School Chef (Term Time Only)

Chef – Aurora Ryefields

Job Title: Chef
Location: Ryefields School
Salary: Actual annual salary £25,415.39 - £28,457.17, dependent on experience
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent, Term time only

Working Hours: 7.30am-4pm (40 working weeks per year)

About Ryefields

At Ryefield School, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and high-achieving environment for our students. With a strong commitment to academic excellence and personal growth, we work collaboratively to ensure every child thrives.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Chef to oversee the kitchen at Ryefields School. You will ensure the prompt and efficient preparation and service of all meals, within budget and to required standards, while catering to the diverse dietary needs of our young people. You will also provide guidance on food preparation, regulatory standards, and dietary considerations.

Key Duties

• Plan menus within budget while considering dietary requirements and preferences.
• Collaborate with the Business Manager to develop best practices and future catering strategies.
• Ensure adherence to statutory regulations on food safety and hygiene across sites.
• Manage kitchen documentation, accounting, and administrative procedures.
• Create efficient staff rotas while considering team needs.
• Induct, train, and develop new kitchen staff, providing ongoing coaching and support.
• Maintain accurate food supply records and ensure effective stock rotation.
• Monitor and manage food deliveries, ensuring accuracy and proper storage.
• Maintain a clean and safe kitchen environment, planning deep cleans periodically.
• Ensure kitchen security and safe operation of all catering equipment.
• Organise and prepare for special functions, sometimes outside normal working hours.
• Report any equipment defects, hazards, or irregularities.
• Support education staff in encouraging young people to develop cooking skills.
• Attend meetings and training courses as required.

 For a full breakdown of the role and key duties, please see the attached job description: Chef JD - Ryefields.pdf

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• Experience managing a catering environment with multiple and complex dietary requirements.
• Proven ability to plan and prepare nutritious, balanced, and varied menus.
• Strong knowledge of health and safety legislation, including COSHH, manual handling, and food hygiene.
• Experience in equipment maintenance and safety checks.
• Strong literacy, numeracy, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of kitchen equipment, stock management, and cleaning schedules.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and work flexibly.
• Commitment to the health, welfare, and safeguarding of children and young adults.

Requirements of the Role

• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Satisfactory Enhanced DBS check with barred list clearance.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role.
• Willingness to work outside normal hours for special functions when needed.
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certification (Level 3 desirable).
• Experience in cooking for 40-80 people.
• Willingness to develop within the role.
• Creativity in adapting meals for diverse dietary needs.
• Team player with a motivated, positive attitude.
• Will need to have some availability during the school holidays for deep cleaning

What’s on offer?

• Training and Development

Within Aurora, we strongly believe that learning and development should not be limited to just the children and young people we support.  We offer wide range of programmes and opportunities to all our employees to improve your skills and further your career. 

• Save money on your bills!!

With the cost of living rising we have a fantastic benefit through Perkbox to help with cutting costs and help make your money go further.  Perkbox is a free app for you to use on the go wherever you are.  You can get deals and discounts to save money on things like your weekly food bill, phone plans, internet, eating out, gym memberships, insurance and more.  You can also use Perkbox for our cycle to work scheme and car scheme. 

• Competitive Pay and Reward

Every year we compare the market rates of pay and rewards to insure they are comparable or better to other similar organisations.  We also offer Enhanced Annual Leave, Company Sick Pay, Enhanced Pension and Life Assurance.

• UK Health Cash Plan

This plan can help cover your day to day healthcare expenditure such as optician and dental bills.  You and your children are covered on this plan and you can also choose to upgrade and add a partner to enjoy the benefits with you.

• Employee Assistance Programme

Your health and wellbeing is very important to us and we have support available on a wide variety of issues, helping you with online tools, information and via a freephone counselling service available 24/7. 

• Refer a friend for £1,000

We’ll reward you for recommending friends and family to come and join the company (*terms apply)

How to apply?

Please complete an online application form in full, remembering to include all employment and education details.  If you need any assistance or would like any more information please contact Karen in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at karen.barnfield@the-aurora-group.com

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.