School Cook / Chef

Actual annual salary - £27,105.31 - £30,354.94 (£14.43 - £16.16 ph) Position Type: Permanent Full-Time Term Time Only Hours: 40 hours per week - Term time plus 2 weeks (41 weeks) Exact hours to be confirmed Start date: November 2026 Interviewing: September 2026 Aurora Peartree is a brand new school, opening its doors in January 2027, and we're looking for an experienced Cook to help make this vision a reality. This is a rare opportunity to be part of something truly transformative. Aurora Peartree will be a nurturing, inclusive and ambitious school for children and young people aged 5–19 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. With a capacity of 120 students, our vision is to create a safe, enriching and aspirational environment where every learner can thrive. We're looking for a passionate and organised Cook to lead our catering provision, creating nutritious, home-cooked meals that support the health, wellbeing and development of our pupils. Your Role As our Cook, you'll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the school kitchen, ensuring pupils and staff receive high-quality, nutritious meals in a safe and welcoming environment. You'll play an important role in developing menus, maintaining exceptional hygiene standards and creating a positive dining experience, while working closely with colleagues, students and families to meet a range of dietary and sensory needs. Your responsibilities will include: Preparing, cooking and serving nutritious meals using fresh ingredients wherever possible Planning balanced and appealing menus that meet a range of dietary, allergen and sensory requirements Managing stock control, ordering and budgeting to ensure an effective and efficient catering service Supervising and supporting kitchen staff, including rota management, training and day-to-day guidance Building positive relationships with students, encouraging healthy eating and gathering feedback on menu choices Ma