School Cook

FIRSTGROUP PLC; Bolton; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

An independent specialist school is seeking a School Cook to create fresh and nutritious meals for students. Responsibilities include designing menus, cooking vibrant meals, and maintaining high hygiene standards. The ideal candidate will be a qualified cook with a passion for fresh food and a genuine care for young people's wellbeing. This position offers a supportive team environment and various benefits like life assurance and a pension scheme.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

"Your Wellbeing Matters" access

Flexible Benefits Platform

Discount options

Cycle to Work Schemes

Electric Car Purchase Scheme

Critical illness cover

Family Growth Support

Qualifications

• Experience in a busy kitchen.
• Flair for flavour and love for fresh food.
• Genuine care for young people's wellbeing.

Responsibilities

• Cook vibrant, nutritious meals.
• Design balanced and inclusive menus.
• Maintain hygiene and safety standards.

Skills

Qualified cook

Team player

Creative and organized

Education

City & Guilds / NVQ in Catering or equivalent

Job description

Job Title: School Cook

Location: Waterloo Lodge School, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 7AX

About the Role

Working within a 4‑Day Working Week trial, you will be the heart of our school community – creating fresh, delicious, and nutritious meals that fuel our pupils for learning, play, and everything in between. Every day, you bring energy and creativity to the kitchen, crafting meals that not only meet dietary needs but also put smiles on faces.

Responsibilities

• Cook vibrant, nutritious meals that keep pupils energised and ready to learn.
• Design menus that are balanced, tasty, and inclusive of all dietary needs.
• Maintain top‑tier hygiene, safety, and food quality standards.
• Take pride in presentation – every plate leaving your kitchen looks as good as it tastes.
• Manage stock smartly: ordering, rotating, and minimising waste.
• Work as part of a friendly, supportive team that values your ideas and passion.
• Help make lunchtime a highlight of every school day.

Qualifications

• Qualified cook (City & Guilds / NVQ in Catering or equivalent) with experience in a busy kitchen.
• Flair for flavour, a love for fresh food, and a genuine care for young people's wellbeing.
• Team player who thrives in a buzzing, positive environment.
• Creative, organised chef who takes pride in every plate they serve.

Work Hours & Benefits

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.

Benefits include:

• 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.
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista) offering a market‑leading package 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 covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, and paid fertility treatment support.

About Us

Waterloo Lodge is an independent specialist day school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18, catering for pupils with a wide range of needs in Lancashire, Manchester and surrounding areas. Our dedicated team work together to ensure successful outcomes for pupils who often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life. We pride ourselves in steering pupils in the right direction, nurturing aspiration to progress them academically and socially, encouraging them to take pride in their achievements. Socially, we build confidence in our students so that they are able to have a greater understanding of the wider community in which they live. For over 19 years Options Autism has provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. 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.

Commitment to Safeguarding

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

Additional Information

UK applicants only – this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Applicants will be subject to a full DBS check. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.