Prep chef
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The Grammar School at Leeds
Leeds LS17
- £23,720.87 - £26,104 per year
- New
- Salary:
- GSAL 12 (£26,104 FTE) Actual term time only salary: £23,720.87 per annum + amazing benefits!
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- 01/01/2027 or ASAP
- Apply by:
- 28 September 2026
Job overview
Contract: Permanent, term-time only plus five days (with some requirement to work ad-hoc days during holiday periods for events)
Hours: 7am-3pm Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week term time only (school holidays off)
Salary: GSAL 12 (£26,104 FTE), Actual term time only salary is: £23,720.87 per annum, £13.54 per hour
A chef role with a better work-life balance!
If you love working in a busy kitchen but are looking for a role that gives you more time away from work, this could be the perfect opportunity. As an independent school, GSAL has generous school holiday periods, and this role is primarily term-time only, giving you significantly more time off across the year than many traditional hospitality or catering roles.
With regular Monday to Friday hours of 7am –3pm, no regular late evening shifts and the majority of school holidays free, this role offers a level of routine and flexibility that can be difficult to find within the catering industry. There is some requirement to work occasional ad-hoc days during the school holidays for events, as well as some weekend sport fixtures on a rota basis, but overall the role provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy a rewarding catering career alongside a healthier work-life balance.
The role
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is looking for a skilled and enthusiastic Chef to join our dynamic catering team. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced, high-quality environment where your culinary skills will make a difference to the daily experience of our pupils, colleagues, and visitors.
As Chef, you will play a key role in the preparation and presentation of fresh daily salad bar and nutritious meals, ensuring they are delivered to the highest standards and in line with both school expectations and statutory regulations. You will support the Head Chef with maintaining allergen requirements and recipes, managing food safety and hygiene standards, and contributing to the overall smooth operation of the kitchen.
Our ideal candidate will hold NVQ Level 3 or City & Guilds 706/1/2 (or equivalent) qualifications in food preparation and cooking, along with Level 3 Food Hygiene and Safety. You will have experience working in a large-scale commercial or school catering environment and enjoy being part of a team that values innovation, professionalism, and excellent customer service.
Catering colleagues need to be available to work some ad-hoc days during the school holiday periods to assist with events as well as some weekends for school sport fixtures on a rota basis. In return, catering colleagues receive an additional retainer payment during this period which is included in the salary. Experience in a school or large commercial catering setting, along with a proactive attitude and the ability to work well as part of a team, is essential.
Our friendly catering team of 29 colleagues works across three kitchens and service areas and plays an important part in everyday school life. It is a supportive, sociable team where everyone works together to deliver a great experience for pupils, colleagues and visitors.
Why GSAL?
GSAL is a warm, friendly and values-led community where colleagues feel supported, trusted and encouraged to make a real difference.
Food and hospitality are at the heart of school life, and we are committed to providing an exceptional dining and hospitality experience that reflects the quality and ambition of our school.
We're proud to be:
North Independent School of the Year 2024
Independent School of the Decade 2021
Most of all, we're proud of the colleagues whose expertise, commitment and professionalism help create an outstanding experience for our pupils, families and visitors every day.
Benefits
Enhanced school holidays (approximately 15 weeks taking into account the 5 paid plus days)
Significant discount on school fees (eligibility applies)
Subsidised childcare provided for colleagues’ children during school INSET days (from the age of 3 up to age 11)
Personal pension plan with Aviva up to 5% employee contribution and 10% employer (with the facility to pay higher or lower employee contributions)
Training and CPD available including 5+ inset days
Colleague lunches: three courses for £2.40 available during school lunchtimes plus free tea, coffee and hot chocolate
Access to our GP provider, Health hero
Access to a subsidised corporate Simplyhealth plan, helping you claim money back towards dental care, glasses, health assessments and a range of treatments
Access to our Employee Assistance Programme well-being app, Perkbox, offering telephone counselling, financial and legal advice plus 6-8 face-to-face counselling sessions
Colleague discounts through multiple providers, including Perkbox discounts for teachers and Extras
Beautiful lunch time walking routes around our 100+ acre site
Onsite gym and swimming pool available for colleague use within set times as well as staff classes such as Pilates, meditation, kettlebells, spinning and bootcamps
Salary sacrifice schemes for cycle to work
Free car parking available on site
Use of the school’s extensive library facility
Generous leave of absence scheme to support our employees when they need it
Opportunity to be involved in extracurricular activities such as the staff pantomime, well-being committee or volunteer for community events
A great culture and supportive Senior Leadership Team
How to apply
At GSAL, we are committed to promoting equity and diversity, safeguarding the welfare of children and young people, and providing a safe, supportive environment for learning and development. If you share these values, we would love to hear from you.
