Catering Assistant

Ark; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 11,000 - 13,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Higher salaries (2.5% above main pay)

Extra training days

Pension scheme

Ark rewards

Interest-free loans

Gym discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Free soup in Autumn/Winter

Free fruit in Spring/Summer

Job summary

Ark Kings Academy is seeking a Catering Assistant to support the delivery of a high-quality meal service for pupils. You will assist with food preparation, cooking, serving, and interacting with staff and pupils, while ensuring allergen awareness and dietary requirements are met.

The role includes cleaning of kitchen areas and equipment, with duties across dining and service spaces aligned to the school timetable. The position is permanent and term-time with start date asap.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above (or equivalent).
• Right to work in the UK.
• Health & Safety Level 3 qualification (desirable).
• First Aid qualification (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation and cooking of nutritious meals for mealtimes.
• Serve food to a high standard and interact with staff and pupils, considering allergens and dietary requirements.
• Assist with the sale, service and clearing of all food, beverages and utensils.
• Assist with routine and deep cleaning of kitchen, storage, service and dining areas, including equipment.

Education

GCSE Maths and English (C or above)

Right to work in the UK

Health & Safety L3 (desirable)

First Aid (desirable)

Job description

About The Role

Hours: 32.5 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-2:30pm, 39 weeks per year

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: 9:00am on 30th September 2026, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received

Start date: As soon as possible

As a Catering Assistant, you will be working as part of a team who ensure the delivery of a consistent, high-quality meal service that meets the needs of the Academy by assisting with all aspects of food preparation, food service, kitchen hygiene and other duties associated with the running of the kitchen and food service operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation and cooking of a range of nutritious food for mealtimes
• Serve the food to an exceptional standard and interact with the staff and pupils in an appropriate and helpful way, providing a knowledgeable service at all times, in particular with regard to allergens and other dietary requirements
• Assist in the sale, service and clearing of all food, beverages and utensils
• Assist with routine and deep cleaning of the kitchen, food storage, service and dining areas, including heavy and light equipment and machinery, crockery and cutlery, in accordance with the cleaning schedule

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English Grade C or above (or equivalent)
• Right to work in the U.K.
• Health & Safety and Food Hygiene qualification L3 (desirable)
• First Aid qualification (desirable)

Benefits

• Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale.
• Twice as many training days as standard.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers
• Interest-free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
• Gym discounts – offering up to 40%.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support.
• Free soup in the Autumn/Winter
• Free fruit in the Spring/Summer

Find out more about the benefits of working for Ark at arklonline.org/careers/why-work-with-us/

About Us

We are an all-through school serving the local community with pupils from Nursery - Year 11. Our mission is to create a school in which every child thrives, academically and socially.

Over the past 2 years we have made remarkable progress, moving from an Inadequate Ofsted rating to a Good. This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our staff with Ofsted commenting that pupils understand the high expectations that staff have for them and strive to meet with.

• Behaviour: Our pupils know the school rules of, ‘ready, respectful and safe’ and demonstrate these qualities in their behaviour towards each other and their teachers.
• An ambitious curriculum: Our well-sequenced curriculum, spanning early years to Year 11, ensures that all pupils, including those with special educational needs, receive a high-quality education.
• Reading strength: Our effective teaching strategies empower pupils to become fluent readers, setting them up for success in their academic journey.
• Personal development: At Ark Kings Academy, we prioritize personal development, preparing our pupils for their future roles as responsible citizens.
• Attendance: Our pupils and parents recognise the importance of high attendance, and at secondary, we sit above the national average.

Visit arkkingsacademy.org/jobslearn more about us.

Diversity and inclusion:

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.