Catering Assistant in Poole

CASTLE COURT SCHOOL

Catering Assistant

Dear Candidate,

When people ask me what makes Castle Court so special, my answer is always the same. It is the people – the Castle Court family. Castle Court is a very special place; we are a close-knit community where everybody is known and valued as an individual. When people first walk into Castle Court, they are struck by the genuine warmth of everyone they meet, but also by their passion and energy. Our 7Cs values of being compassionate, curious, creative, courteous, courageous, committed and collaborative are lived out week in and week out by both our staff and pupils.

Our emphasis is on the whole child and developing future leaders. We want our pupils to use all that they learn at Castle Court to make a positive difference in the world, for the good of all. We are a Christian School, and this permeates all aspects of school life and our interactions with one another. We are also a leading PSB school (Pre-Senior Baccalaureate) nationally and a member of the Learning Skills Trust. We are therefore naturally forward thinking in our approach to education and want to ensure that our pupils are equipped with the knowledge, skills and character they need to be successful and make a difference in an ever-changing, global world.

Our school is set in 55 acres of rolling Dorset countryside, and we are 15 minutes from the coast. We actively promote outdoor learning as we believe that our pupils should be inspired not only by those who teach them but also by the world in which they live. We are also passionate about unlocking each child’s

potential by developing their passions and strengths. We are therefore committed to providing an extensive co-curricular programme which inspires and challenges our pupils, develops character and leadership whilst also being lots of fun!

It is an exciting time to be joining our school: we have completed the building of an outdoor classroom adjoining our 10 acres of woods as we continue to invest in our beautiful rural site. We are also embedding a new Character and Values Education (CAVE) programme, which focuses on the themes of self-care, people-care and earth-care. This enhances our curriculum by providing a broader range of co-curricular opportunities to develop key life skills, community action, outdoor learning and pupil leadership.

At Castle Court, we believe that childhood should be cherished and be a time of great joy and growth. I want all the children at Castle Court to look back at their time at the school and say it was the best of times, but also that it helped make them the person they are today. I hope this brochure gives you a good insight into life at Castle Court and inspires you to apply for this position and become part of the Castle Court family.

Mrs Katie Johnson Head

Castle Court is a day Prep School located in the heart of Dorset; we seek to appoint staff who will be keen to be involved in the full breadth of school life and supportive of the school’s Christian foundation. Castle Court was founded in Parkstone, Poole, in 1948 as a day school for boys; in 1968 it moved to its present site in beautiful grounds on the north edge of Corfe Mullen. In the 1970s we became coeducational and have steadily grown in size: today we have around 280 pupils, aged from 2 to 13.

Our setting is idyllic: 55 acres of magnificent playing-fields, playgrounds, gardens and woods; a school with stunning facilities, set in rural surroundings, yet easily reached from Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Ringwood and the Isle of Purbeck. We have an excellent academic record and other strengths across the board: in Sport, Music, Art, Drama, Design Technology, and in Outdoor Learning. Please see our website for evidence!

For administrative purposes it is divided into the Nursery (Badger Cubs and Badgers), Pre-Prep (Reception to Year 2) and Prep School (Years 3 to 8).

The Leadership Team comprises the Head, Deputy Head, Head of Marketing and Admissions, Assistant Head – Pastoral, the Director of Teaching and Learning, the Director of Operations and the Director of Finance. The Management Team consists of Section Leaders, SENDCO, Core Subject Heads of Department, Director of Sport, Director of Music and Head of ICT. The Section Leaders look after the sections as follows: Nursery and Pre-Prep, Years 3-6 and Years 7 & 8.

Our aims are:

That the child’s learning and well-being are at the heart of all that we do.

That the educational experience is knowledge-rich, rigorous and well-balanced, and academic expectations are continually exceeded.

That each child is nurtured through outstanding pastoral care so that they can flourish inside and outside of the classroom.

That each child is provided with a strong foundation and compass for life - prepared with the skills needed for future success in a global world.

O u r V a l u e s

W e a r e a C h ristia n C o m m u nit y w h o h a v e a w h ole s c h o ol s pirit u al a s s e m bly o n a M o n d a y.

Day to day we live out our 7Cs values of being: Compassionate, Curious, Creative, Courteous, Courageous, Committed and Collaborative.

In our Friday Awards Assembly, Form Tutors give Head’s Awards to children who have demonstrated one of these 7Cs values during the week.

O u r C u r ri c u l u m

T h e P r e - S e nio r B a c c ala u r e a t e, t h r o u g h t h e L e a r nin g S kills T r u s t, is t h e f o u n d a tio n o f o u r c u r riculu m, wit h t h e k e y s t r a n d s o f T hin kin g a n d L e arnin g, In d e p e n d e n c e, L e a d e r s hip, Communication, Collaboration, Reviewing a n d Improving running from the Pre-Prep through to Year 8.

We believe in a knowledge-rich curriculum,
but one that also provides children with key
skills for life. We are recognised as a leading
PSB school nationally and a beacon for other schools. Having embedded the PSB curriculum, we have just received an
outstanding audit which will propel us further in the future. We are a very forward-thinking school; we have implemented a new Character and Values Education (CAVE) to ensure that our pupils are prepared for an ever-changing
future world. As part of this, we have further
enhanced our co- curricular offering, including our Leadership and Activities Week programme.

POSITION DETAILS:

We are looking for a Catering Assistant to join our lovely Kitchen Team.

This is a key role in our Kitchen Team as it will enable our chefs to work in a clean, tidy and organised kitchen environment.

The position is available from September 2026, is permanent and offered on a part-time (term time, 10.30am-2.30pm every day) basis.

The salary for this role is £8,642.80 per annum exclusive of holiday pay.

This Opportunity

CATERING ASSISTANT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Washing crockery, cutlery, trays and kitchen equipment

Keeping the wash-up and kitchen areas clean and tidy

Clearing and cleaning after lunch service

Helping with general kitchen duties when required

Following food hygiene and health & safety procedures

Working as part of our friendly catering team

For the right candidate, there will also be a chance to work on Front of House, which would involve serving food to colleagues and children, setting up the dining area and helping to tidy away afterwards and answering any questions that they might have about the food on offer.

There is also the opportunity to contribute to the wider school life by:

Having an understanding and appreciation of our school values and aims

Attending training as required

Following school policies and procedures

Undertaking other duties as may be reasonably required

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS:

Our new Kitchen Team member will be:

Reliable, punctual and hard-working

Happy to work in a busy school kitchen

Able to work as part of a team

Friendly and positive

Enjoy working in a school environment around adults and children

DESIRABLE QUALITIES:

Previous catering or school kitchen experience (not essential, as full training will be provided)