School Cook and Life Skills Instructor

FirstGroup plc; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme with options to increas

Inclusive team environment

Job summary

Options Trent Acres School, part of Outcomes First Group, is seeking a School Cook and Life Skills Instructor to lead the kitchen and inspire students through cooking and everyday life skills.

You will create fresh, nutritious meals, plan menus, and support students to develop employability skills while maintaining high hygiene and safety standards. This term-time, permanent role offers a Monday–Friday schedule with 8am–4pm hours.

Qualifications

• Passion about food and working with young people
• Experience in catering, school, care or similar kitchen environment
• Ability to prepare fresh, nutritious meals to a high standard
• Good knowledge of food hygiene, food safety and safe kitchen practices
• Confidence in planning menus and catering for dietary requirements
• Strong organisational skills for stock, orders and budgets
• Ability to engage, support and inspire students through cooking and life skills activities

Responsibilities

• Prepare fresh, nutritious meals for students and staff daily.
• Plan varied menus catering for dietary needs and allergies.
• Lead cooking and life skills sessions to build confidence and independence.
• Support students to gain practical kitchen experience for adulthood and employment.
• Manage day-to-day kitchen operations including stock control, ordering and budgeting.
• Maintain high food hygiene, health and safety standards.

Skills

Food preparation

Menu planning

Catering for dietary needs

Food hygiene knowledge

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Student engagement

Job description

School Cook and Life Skills Instructor

Start Date: 28 September 2026

Location: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, GB, ST4 1HH

Contract Type: Any

Application Deadline: 29 October 2026, 11:00:05.88

We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge

Job Title: School Cook and Life Skills Instructor

Location:

Trent Acres, Kings Bromley, DE13 7HR

Hours:

40 hours per week | Monday to Friday | 8am - 4pm

Salary:

£26,630 per annum (not pro rata)

Contract:

Permanent | Term Time Only

Start:

November 2026

Note: UK applicants only - this role does not offer sponsorship

About the Role

We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic School Cook & Life Skills Instructor to lead our kitchen and inspire students through food, cooking and everyday life skills. This is a unique opportunity to combine your passion for food with meaningful work that changes lives.

You’ll create fresh, nutritious meals that students and staff look forward to each day, while also helping young people develop the confidence, independence and practical skills they need for adulthood. Unlike many chef roles, you’ll enjoy a better work-life balance with Monday to Friday, term-time working, giving you evenings, weekends and school holidays away from the kitchen.

You’ll have the freedom to plan menus, introduce new ideas and take ownership of a kitchen that sits at the heart of our school community. Just as importantly, you’ll support students to develop cooking, food preparation and employability skills, helping them gain valuable real-world experience and confidence for the future. Every meal you prepare and every skill you teach will contribute to helping our students thrive.

What you will be doing

• Preparing fresh, nutritious and appealing meals for students and staff each day.
• Planning varied menus that cater for dietary needs, allergies and individual requirements.
• Leading engaging cooking and life skills sessions that build students' confidence and independence.
• Supporting students to gain practical kitchen experience and develop skills for adulthood and employment.
• Managing the day-to-day operation of the kitchen, including stock control, ordering and budgeting.
• Maintaining exceptional food hygiene, health and safety and compliance standards.
• Creating a welcoming kitchen environment where students can learn, participate and succeed.

What you will bring

• Passion about food, enjoyment in working with young people, and a sense of purpose.
• Experience working in a catering, school, care or similar kitchen environment.
• Ability to prepare fresh, nutritious meals to a high standard.
• Good knowledge of food hygiene, food safety, and safe kitchen practices.
• Confidence in planning menus and catering for dietary requirements.
• Strong organisational skills for managing stock, orders, and budgets.
• Ability to engage, support, and inspire students through cooking and life skills activities.
• A positive, reliable, and flexible approach with excellent communication skills.

About Us

Options Trent Acres School is an independent specialist school in rural Staffordshire for students with autism, trauma, attachment, anxiety, and other complex needs. We provide a nurturing, safe, and structured environment where we strive to make sure students feel valued and experience a sense of belonging.

Small groups, with high staff ratios, and child-centered programmes support social, emotional, and academic development that help our students grow into well-adjusted members of the wider world. Integrated clinical care and strong family partnerships empower every student to build confidence, independence, and skills to thrive in life.

For over 19 years, Options Autism has provided specialist care and education for children, young people, and adults with autism, complex needs, and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are pioneering innovative, evidence-based approaches that deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes for everyone in our care.

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

Why Join Us?

We place students and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people.

All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

We offer:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions