School Cook

Full Job Description

How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?

At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.

That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.

Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.

Job Title: School Cook
Location: Penny Tree School, Birmingham B30 3ES
Salary:     £13.25 per hour
Hours:     37.5 hours per week | Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:        May 2026
UK applicants only – this role does not offer sponsorship

We are looking for a reliable and enthusiastic School Cook to join our team, providing nutritious, appealing, and safe meals for our pupils, staff, and visitors.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and organised School Cook to lead the day-to-day catering provision within our brand-new Options Autism school. You will plan nutritious menus, prepare high-quality meals, and supervise kitchen staff to ensure a safe, efficient, and welcoming food service for pupils, staff, and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare balanced, nutritious menus that meet pupils’ dietary needs, including special requirements.
• Oversee stock management, portion control, and adherence to budget guidelines.
• Ensure kitchen areas are set up for service and thoroughly cleaned afterwards.
• Minimise food waste and maintain efficient working practices.
• Check and accommodate daily meal requirements for pupils, staff, and visitors.
• Maintain strict compliance with Health & Safety, hygiene, and food safety regulations.
• Report maintenance issues, equipment faults, or hazards promptly.
• Place food orders, liaise with suppliers, and verify deliveries and invoices.
• Ensure all equipment, chemicals, and cleaning follow COSHH and manufacturer guidelines.
• Respond flexibly to urgent or unexpected catering needs.

If you are enthusiastic, reliable, and passionate about providing excellent school meals, we would love to hear from you. Join Penny Tree School and be part of a supportive, welcoming team where your contribution will make a real difference to the pupils, staff, and wider school community.

About Us

Our new Options Autism school – Penny Tree – will have capacity for 60 pupils and is expected to open in the near future.

At Penny Tree School, you'll be part of a supportive and visionary leadership team at the very start of an exciting journey. Backed by the expertise of Options Autism and Outcomes First Group, you’ll have access to a wide network of senior leaders, professional development pathways, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact—not only on the school but on the lives of the pupils we serve.

For over 19 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils, young people and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. We are a leading provider of education for neurodivergent young people and young adults. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those 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 Options Autism?

We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

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.

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support. 

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

4DWW will be rolled out within our school, when we have a full complement of staff – so there’s never been a more exciting time to join us #teamOFG! 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit.

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.

#1