School Chef

Hillingdon Manor School; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A school offering specialist education in Uxbridge is seeking a talented School Chef to lead meal preparation and create nutritious meals for pupils and staff. The role involves menu planning, managing a kitchen team, and ensuring food safety and nutrition standards are met. Ideal candidates will have strong catering experience, knowledge of food safety regulations, and a passion for delivering high-quality meals. This position offers an exceptional benefits package and the chance to make a significant impact in a vibrant school community.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme options

Mental health support services

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

Qualifications

• Strong catering experience, ideally in a school or similar setting.
• Knowledge of food safety, allergen management, and kitchen operations.
• Experience in menu planning, stock control, and supervising staff.
• Passion for creating tasty, high-quality meals.

Responsibilities

• Plan and serve high-quality, nutritious meals for staff and pupils.
• Develop exciting and varied menus considering nutrition and budget.
• Lead and manage kitchen staff to foster a team-focused environment.
• Maintain food safety, hygiene, and allergen compliance.

Skills

Strong catering experience

Knowledge of food safety and allergen management

Experience in menu planning

Passion for creating high-quality meals

Education

Catering qualification (NVQ Level 2 / 3 or equivalent)

Job description

This role does not offer sponsorship.

About the Role

Hillingdon Manor School is looking for a talented, creative School Chef to join our team and lead the preparation of delicious, nutritious meals that energise and inspire our pupils and staff. This is more than just cooking — it’s about shaping healthy habits, introducing exciting flavors, and contributing to a vibrant school community.

You’ll have the opportunity to design innovative menus, manage a small kitchen team, and ensure every meal meets the highest standards of taste, presentation, and nutrition. Your work will make a real difference to the wellbeing, happiness, and daily life of our school community.

What You’ll Do

• Plan, prepare, and serve high-quality, nutritious meals that pupils and staff enjoy
• Develop exciting and varied menus that balance nutrition, creativity, and budget
• Lead, inspire, and manage kitchen staff, fostering a team-focused and innovative environment
• Maintain food safety, hygiene, and allergen compliance at all times
• Manage stock efficiently, minimise waste, and maximise resources
• Contribute to a school culture where your culinary skills are valued and celebrated

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a confident, imaginative, and driven Chef who thrives in a busy environment and is passionate about creating meals that delight and nourish.

Essential

• Strong catering experience, ideally in a school, residential, or similar setting
• Knowledge of food safety, allergen management, and kitchen operations
• Experience in menu planning, stock control, and supervising staff
• Passion for creating tasty, high-quality meals that inspire pupils and staff

Desirable

• Previous management experience within a catering team
• Catering qualification (NVQ Level 2 / 3 or equivalent)

About Us

At Hillingdon Manor Secondary School, we provide specialist education for c185 pupils, aged between 11-19 years old. Our students are taught in smaller class sizes and all students work towards a variety of qualifications dependent on their needs and ability.

The aim of the site is to provide enough support to unlock each pupil’s potential so they can live fulfilling and productive lives. We provide students with as much freedom as possible in a safe and supervised environment. This is achievable due to the dedication and support from a range of employed professionals who are passionate, reliable, and understanding.

For over 19 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2025, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why join Options Autism?

We place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including :

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including :

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.