Cook

AWD online; England; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution is seeking a dedicated School Cook to prepare and serve nutritious meals in a busy primary school kitchen. The ideal candidate will have experience in catering, strong hygiene awareness, and ability to follow healthy eating standards for children. This full-time, permanent position offers a salary of £27,779 FTE and includes benefits like a pension scheme and leisure center membership.

Benefits

Staff membership rates to the modern Leisure Centre

Enrolment in a public sector pension scheme

Tax-efficient Cycle-to-Work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in a kitchen or catering environment preparing large-scale, nutritious meals.
• Understanding of food safety and school healthy eating standards.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Prepare meals and ingredients according to dietary requirements.
• Cook meals to a high standard and ensure timely service.
• Maintain hygiene, safety and allergen standards.

Skills

Food Preparation and Cooking

Meal Production

Baking and Desserts

Food Safety Compliance

Strong Organisational Skills

Good Communication Skills

Education

Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate

Allergen awareness training

Job description

School Cook

A great opportunity for a friendly and organised Cook with experience preparing nutritious meals in a busy kitchen, strong hygiene awareness, food preparation skills and knowledge of healthy eating standards for children.

If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Assistant Chef, Catering Supervisor, Kitchen Team Leader, Catering Assistant.

SALARY: £27,779 FTE per annum / Actual Annual Salary £23,825 (for 39 Term Time Weeks) + Benefits.

LOCATION: Hedge End, Southampton, Hampshire (SO30).

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent (term time only).

WORKING HOURS: 37 hours per week Monday to Friday, 7.00am – 3.00pm, term time only (39 weeks).

JOB OVERVIEW

Are you a happy, positive person who would love to work with a likeminded team? If so, we are looking for someone to join a team in a busy kitchen within a large primary school. We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a School Cook with previous experience in a kitchen or catering environment preparing nutritious meals on a large scale, with a good understanding of food allergens and healthy eating standards. As the School Cook you will work under the direction of the Catering Manager, preparing, cooking and serving food and drink to students and staff. You will also be required to prepare and dismantle eating areas and carry out cleaning duties whilst maintaining high quality standards of health, hygiene and safety. This role is perfect for someone who enjoys working as part of a team, has confidence managing kitchen tasks and can deliver high‑quality meals at pace.

DUTIES

• Food Preparation and Cooking: Preparing meals and ingredients in line with menus and dietary requirements.
• Meal Production: Cooking meals to a high standard and ensuring they are ready on time.
• Baking and Desserts: Producing cakes, biscuits and puddings and packaging them as required.
• Food Service: Serving meals with correct utensils and maintaining good presentation.
• Kitchen Equipment Care: Using, cleaning and maintaining kitchen equipment safely.
• Team Support: Overseeing and supporting kitchen staff during service.
• Food Safety Compliance: Maintaining hygiene, safety and allergen standards at all times.
• Cash Handling: Operating tills or cashless systems and preparing money for banking.
• Dining Area Set‑Up: Assisting with setting out tables, chairs and equipment for service.
• Cleaning Duties: Completing washing up and cleaning rotas to maintain hygiene levels.
• Stock Management: Storing deliveries correctly and following stock rotation guidelines.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Allergen awareness training.
• Previous experience in a kitchen or catering environment.
• Experience preparing large‑scale, nutritious meals.
• Understanding of food safety and school healthy eating standards.
• Awareness of safeguarding and allergen procedures.
• Ability to plan menus in line with nutritional guidelines.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Good communication skills with children and staff.
• Friendly, reliable and positive attitude.
• Commitment to child welfare and safe practice.

BENEFITS

• Friendly and sociable colleagues.
• Staff membership rates to the modern Leisure Centre.
• Enrolment in one of the UK’s Largest public sector pension schemes.
• A tax‑efficient Cycle‑to‑Work scheme through salary sacrifice.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The school will ensure that all their recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

We reserve the right to close any of our vacancies early.

JOB REF: AWDO-P14124