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Head Chef Educator

Laurel Park School

England

  • £37,118 - £39,703 per year
  • Expired
Salary:
Plus £1573.07 Contractual Overtime
Job type:
Part Time, Permanent
Start date:
01 December 2025
Apply by:
30 November 2025

Job overview

Laurel Park School, in partnership with Chefs in Schools, is seeking an inspiring Head Chef Educator to lead our catering team and bring our food vision to life. This is more than a kitchen role — it’s an opportunity to make a real difference to children’s health, wellbeing, and education through food.
You’ll lead a small, passionate team to produce fresh, seasonal, and nutritious meals every day, while also delivering fun and hands-on cooking classes. You’ll be the driving force behind great food, healthy habits, and food education at our school.

What You’ll Do
Lead and inspire the school’s catering team.
Create and deliver delicious, balanced menus that meet School Food Standards.
Ensure the highest levels of food hygiene, safety, and quality.
Manage the catering budget and ensure cost-effective use of resources.
Deliver cookery classes and food education sessions for pupils.
Promote healthy eating through themed days and events.
Work with the school gardener to use fresh produce and promote sustainability.
Collaborate with Chefs in Schools to innovate and inspire the next generation of food lovers.
Run catering events for other schools and Laurel Park school hosted in house.

About You
You’re a skilled and passionate chef who believes every child deserves fresh, nutritious food. You have experience leading a kitchen, managing a team, and creating exciting menus within budget. You’re enthusiastic about sharing your skills and engaging children in food and cooking.

You’ll bring:
Experience as a Head Chef, Catering Manager, or similar role.
Strong leadership and communication skills.
Excellent culinary knowledge and creativity.
A commitment to child nutrition, health, and wellbeing.
A positive, can-do attitude and a passion for education.

Why Join Us?
Be part of a mission-driven school that puts children first.
Join a growing network of chefs transforming school food through Chefs in Schools.
Enjoy creative freedom, professional support, and opportunities to grow.
Work in a supportive, collaborative, and inspiring environment.

Safeguarding
Laurel Park School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and references.





Attached documents

About Laurel Park School

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+44 20 8368 4710

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In November 2024 Laurel Park School was rated GOOD in all areas by Ofsted.

As soon as visitors come to Laurel Park, they are struck by the warmth and family feel of the school where students and staff are happy and successful. We are committed to working with talented individuals who share our vision and values and celebrate the best in everyone. Nurturing the best talent in diverse roles is what we are about.

The combination of impressive facilities, a broad and balanced curriculum, a passionate and dedicated teaching staff, supported by a strong leadership team guarantees our pupils’ success and enjoyment in their time at Laurel Park. Every child is understood for the person they are and will become. They are supported through their challenges, and their accomplishments are celebrated.

What’s unique about us:

  • A strong focus on staff care and wellbeing
  • High quality training and support
  • A clear career pathway
  • Employee assistance programme
  • Employee discount schemes via CSSC
  • Early Wednesday finish for students so staff have high quality CPD, but wonderful Wednesdays will also be the slot for meetings and parent evenings
  • Two week October half term
  • Live marking in the classroom - the there and then feedback is the most powerful
  • All staff have a well-being day - you can choose any day across the academic year
  • Enhanced PPA time
  • All staff can have a free school meal everyday, cooked by our great Chef educator
  • An excellent pastoral team who oversee and manage behaviour so that teachers can just focus on their teaching
  • Staff socials and quizzes
  • 6 Free small group personal training sessions a week for all staff in our new weights room


Supporting high quality teaching is pivotal in improving children’s outcomes.

Here at Laurel Park School your Training and Development is important to us. There are opportunities to develop and grow yourself and we encourage that you take positive steps to embrace these opportunities.

Every Wednesday afternoon the staff receive professional development training. The range of training on offer is vast including - supporting EAL students, Using Artificial Intelligence for reducing workload, safeguarding, managing behaviour, phonics and adaptive teaching strategies.  We meet termly to share good practice through Teach Meets and every teacher chooses a Teaching & Learning working group to develop a greater understanding of that area. These groups include foci like ‘raising achievement of boys’, ‘developing expectations for exercise books’ and ‘developing extended writing skills’.

If you are interested please get in touch - We are happy to answer any questions and take you on a tour of the school. Find out more at www.laurelparkschool.co.uk

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Applications closed