Cookery Teacher (Lower School and Leiths Sixth Form course)

Wycombe Abbey is a full boarding school which provides an outstanding all-round education for girls aged 11 to 18. 

Cookery provides girls with the nutritional understanding and kitchen skills vital to prepare them for the future. Many of these skills are practised during evening Cookery Clubs, weekend activities and all recipes are loaded online for girls to cook at home. Basic skills are learnt in the early years, moving through to a more confident and professional course in the Sixth Form. Cooking from scratch, safety in the kitchen, an awareness of healthy eating habits and recipes from different cultures are promoted at all levels. 

Pupils are encouraged to discover the pleasures of cooking and to prepare food with confidence. Practical skills are developed and girls are taught everything from how to hold a knife to how to finish their cooking as more of a fine dining presentation. As they begin to work more independently, girls in the Lower Sixth have the opportunity to complete the Leiths Academy course. Pupils who embark on this course develop skills to a more professional level, cooking  meals, exploring food of different cultures and working as a group. The course is appropriate for the Skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. 

The Cookery Teacher will deliver the Cookery Course to Sixth Form girls. Responsibility will also include non-examined cookery throughout the School, teaching timetabled lessons on a carousel in UIII (Year 7) and LIV (Year 8) and liaising with and overseeing extra recreational cookery. 

The ideal candidate will have a professional cookery qualification, the ability to liaise with maintenance staff, knowledge of IT and the enthusiasm to teach pupils in a classroom setting as well as contribute to the wider areas of the school. Attending parents’ meetings, writing reports and supporting the pastoral systems of the School is expected.

The successful candidate will possess Food Hygiene Level II or III and Emergency First Aid qualifications, or have a willingness to undertake the training. Wycombe Abbey has an extensive training system and attendance at INSET each term is compulsory. Leiths Academy training is desirable and CPD support is provided by Leiths throughout the year. As this is a boarding community an interest in supporting the well-being of pupils and House activities is desirable.

Hours: This is a part-time post to teach 24 35-minute lessons of Cookery per week during Wycombe Abbey term-time. Some lessons will require evening teaching until 8pm.

Wycombe Abbey is located on a beautiful site in the centre of High Wycombe. The Cookery Department is well equipped and is located in a purpose-built facility furnished to a high professional standard. Wycombe Abbey has its own salary scale which compares favourably with other independent schools and is well above that of the maintained sector. 

Closing date: Monday 5 June 2023 

Interview date: Tuesday 13 June 2023

To apply: Please see the job profile document for full information about this role. Please complete an application form and submit this, together with a covering letter, to the Headmistress, Mrs J Duncan by selecting “Apply Now”. Should you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact the HR Team on 01494 895575 or hr@wycombeabbey.com

We reserve the right to appoint to this position before the closing date, should we receive a high volume of suitable early applications.

Wycombe Abbey School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

We are an equal opportunities employer. Registered Charity No. 310638