School Chef

We work smarter so that you can enjoy the things that matter outside of work

Job Title:   School Chef
Location:   Castle Garden School, Guildford, Surrey GU1 S3Q
Hours:       30 hours per week | Monday–Friday
Salary:       Up to £23,000 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:        September 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

If you love being a Chef but could happily live without the late finishes, weekend shifts and unpredictable hours, this could be the change you’ve been looking for.

At Castle Garden School, we’re looking for a School Chef to take pride in our kitchen and make it their own. Working 30 hours per week, Monday to Friday during term time, you’ll have the opportunity to use your catering experience in a role that offers both purpose and a better balance outside of work.

But this isn’t simply about getting lunch on the table. Food is an important part of the school day. You’ll be creating meals that pupils enjoy, introducing variety, responding thoughtfully to individual dietary needs and helping make lunchtime a positive part of their day.

What you'll be doing

We want someone who enjoys taking ownership.

From planning menus and choosing ingredients to managing stock and making sure every plate leaving the kitchen meets your standards, you’ll have an important role in shaping the catering provision at Castle Garden School.

You’ll:

• Create fresh, balanced and appealing menus that pupils can look forward to

• Prepare high quality meals for pupils and staff, including those with specific dietary requirements

• Use your knowledge and creativity to provide variety while meeting individual needs

• Take ownership of the day to day organisation and smooth running of the kitchen

• Manage stock, ordering, deliveries, invoices and supplier queries

• Maintain effective portion control while keeping a close eye on quality and budget

• Plan carefully to reduce food waste without compromising on choice or quality

• Make sure daily catering requirements are met for pupils, staff and visitors

• Maintain a kitchen that is clean, organised and operates to excellent standards

• Ensure all food hygiene, food safety, Health and Safety and COSHH requirements are followed

Who we’re looking for:

You don’t need to have spent your whole career working in schools.

You may currently be working in a restaurant, hotel, care setting, contract catering or another busy kitchen and be ready to use your skills somewhere that offers a different pace and working pattern.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience cooking within a school, care or high volume catering environment

• Can confidently prepare fresh, nutritious meals to a consistently high standard

• Understands how to cater safely for different dietary requirements

• Is organised and comfortable managing the practical side of a kitchen, including stock, ordering and portion control

• Takes food hygiene, safety and cleanliness seriously

• Can work independently, take responsibility and make good decisions

• Communicates well and enjoys being part of a wider team

• Is reliable, flexible and takes genuine pride in what they produce

Experience within a school or nursery kitchen would be desirable, but what matters is having the right catering experience and the enthusiasm to bring your skills into a school environment.

About Us

Castle Garden School is a brand-new independent specialist school for pupils with autism between 5 - 11 years of age.

Castle Garden School strives to provide effective, specialist education and support to autistic pupils and their families, which will allow pupils to achieve their full potential in education and life. Located in the town centre of Guildford, the school provides primary education and offers a unique mix of education and support to pupils within a wide spectrum of needs and abilities. Personalised teaching and learning in an autism specific environment allows pupils’ individual needs to be addressed completely and their capabilities fully realised.

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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