School Cook/Chef

Positive Futures Recruitment Ltd; West of England; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Positive Futures Recruitment Ltd is recruiting a School Chef/Cook for a brand-new specialist school opening in January 2027. The role is based at Backwell and offers 40-hour weeks Term Time Only (41 weeks), with a permanent, full-time contract.

Salary ranges from £27,105 to £30,355 per year, with start date 1 December 2026. You will lead the school kitchen, develop balanced menus, ensure high hygiene standards and accommodate dietary needs, allergens, and sensory requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience cooking with a wide range of fresh ingredients.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene and catering legislation.
• Experience managing stock, portions and budgets.
• Knowledge of special diets, allergens and nutrition.
• Experience supervising catering staff.
• Excellent communication with stakeholders.
• Good organisational skills and record keeping.
• Awareness of learning disabilities/additional needs affecting catering.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and serve nutritious meals using fresh ingredients.
• Plan balanced menus meeting dietary and allergen requirements.
• Manage stock control, ordering, portioning and budgeting.
• Supervise and support kitchen staff, including rotas and training.
• Build relationships with students and staff to promote healthy eating.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene, health and safety and comply with legislation.
• Collaborate with students, staff and suppliers to ensure nutritious and inclusive meals.

Skills

Fresh ingredients

Food hygiene

Budgeting

Dietary knowledge

Staff supervision

Stakeholder communication

Organisation

Special needs awareness

Job description

School Chef/Cook

Location: Backwell

Salary: £27,105.31 £30,354.94 (£14.43 £16.16 per hour)

Hours: 40 hours per week, Term Time Only (41 weeks)

Working Pattern: 6am2pm

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

Start Date: 1st December 2026

A brand-new specialist school is opening its doors in January 2027, and we are looking for an experienced, passionate Cook to help bring this exciting vision to life. This is a rare opportunity to shape a brand new catering provision and be part of something genuinely transformative.

The school will provide a nurturing, inclusive and ambitious environment for children and young people aged 519 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. With capacity for 96 learners, the mission is to create a safe, enriching and aspirational setting where every child can thrive and nutritious, home cooked food is a key part of that.

The Role

As the Cook, youll lead the day to day running of the school kitchen, ensuring pupils and staff enjoy high quality, nutritious meals in a warm and welcoming environment. Youll develop balanced menus, maintain exceptional hygiene standards and work closely with colleagues, students and families to meet a wide range of dietary, allergen and sensory needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and serve nutritious meals using fresh ingredients wherever possible.
• Plan balanced, appealing menus that meet diverse dietary, allergen and sensory requirements.
• Manage stock control, ordering, portioning and budgeting to deliver an efficient catering service.
• Supervise and support kitchen staff, including rotas, training and daily guidance.
• Build positive relationships with students, encouraging healthy eating and gathering feedback.
• Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene, health and safety and compliance with catering legislation.
• Work collaboratively with students, staff and suppliers to ensure meals are nutritious, appealing and inclusive.

About You

We're looking for someone who is passionate about creating healthy, home cooked food and enjoys being part of a school community.

Essential Experience & Knowledge

• Experience preparing and cooking meals using a wide range of fresh ingredients.
• Strong understanding of food hygiene, food safety and relevant catering legislation.
• Experience managing stock, portion control and working within a budget.
• Knowledge of special diets, allergens and nutritional requirements.
• Experience supervising or supporting staff in a catering environment.
• Excellent communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to maintain accurate records.
• Awareness of learning disabilities and/or additional needs and how these may impact catering provision.

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