Assistant Cook

Aqueduct Primary Academy; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous Annual Leave

Professional Development

Flexible & Family-Friendly

Exclusive Discounts

Well-being Support

Job summary

Aqueduct Primary Academy in the West Midlands is seeking an Assistant Cook to join its friendly catering team. You will support the Catering Manager and team in preparing healthy, nutritious meals for children and staff.

You will help ensure meals meet high standards, maintain food hygiene and kitchen safety, and follow planned menus during lunch service. This part-time role offers development opportunities within a supportive academy community.

Qualifications

• Experience in kitchen or catering environments preferred.
• Food hygiene and safety awareness preferred.
• Good teamwork and communication within a school catering setting.

Responsibilities

• Assist with preparation, cooking and service of meals to the required standard.
• Follow menu plans for lunch service and sections you are responsible for.
• Deputise for the Catering Manager as required.
• Supervise other kitchen staff during lunch service.
• Follow the menu and recipes as set.
• Occasionally assist with functions outside normal hours.
• Carry out cleaning duties in kitchen and dining areas.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene and safety.

Skills

Food preparation

Hygiene compliance

Team collaboration

Job description

We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Assistant Cook to join our friendly catering team at Aqueduct Academy. The successful candidate will support the Catering Manager and team in preparing healthy, nutritious, and appetising meals for our children and staff each day.

You will help ensure that all meals are produced to a high standard, maintaining excellent levels of food hygiene and kitchen safety.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• To provide assistance with preparation, cooking and service of food to the required standard.
• To follow menu plans agreed with the Catering Manager for lunch service on the section you are responsible for
• To deputise for the Catering Manager as required.
• To take responsibility for the supervision of other kitchen staff during lunch service.
• To follow the menu and recipes agreed
• To occasionally assist with special functions which may be outside of normal working hours.
• To carry out cleaning duties within the kitchen and dining areas as required.
• To follow sound hygiene practices.
• To ensure that health and safety regulations are adhered to in working practices.
• To assist with the issue and recording of catering supplies as required.
• To assist with the operation of control procedures as required.
• To report immediately any accidents, fire, theft, loss, damage, or unfit food or other irregularities and take such action as may be appropriate or possible.

In return we can offer:

• A commitment to you and your professional development
• Friendly, supportive, enthusiastic and hardworking colleagues, staff and Governors
• A growing learning community
• Encouragement to develop new ideas and the opportunity to make a real difference

This post is part time time (20 hrs) Working hours are Monday to Friday 9:30am-13.30pm

Why Work with REAch2 Academy Trust?

Join REAch2 Academy Trust, one of the UK's largest primary academy trusts, with a mission to unlock the potential of every child, regardless of their background. Here’s why joining our team can be an exciting and fulfilling career choice:

• Excellence & Development: We prioritise high standards and offer extensive professional development and career growth opportunities.
• Supportive & Collaborative:Be part of a strong, collaborative community of over 60 schools where every voice is valued, and best practices are shared.
• Well-being Focus: We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer robust well-being support for all staff.
• Diversity & Inclusion: We celebrate diversity and believe that varied perspectives strengthen our schools.
• Innovation & Impact: Bring creativity to the classroom and make a real difference in children’s lives.
• Making a difference: Working with REAch2 means contributing to something bigger than yourself. You’ll be helping to shape the lives of young learners, making a meaningful impact on communities and future generations.

Join us to grow your career, collaborate with passionate educators, and make a lasting impact on future generations.

Benefits

• We offer a range of benefits to support your career and well-being:
• Generous Annual Leave: healthy work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Access diverse CPD and training opportunities to grow your skills.
• Flexible & Family-Friendly: We are committed to supporting flexible working and requests will be considered on an individual basis, including options such as part time, term-time, home working, and other options that work for both the employee and the Trust.
• Exclusive Discounts: Benefit from Blue Light Card offers and employee perks.
• Well-being Support: Receive comprehensive well-being and employee assistance for you and your family.

Join REAch2 for a rewarding career with great benefits!

Safeguarding, Safer Recruitment and Data Protection At REAch2 we recognise that those who work in an academy are in a unique position in their care of children. The responsibility for all staff to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare, as stated in Section 175 of the Education Act (2002) is one that is central to our ethos, our policies and our actions. All children are deserving of the highest levels of care and safeguarding, regardless of their individual characteristics or circumstances, and we are committed to applying our policies to ensure effective levels of safeguarding and care are afforded to all our pupils.

We will seek to recruit the best applicant for the job based on the abilities, qualifications, experience as measured against the job description and person specification. The recruitment and selection of staff will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.An enhanced DBS disclosure will be requested for all successful candidates, including a Children's Barred List check if the role meets the criteria for regulated activity.

For more information about our safer recruitment processes, please click here for our Safer Recruitment Policy.

All information is stored securely, and any information supplied by unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed through a confidential waste system six months after the decision has been communicated, in accordance with our information and records retention policy.

The Trust ensures all applicant data is stored and processed appropriately. For further details on how your information will be managed during the recruitment process please refer to our Privacy Notice for Job Applications.