School Cook

The Witherslack Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational organization is looking for a dedicated cook to join its team in Manchester. The role involves supervising a kitchen team to provide nutritious meals to students with diverse needs. Candidates should have a Level 3 qualification in Food Safety in Catering and skills in budgeting and menu planning. This position offers competitive salary and excellent benefits, including full school holidays and a supportive working environment. Start date is set for June 2026.

Benefits

Full induction and on the job training

Full school holidays

Flexible benefits

Wellbeing tools and advice

Medical cover for appointments

High-street discounts

£1,000 'recommend a friend' bonus

Qualifications

• Have a Level 3 qualification in Food Safety in Catering (or equivalent).
• Be organised and have the ability to plan menus.
• Have experience budgeting for each meal and ordering in bulk.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a skilled team and plan nutritious menus for our young people.
• Ensure the school meets food hygiene regulations and nutritional standards.
• Build fantastic relationships with all of our staff and young people.

Skills

Food Safety in Catering

Menu planning

Budgeting for meals

Education

Level 3 qualification in Food Safety in Catering

Job description

Job Start Date

Please note: This role is to start in June 2026.

Salary

£24,796 - £25,583 + excellent benefits (salary will be pro rata'd)

About the School

Being a cook in our school means being part of something big. You'll be working at the heart of the school, preparing and serving tasty, nutritious food to our young people, staff and visitors.

Opening in September 2026, Bowersgate School is a purpose built, brand new, state of the art school. The school will cater for up to 72 pupils aged 6 - 16 with a wide range of needs including autism and social, emotional and mental health needs. This new exciting opportunity serves Wythenshawe and the wider communities, you are at the heart of its development. Our aim is to ensure that every pupil has an outstanding educational experience with individual pupil progress and care at the heart of what is offered.

Responsibilities

• Supervise a skilled team and plan nutritious menus for our young people.
• Make sure that the school meets food hygiene regulations and nutritional standards.
• Build fantastic relationships with all of our staff and young people by doing what you do best.

Benefits

• Training: A full induction and on the job training.
• Holiday: You'll work hard at WG, so you'll be rewarded with full school holidays.
• Flexible benefits: meaning you can increase/decrease benefits such as life insurance – check out our benefits here.
• Wellbeing: a host of wellbeing tools and advice including employee assistance.
• Medical cover so you can claim back the cost of things like an opticians or dentist appointment and a host of high-street discounts.
• Beautiful working environments with the very best facilities – check out our schools here.
• A recommend a friend scheme that offers a £1,000 bonus every time.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

• Have a Level 3 qualification in Food Safety in Catering (or equivalent).
• Be organised and have the ability to plan menus.
• Have experience budgeting for each meal and ordering in bulk.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Our young people come from all walks of life, diverse backgrounds and with different needs – and our workforce reflects that diversity, so that our teams can engage, encourage and inspire our young people to be themselves. The kind of person we’re looking for will:

• Have a Level 3 qualification in Food Safety in Catering (or equivalent).
• Be organised and have the ability to plan menus.
• Have experience budgeting for each meal and ordering in bulk.

At Witherslack Group, inclusion is part of who we are. We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued and that they truly belong. As a specialist provider of education and care for children and young people with special educational needs, we understand the importance of embracing individuality and championing difference‑especially when it comes to neurodiversity. We celebrate diverse perspectives, lived experiences and the unique strengths that each person brings to our community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities. We are proud to be recognised as an inclusive employer and are committed to making our recruitment and workplace practices inclusive and accessible. If you need any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process or in the workplace, we’ll be there every step of the way.

By building a diverse and inclusive team, we’re better able to support the children, young people and families we serve and ensure every member of our team can thrive, grow and be their authentic self.

The Witherslack Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check (we will cover the cost) and an online search. We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all sections of the