook to join our team! In this role, you will play a vital part in preparing, cooking, and serving nutritious, high-quality meals for our students. Working closely with the Cook/Supervisor, you will help ensure our kitchen operates efficiently, safely, and in line with food hygiene and health and safety standards.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation, cooking, and serving of meals, catering to special dietary requirements.
• Help maintain a clean, safe, and hygienic kitchen and dining environment.
• Support food preparation for both on-site meal service and other locations as needed.
• Ensure food hygiene and health and safety procedures are followed at all times.
• Assist with stock management and report any shortages or concerns.
• Maintain records related to meal numbers, cancellations, and additional requests.
• Support the smooth running of lunchtime service, creating a positive dining experience for students.
• Observe and report any concerns or incidents to appropriate staff members.
• Attend relevant training and collaborate as part of the wider school team.

Qualifications

• Has previous catering, kitchen, or food preparation experience.
• Excels in a fast-paced environment and adapts quickly to changing priorities.
• Remains calm, organized, and flexible when managing short-notice changes.
• Is a positive team player who enjoys collaborating with colleagues.
• Possesses a good standard of education, including basic literacy and numeracy skills.
• Takes pride in maintaining high standards of cleanliness, food hygiene, and customer service.

About Us

Abbey Gardens is a brand-new specialist school, part of Acorn Education, dedicated to supporting young people aged 11-16 with SEMH needs. Opened in June 2026, we provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where every student is empowered to thrive. Our personalized curriculum builds on the National Curriculum while being tailored to each student's individual needs, strengths, and aspirations. We combine academic learning with personal development, helping students build confidence, resilience, independence, and essential life skills. As our school grows, our curriculum will remain relevant, engaging, and purposeful, offering Key Stage 3 and 4 pathways with recognized accreditation wherever possible. Our aim is simple: to help every young person overcome barriers, experience success, and build a positive future. At Outcomes First Schools, we provide specialist education for learners who require a deeper level of understanding, expertise, and support than mainstream education typically offers. We support students with a wide range of complex, co-occurring, and neurodivergent needs, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, speech and communication needs, dyslexia, and experiences of trauma or adversity. We are proud to be part of OFG Education, which was officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the sixth consecutive year in 2025. Why Join Us? We place students 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 safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people.

Benefits

• 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

Note: We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. OFG Education is committed to a fair, thorough, and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. While we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, OFG Education does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants due to 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.