School Cook

Full Job Description

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

Job Title:   School Cook
Location:   Red Moor School, Lanlivery, PL30 5BT
Hours:       35 per week | Monday–Friday | 7am - 2:20pm
Salary:       £22,166.20 per annum (depending on experience, not pro rata)
Contract:   Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:         September 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

As our School Cook, you'll be responsible for the day-to-day running of the school kitchen, ensuring pupils receive healthy, balanced meals that cater to a wide range of dietary needs. Working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, you'll maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen organisation while creating meals that pupils genuinely enjoy.

You'll oversee stock management, maintain accurate food safety records, minimise waste, and ensure the kitchen operates efficiently and in line with all statutory regulations.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Preparing, cooking and serving fresh, nutritious meals each day.
• Catering for allergies, special dietary requirements and individual needs.
• Maintaining exceptional food hygiene and health & safety standards.
• Managing stock levels, deliveries and food rotation to minimise waste.
• Completing food safety documentation and maintaining accurate records.
• Keeping the kitchen clean, organised and fully compliant.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, suppliers and school leaders.
• Playing an active role in safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of every pupil.

About You

• NVQ Level 2/3 in Professional Cookery, Catering, or equivalent.
• Level 3 Food Safety and Hygiene Certificate.
• Food Allergen Awareness training.
• Qualification or training in nutrition and healthy eating.
• First Aid qualification.
• Experience working within a catering or kitchen environment.
• Excellent food preparation and presentation skills.

About Us

Red Moor is a nurturing, specialist school for pupils aged 5–18 with SEMH needs and barriers to learning. Many of our young people arrive having found school overwhelming or unsuccessful in the past — our job is to show them a different experience.

We believe: “The curriculum should be the servant of the child.” – Sir Barry Carpenter (2024)
This philosophy shapes our relationships, our environment, and every aspect of school life — including the way we care for our buildings and grounds.

Red Moor is part of Acorn Education, within Outcomes First Group, giving you both the closeness of a supportive school team and the opportunities of a national organisation.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

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.

#1