Technician (Food and Cookery)

Salary: Support Staff Pay Scale D: £6,047 to £6,143 pro-rata per annum (Actual) (£25,583 - £25,989 full time/full year equivalent)

Part Time: 10 hours per week (Working days can be discussed at interview but would ideally be 2 hours each morning Monday to Friday.)

Working Weeks: 39 weeks

Start Date: October 2026

This role will be based at Charles Darwin Primary (81 Rose Lane, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1DJ), working with Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils from both Charles Darwin Primary and Jane Austen College.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, organised, and reliable food and cookery technician with excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work with pupils from Charles Darwin Primary and Jane Austen College. If you are enthusiastic about food and enjoy inspiring others, this is a great opportunity to use your experience and develop your skills within a friendly team.

As well as providing general support to the department, you will assist in lessons and must therefore be able to relate well to both staff and students. You will be well-organised and a team player with the ability to work independently. This role may also be suitable for recent higher or further education graduates, as well as more experienced candidates.

Relevant experience within a school setting is desirable although appropriate training will be provided. If you think that you have the skills and attributes for this exciting role we would be pleased to hear from you.

What You Will Be Doing

• To provide support to food & nutrition teaching staff.
• Under the overall direction and control of the Food and Cookery teacher and in accordance with the procedure of the school, work with teaching staff to support the teaching and learning in the department by ensuring the effective preparation, maintenance and storage of equipment, ingredients, furniture and undertake learning activities with students and teachers.
• Be responsible for ingredient rotation and ordering. Monitor and promote good hygiene and health and safety within food, working with the lessons.

About You:

The successful candidate will possess strong attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as good communication skills. You will be meticulous, organised, reliable, adaptable, and have a solid grasp of food fundamentals, alongside the practical ability to deliver experiments and follow strict safety protocols.

Essential:

• Minimum GCSE English and Maths (grade C or above) or equivalent
• Ability to deliver practical experiments with elements of the theory surrounding food and nutrition
• Confidence in managing groups of pupils completing individual, independent cooking tasks
• Effective time management and the establishment of routines which ensure the Food room is tidy and clean so that food hygiene levels are maintained

Desirable:

• Food Safety and Hygiene certification preferred though this can be completed at Level 1 through the centre.
• First Aid trained.
• Effective use of Planning, Preparation and Assessment time to complete relevant tasks including administration tasks such as organising recipes and communication home.

Why Join Inspiration Trust

At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You’ll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration, and innovation. We provide opportunities for growth and empower you to make a real impact in schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. As part of our thriving network of talented teachers, leaders, and support staff, you’ll receive a varied professional development programme designed to help you be the best you can be.

We offer:

• Generous annual leave, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with excellent employer contributions
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
• Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
• Free parking at most sites
• Personalised CPD and development programmes
• A structured and specific induction programme.

*Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.

About Us

Charles Darwin Primary School and Nursery is a free school located in the heart of Norwich which opened in September 2016. The school was rated outstanding by Ofsted in June 2019 for overall effectiveness and has maintained success in their first ungraded inspection in April 2025. Children who graduate from Charles Darwin are resilient, independent, and confident individuals who express themselves creatively and value their place in the world. They benefit from a wealth of experiences beyond the classroom, helping them stay happy, engaged, and inspired to learn.

The school offers an innovative curriculum that encourages every child to thrive, combining a strong academic focus with a rich programme of cultural and sporting opportunities.

Charles Darwin Primary has close links with the highly successful Jane Austen College and Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, ensuring a strong educational pathway from early years through to post-16 education.

Although there is no on-site parking, the school and nursery are just a short walk from Norwich Train Station, served by several bus routes, with a range of paid parking options nearby.

Jane Austen College opened in 2014 as a flagship free school of the Inspiration Trust, with a focus on English and Humanities. Since then, it has grown from serving just two-year groups to become a full 11-18 school of over 1,000 pupils.

In May 2024, the college was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all inspection areas, including leadership, behaviour and sixth form provision. Inspectors noted that pupils benefit from “exceptional academic education, excellent pastoral support and a character curriculum building life skills to see them succeed in progressing to some of the top universities in the country and into prosperous careers.”

The college prides itself on ensuring that all pupils, regardless of background or disadvantage, have access to powerful knowledge and transformative extracurricular experiences, as well as strong mental health and wellbeing support.

We are part of the Inspiration Trust; a thriving family of schools across Norfolk and North Suffolk, recognised nationally for pupil progress and excellence in teaching and leadership. We believe every young person deserves the best education, regardless of background. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.

The Trust offers extensive networks and opportunities to collaborate with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to delivering outstanding professional and learning opportunities for all staff, supported by a rich programme of continuing professional development led by some of the country’s leading educational thinkers and practitioners.

For information on what it is like to live and work in Norwich, click here.

Next Steps

Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.

If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact Rowan Wood, PA to Principal (rowanwood@inspirationtrust.org).

To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.

When you start your application, you will receive several emails from our application provider, Vacancy Filler. Please be aware that some email providers may mistakenly mark these messages as spam. To avoid missing important updates, we recommend checking your spam or junk folders regularly throughout the application process and marking these emails as safe.

Closing date for applications: 12pm on Tuesday 15th September 2026

Interview date: Week Commencing: Monday 21st September 2026

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.