Complete the online GSAL application form on our website. For any enquiries about the vacancy, feel free to contact vacancies@gsal.org.uk
More information about the role and responsibilities are contained in the job description and person specification attached in the documents section on our website advert.
Closing date for applications: 8am Monday 28 September
Interview date: To be confirmed w/c 5th October
Attached documents
About The Grammar School at Leeds
- The Grammar School at Leeds
- Alwoodley Gates, Harrogate Road, Leeds
- West Yorkshire
- LS17 8GS
- United Kingdom
Welcome to The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL), a vibrant, inspiring and supportive community. We are proud of our team of dedicated, professional, caring and highly qualified colleagues.
Join over 400 colleagues across a diverse range of teaching and support roles at our outstanding 140-acre campus in Alwoodley Gates in north Leeds.
GSAL is proud to have been named one of The Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2026. We also achieved Gold in the Mental Health in Schools Award and received the Investors in Diversity Silver Award in the same year, recognising our commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive and positive environment for both colleagues and pupils.
Our wider achievements include being named The Sunday Times North Independent School of the Year 2024 and North Independent School of the Decade 2021. The school aims to inspire all members of our community and to instil values of responsibility, respect and resilience in all of our pupils.
GSAL is one of the leading schools in the north and traces its history back to 1552. ‘Be inspired’ is the ethos behind our teaching and learning at The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL). We nurture all our pupils to make the most of their talents, realise their potential and develop into confident young people ready to rise to any challenge. These values have been at the heart of our school life for over four centuries.
Our history began with the foundation of Leeds Grammar School for boys in 1552. GSAL was created in 2008 following the merger of the boys’ school with Leeds Girls’ High School, founded in 1876.
GSAL provides a high-quality independent education for over 2,100 pupils aged 2 to 18. Our purpose-built campus at Alwoodley Gates in north Leeds spans an impressive 140 acres, offering extensive green space alongside excellent facilities. These include the newly refurbished Lawson Library, the oldest library in Leeds, housing over 60,000 books and our state-of-the-art performing arts centre, The Cryer.
For teaching colleagues, GSAL offers a genuinely supportive and sustainable working environment. Class sizes are small, typically between 16 and 22, allowing teachers to build strong relationships with pupils and deliver high-quality, personalised teaching. We also offer significantly higher levels of PPA time compared to the state sector, supporting colleagues to plan, collaborate and develop their practice effectively. In addition, most meetings take place within the school day, helping to protect time outside of work and promote a healthier work-life balance.
GSAL is academically selective, with consistently excellent A-level and GCSE results. After merger, the school introduced the diamond model of teaching, through which pupils learn together up to age 11, then in single sex classes between Year 7 and Year 11, and come together again in sixth form lessons. Form time and extracurricular activities are mixed throughout. Class sizes are usually between 16 and 22.
Academic achievement is at the heart of a rounded education at GSAL, which offers our students personal development opportunities and broad experience beyond the classroom. We pride ourselves on a rich co-curricular programme encompassing sport, music, drama, scouts, CCF, Duke of Edinburgh, debating and much more. We offer an outdoor learning programme and a wide variety of trips at home and abroad. Our lively house system encourages students to get involved and have fun.
This success can only be achieved with committed, professional and well-qualified colleagues who are focused upon excellence in the classroom and contributions to the wider life of the school. We reward our colleagues with a good degree of autonomy in their teaching, outstanding learning resources and an attractive benefits package. A large school offers opportunities for CPD, career progression and leadership roles in academic, pastoral and extracurricular areas.
GSAL provides a friendly, fun and supportive working environment, while retaining high expectations of our colleagues and students. With our diverse student body, drawn from the city of Leeds and surrounding areas, we promote a strong sense of mutual respect, integrity and social responsibility. Colleagues and students throughout the school are active in charitable work locally and internationally.
Leeds itself is a thriving and dynamic city, offering a vibrant mix of cultural, social and sporting opportunities. With the Yorkshire countryside on the doorstep, it provides an excellent quality of life and the perfect balance between city living and access to green space.
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