Catering Assistant

South Lincolnshire Academies Trust Ltd; Spalding; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 11,000; Part time

Job summary

South Lincolnshire Academies Trust Ltd invites applications for an Assistant in the Spalding Academy Catering Department. The role is 17.5 hours per week across 39 weeks per year, with duties including assisting in meal preparation, cooking, and serving, while maintaining hygiene and following food safety policies.

The successful candidate will work in a fast-paced school kitchen, with duties across canteen and food POD areas.

Qualifications

• Duties include assisting in preparation and cooking of meals and beverages to recipes/methods.
• Assist in serving meals, maintaining counter presentation, and providing polite service to customers.
• Prepare dining area and assist in storage and rotation of food stocks.

Responsibilities

• Assist in washing and clearing away utensils and crockery.
• Record temperatures before and during service when required.
• Report faults to Catering Director and ensure equipment is safe to use.
• Operate in-house cashless catering system.
• Follow cleaning schedules and maintain hygiene in catering areas.
• Undergo on/off job training and work across various catering areas.
• Undertake other duties required for effective operation of department.

Skills

Teamwork

Work at pace

Food safety

Cash handling

Tools

Cashless catering system

Job description

GLEA Grade 1
£10,150- £10,430 per annum
17.5 hours per week
39 weeks per annum
Spalding Academy
February 2027

South Lincolnshire Academies Trust is dedicated to providing quality fresh food for our students and staff and we work in a friendly environment to create healthy meals which taste great. The Trust aim to ensure that all aspects of food and nutrition promote the health and well-being of students, staff and visitors, supporting individual needs as appropriate.

Vacancies have arisen within the Spalding Academy Catering Department for an Assistant to work 17.5 hours per week (actual working hours will be discussed at interview).

Working within a fast paced, busy school kitchen, the ideal candidate will need to work at pace and as part of a team. Duties will include but are not limited to:

• Assisting in the preparation and cooking of meals and beverages on a daily basis in accordance with agreed recipes/methods;
• Assist in the serving of meals in line with agreed procedures and maintaining counter presentation, providing an efficient and polite service to customers;
• Preparation of the dining area;
• Assist in the storage and rotation of food stocks and ensure the food storage areas are maintained clean and in a tidy condition;
• Assist in washing and clearing away of all associated equipment, utensils and crockery;
• To take and record temperatures prior to service and during service when required;
• To report any faults or defects of premises, light and heavy equipment to the Director of Catering;
• To operate the in-house cashless catering system;
• Assist in the daily cleaning of all catering areas as per the cleaning schedule to an agreed standard;
• To undergo on and off the job training sessions as directed;
• To be able to work in various catering areas, covering various commensurate duties as required (ie: the canteen or food POD);
• To undertake any other duties that may be required for the effective operation of the catering department;
• Follow Food Safety and Health & Safety policies.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all its staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All pre-employment checks are undertaken in line with “Keeping Children Safe in Education” and all post holders are subject to satisfactory clearances prior to taking up an offer of employment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Closing date for applications is 8am on Monday 9th November 2026. Interviews will follow shortly thereafter.

We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.
We look forward to hearing from you.