Primary School cook

TeacherActive Ltd; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

TeacherActive is working with a mainstream primary school in Sunderland to appoint an experienced Primary School Cook. The role involves preparing and serving nutritious meals daily, maintaining high food hygiene standards, and contributing to a positive lunchtime environment.

The post is long-term, starts after October half term, and requires a relevant Food Hygiene and Safety qualification, plus experience in a busy kitchen.

Qualifications

• Experience cooking in a school or busy catering environment.
• Ability to prepare meals while maintaining safety and hygiene standards.
• Organised and reliable with good time management.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve school meals daily.
• Maintain cleanliness and high standards of food hygiene.
• Manage daily kitchen duties and ensure safe food handling.

Skills

Organisational skills

Time management

Teamwork

Independent worker

Education

Food Hygiene and Safety qualification

Job description

Job Title: Primary School Cook Location: Sunderland Start Date: After October Half Term Salary: £15.00 - £15.50 per hour

Are you an experienced Primary School Cook looking for a rewarding opportunity in a friendly primary school?

Do you have experience preparing nutritious meals while maintaining high standards of food hygiene and safety?

Are you organised, reliable and passionate about providing healthy meals for young children?

TeacherActive is proud to be working with a mainstream primary school based in Sunderland, who are looking to appoint a dedicated Primary School Cook. The school is looking for a hardworking and enthusiastic individual who can contribute to a positive lunchtime environment and ensure pupils receive nutritious, well-prepared meals each day.

The school is looking to take on an experienced Primary School Cook on a long-term basis, starting after October half term. The successful Primary School Cook will be responsible for preparing and serving school meals, maintaining high standards of cleanliness and food hygiene, managing daily kitchen duties and ensuring all food is prepared safely and efficiently.

The successful Primary School Cook will have:

• A relevant Food Hygiene and Safety qualification
• Previous experience working in a catering or kitchen environment
• Experience preparing and serving meals in a busy setting
• Good knowledge of food hygiene regulations, allergen awareness and health and safety procedures
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• A positive, hardworking attitude and the ability to work independently and as part of a team

In return for the above you can expect to receive:

• A dedicated team of consultants available 24/7 to help you with the easy onboarding process
• CPD courses and certificates as part of the My-Progression channel
• Market leading rates of pay
• TeacherActive Referral Scheme: Receive up to £100 when you refer a friend Terms and Conditions apply

Our staff are paid on a PAYE basis, so you can rest assured that you’re paying the right level of TAX and National Insurance and there’s no messing around with admin charges coming out of your hard earned cash.

Primary School cook

Company: TeacherActive Ltd

Salary: £15 to £15.50 an hour

Hours: Full-time

Location: SR3

Working pattern: On-site

Job type: Temporary

Posting date: 12 Oct 2026

Closing date: 11 Nov 2026

About TeacherActive

TeacherActive is one of the UK’s leading education recruitment agencies, with over 20 years of experience supporting schools and education professionals. We place teachers and support staff into a wide range of temporary, contract and permanent roles, helping candidates find rewarding opportunities that suit their experience, availability and career goals. We pride ourselves on providing an excellent service to both our schools and candidates.

Equal Opportunities Statement

TeacherActive is an equal opportunities employer and operates as an Employment Business and Employment Agency in providing temporary, contract and permanent job seeking services.

Safeguarding and DBS Compliance

Registration may involve an enhanced DBS check, ID checks and the supply of good professional references, depending on the role. We are committed to safeguarding and compliance across all placements.

Regular external audits have shown repeatedly that our standards are exceptional. We are passionate about finding the right staff for each education environment.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme