School Cook

Jubilee School; Waterlooville; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A local school in Waterlooville is seeking an enthusiastic School Cook to lead kitchen operations and deliver nutritious meals. The ideal candidate will have a Food Hygiene Certificate and a passion for creating healthy, appealing meals. Responsibilities include menu planning, managing stock, and overseeing kitchen team dynamics. The school is part of Acorn Education and invests in the well-being and professional development of its staff. Join a dedicated team where your contributions can make a real difference in young people's lives.

Benefits

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Mental health support services

Flexible Benefits Platform with discount options

Cycle to Work Schemes

Qualifications

• Holds a Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Enjoys creating high-quality meals for young people.
• Maintains excellent hygiene and safety standards.
• Works confidently in a busy kitchen.
• Communicates well and builds positive relationships.

Responsibilities

• Prepare fresh, nutritious meals that support pupil and staff wellbeing.
• Plan balanced menus that meet a range of dietary requirements.
• Keep the kitchen running safely and efficiently.
• Manage stock and food waste responsibly.
• Lead and support the kitchen team.

Skills

Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or 3)

Meal preparation

Menu planning

Team leadership

High hygiene standards

Job description

— this role does not offer visa sponsorship

Are you passionate about food, creativity, and making a difference in the school community? Do you thrive in a warm, lively environment where every day brings new challenges and opportunities? At Jubilee School, we’re looking for a talented and enthusiastic School Cook to lead our kitchen and deliver fresh, nutritious, and exciting meals that fuel our students and staff.

This is your chance to play a vital role in the heart of the school—bringing people together, inspiring healthy choices, and making mealtimes a highlight of the day.

About the Role

As School Cook, you’ll lead the planning, preparation, and delivery of a high-quality catering service. You’ll create nutritious, appealing meals that meet a range of dietary needs, maintain excellent food safety standards, and ensure the kitchen operates smoothly each day. Where applicable, you will also oversee the kitchen team to maintain a positive, efficient and well‑organised working environment.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare fresh, nutritious meals that support pupil and staff wellbeing
• Plan balanced menus that meet a range of dietary requirements
• Keep the kitchen running safely and efficiently, maintaining high hygiene standards
• Manage stock, portion control, ordering and food waste responsibly
• Handle deliveries and supplier queries with accuracy
• Provide tailored meals for specific dietary needs
• Support daily mealtime services for students, staff and visitors
• Lead, support and guide the kitchen team, delegating tasks effectively

General responsibilities include :

• Reporting maintenance issues and maintaining accurate records
• Working within budget and using resources responsibly
• Following school policies, including safeguarding and health & safety
• Representing Jubilee School professionally and prioritising pupil wellbeing

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a School Cook who brings passion, creativity and pride to every plate—someone who :

• Holds a Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 or 3)
• Enjoys creating high‑quality, nutritious meals for young people
• Maintains excellent hygiene and safety standards
• Works confidently in a busy kitchen
• Can plan menus, manage stock and stay organised under pressure
• Communicates well and builds positive relationships
• Is flexible, reliable and adaptable
• Works well as part of a friendly, supportive team
• Upholds Jubilee School’s values with students’ wellbeing at the centre

Why join Acorn Education?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults 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 and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

About Us

At Jubilee School, we are committed to supporting students through approaches informed by our Neurodiversity Strategy and Trauma‑Informed Practice. We strive to provide a happy, welcoming, and motivating learning environment, where students enjoy their learning experiences and are encouraged to achieve their full potential.

Opened in October 2006, Jubilee School is an independent special school providing highly effective education, therapy, welfare, and support for both boys and girls with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties, as well as other complex needs.

Located in Waterlooville, the school is within easy commuting distance of Portsmouth, Chichester, and surrounding areas, making it accessible for both staff and families.

We are part of Acorn Education and can offer plenty of challenges along with a wide range of opportunities to develop your career. Acorn Education is the UK’s leading provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in creating and delivering innovative approaches that achieve 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.

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.
• 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

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

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.

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