School Chef

At OFG we believe in creating a better work life balance

Job Title:  School Chef
Location:  Brookthorpe Hall School, Gloucester, GL4 0UN
Hours:  40 per week | Monday to Friday | 8.30am – 4.30pm
Salary:  £38,000.00 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:  June 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

The School Chef is responsible for the planning, preparation and delivery of a high‑quality, safe and nutritious catering service for the School community. This role involves managing and supervising kitchen staff while ensuring that meals meet budgetary, dietary, and statutory requirements, and that the catering service supports the day‑to‑day needs of pupils, staff and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare and deliver balanced, high‑quality menus that meet the dietary, cultural and medical needs of service users, including special dietary requirements

• Manage and supervise kitchen staff, ensuring effective daily preparation, service delivery, and a clean, efficient working environment

• Control stock levels through accurate ordering, portion control, date rotation and quality checks, ensuring compliance with agreed budgets

• Maintain high standards of health and safety, food hygiene and cleanliness at all times, adhering to food safety legislation and COSHH regulations

• Minimise food waste and respond flexibly to changes in demand, including urgent or last‑minute catering requirements

• Check and coordinate daily meal requirements for pupils, staff and visitors

• Place food orders, check deliveries and invoices, and liaise with suppliers regarding enquiries or complaints

• Monitor kitchen equipment and facilities, reporting any defects, damage, hazards or maintenance needs promptly and keeping all required records up to date

About You

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience of catering work within a residential, educational, or similar setting

• Experience of menu planning, with an understanding of budgetary control and nutritional requirements

• Experience at a management level in a similar catering environment

• Good knowledge of catering practices, including the correct use and storage of relevant products

• Good knowledge of food safety requirements and standards

About Us

Brookthorpe Hall School is a new independent specialist day school for boys and girls aged from 7 to 16, catering for pupils with a wide range of needs, SEMH/ASD/Complex trauma. Our dedicated team will work together to ensure successful outcomes for pupils who often arrive at the school with a troubled view of education and life.

We are part of Options Autism and can promise you plenty of challenges, and a rich variety of opportunities to develop your career.

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 were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils 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 the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance

• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions

• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks

• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:

  • Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits

  • Hundreds of UK and international discounts

  • Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme

  • Critical illness cover

  • Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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