Kitchen Assistant

North East Combined Authority; Gateshead; Remote; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

CPD programme

LGPS access

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Northern Education Trust, Thorp Academy is seeking a reliable Kitchen Assistant to support daily catering operations and deliver a high-standard meal service to students and staff. The role involves basic food preparation, handling and storage, and maintaining kitchen cleanliness to the highest standards.

You will work part-time (10 hours/week across 39 weeks) from 12:00 to 14:00, Monday to Friday, at Thorp Academy, Ryton.

Qualifications

• Basic food preparation tasks to support meal service.
• Maintain cleanliness of kitchens and surrounding areas.
• Operate kitchen equipment safely and correctly.
• Follow health and safety procedures and standards.

Responsibilities

• Food preparation to support meal service.
• Maintain cleanliness of kitchens and work areas.
• Safe use of kitchen machinery and equipment.
• Comply with health and safety procedures and standards.
• Assist with deliveries and unloading as needed.
• Complete required training and participate in meetings as needed.

Skills

Food Preparation

Hygiene

Equipment Handling

Health & Safety

Deliveries

Training

Job description

Post: Kitchen Assistant (Catering)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary Range: SCP 4 – SCP 5 £26,016.00 - £26,427.00 FTE (£6,212.20 - £6,310.34 pro rata salary)

Salary amounts quoted are from the 1 September to 31 August and therefore if you commence employment part way through the academic year they are subject to an equated salary adjustment

Working Type: Part Time [10 hours / 39 weeks](45.942 paid weeks) - working hours - 12 - 2pm Monday to Friday

Base: Thorp Academy, Main Road, Ryton, Tyne & Wear, NE40 3AH

Please note: the post holder will be engaging in regulated activity, working mainly or wholly with children. This position is exempt from the rehabilitation of offender’s act 1974. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Northern Education Trust (NET) is a charitable education Trust with a good track record for school improvement. The Trust sponsors 30 academies; 17 secondary and 13 primaries across the North of England in fourteen Local Authority regions.

Northern Education Trust, Thorp Academy is seeking a reliable and motivated Kitchen Assistant to join our catering team at the Academy. You will play an essential role in supporting the daily operations of the kitchen and helping to deliver a high-standard meal service to our students and staff.

The successful candidate will assist with food preparation, handling, and storage, while maintaining the kitchen, associated working areas, and equipment to the highest standards of cleanliness.

Key Responsibilities for the role are:

• Food Preparation: Undertake basic food preparation to support effective meal service delivery.
• Hygiene & Maintenance: Maintain the cleanliness of all kitchens and surrounding work areas.
• Equipment Handling: Ensure the correct and safe use of all kitchen machinery and equipment.
• Health & Safety Compliance: Strictly comply with all health and safety procedures and standards.
• Deliveries: Assist as and when required with the loading or unloading of deliveries and supply vehicles.
• General Support & Training: Complete required training courses, participate in Trust meetings/working groups as needed, and carry out other general duties as reasonably requested.

Northern Education Trust offers:

• The opportunity to work and progress across the family of schools, should you wish in the future;
• The chance to apply for leadership roles in the Deeps structure taking on a whole school leadership project;
• The support and expertise of Director of Subjects.
• A full and detailed programme of support and development for all;
• A further comprehensive programme of professional development, including leadership, provided through the NET Staff College.

Employee benefits

• Free onsite parking
• High quality continuous professional development
• Occupational sick pay, maternity and paternity pay
• Access to Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7)

In accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, an online search will be completed on all shortlisted applicants prior to interview. Any relevant information will be discussed further with the applicant during the interview process.

The Trust is committed to considering flexible working requests.

The Trust is committed to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. All posts are subject to enhanced disclosure and barring service checks. We expect all adults to share our commitment to safeguarding and the health and wellbeing of our pupils.

For more information, please contact Sophie Curry, Business Manager at [e-mail]

Closing date: 9am, Thursday 4th November 2026