Catering Manager in Chigwell

Position Start Date: Immediate

Contract Type: Part-time

Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 12/04/2026 Midnight

Date of Interviews: To be confirmed

Help Wanted: Master of Mashed Potatoes & Hero of the Lunch Line! Do you have a passion for food and a knack for making hungry children smile? Chigwell Primary Academy are looking for a Catering Manager who can whip up a mean mac & cheese, serve up smiles and maybe even master the art of the perfect consistency for custard. No cape required-just bring your sense of humour, a love for children, and the ability to navigate a lunch rush like a pro. If you can handle the heat of the kitchen (and a few picky eaters), we want you on our team! Apply now and become the unsung hero of our school's lunch hour.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Catering Manager at Chigwell Primary Academy.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and enthusiastic Catering Manager to lead the day-to-day running of our busy school kitchen. You will be responsible for preparing tasty, nutritious meals for our students and staff, ensuring high standards of food quality, hygiene, and safety at all times. This is a hands-on role that involves cooking, serving, supervising kitchen staff, ordering supplies, and keeping the kitchen clean, organised, and compliant with food safety regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and serve meals in line with school menus and nutritional standards.
• Supervise and support kitchen staff, ensuring a smooth meal service.
• Order and manage food supplies and stock levels within budget.
• Maintain excellent hygiene, cleanliness, and food safety standards.
• Keep accurate records for compliance and inspections.

About You

• Experienced in catering or food preparation (school or similar setting preferred).
• Qualified in Food Hygiene (Level 2 or 3 certificate required).
• Organised, reliable, and able to lead a small team.
• Passionate about providing healthy, appealing food for students.

What We Offer

• A friendly, supportive school environment.
• Term-time only working (school holidays off).
• Opportunities for training and professional development.
• A role that makes a real difference every day!

Our children deserve the best and as a Catering Manager at Chigwell Primary Academy you will be a part of our innovative approach to school catering - REAch2EAT. You will have a passion for cooking and providing high quality meals using fresh, local produce as well as delivering exceptional service to our children. Food served in school forms a part of our healthy school's ethos, and exceptional nutrition supports our drive for exceptional opportunities for learning.

The successful applicant can expect to work as part of a committed school team as well as a wider support network of our REAch2EAT Catering Team.

We Can Offer You

• A firm commitment to you and your professional development.
• Friendly, supportive, enthusiastic, and hardworking colleagues, staff and governors.
• An inspiring learning community.
• Encouragement to develop new ideas and the opportunity to make a real difference.
• Opportunities to further develop your career within our Multi Academy Trust, REAch2, the largest primary-only academy trust in the country.
• A support network within REAch2EAT including our Catering Lead.
• And, most importantly, AMAZING children just waiting to meet you.

For further information about the role come and visit our school! To book your visit or for an informal discussion, please contact the school office. School visits are encouraged but are by appointment only.

Why Work with REAch2 Academy Trust?

Join REAch2 Academy Trust, one of the UK's largest primary academy trusts, with a mission to unlock the potential of every child, regardless of their background. Here’s why joining our team can be an exciting and fulfilling career choice:

• Excellence & Development: We prioritise high standards and offer extensive professional development and career growth opportunities.
• Supportive & Collaborative: Be part of a strong, collaborative community of over 60 schools where every voice is valued, and best practices are shared.
• Well-being Focus: We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer robust well-being support for all staff.
• Diversity & Inclusion: We celebrate diversity and believe that varied perspectives strengthen our schools.
• Innovation & Impact: Bring creativity to the classroom and make a real difference in children's lives.
• Making a difference: Working with REAch2 means contributing to something bigger than yourself. You'll be helping to shape the lives of young learners, making a meaningful impact on communities and future generations.

Join us to grow your career, collaborate with passionate educators, and make a lasting impact on future generations.

Benefits

• Generous Annual Leave: healthy work-life balance.
• Professional Development: Access diverse CPD and training opportunities to grow your skills.
• Flexible & Family-Friendly: We are committed to supporting flexible working and requests will be considered on an individual basis, including options such as part time, term-time, home working, and other options that work for both the employee and the Trust.
• Exclusive Discounts: Benefit from Blue Light Card offers and employee perks.
• Well-being Support: Receive comprehensive well-being and employee assistance for you and your family.

Safeguarding, Safer Recruitment and Data Protection

At REAch2 we recognise that those who work in an academy are in a unique position in their care of children. The responsibility for all staff to safeguard pupils and promote their welfare, as stated in Section 175 of the Education Act (2002) is one that is central to our ethos, our policies and our actions. All children are deserving of the highest levels of care and safeguarding, regardless of their individual characteristics or circumstances, and we are committed to applying our policies to ensure effective levels of safeguarding and care are afforded to all our pupils.

We will seek to recruit the best applicant for the job based on the abilities, qualifications, experience as measured against the job description and person specification. The recruitment and selection of staff will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be requested for all successful candidates, including a Children's Barred List check if the role meets the criteria for regulated activity.

For more information about our safer recruitment processes, please refer to our Safer Recruitment Policy. All information is stored securely, and any information supplied by unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed through a confidential waste system six months after the decision has been communicated, in accordance with our information and records retention policy. The Trust ensures all applicant data stored and processed appropriately.

Information about the School

Chigwell Primary Academy is part of the REAch2 Academy Trust school is situated in the historic village of Chigwell in Essex and benefits greatly from its semi-rural location. At Chigwell Primary Academy we believe that all members of the school community must treat each other with respect, develop an understanding of our responsibilities and develop resilience so that we can all be active learners and reach our full potential. At Chigwell Primary Academy we achieve this by behaving in a positive way and encouraging others, developing an ethos where all members feel safe, secure and have the highest expectations.

We are a caring employer who invests in the future of our employees, as only through their excellence can we deliver excellence for the children and families whom we serve. To see more information about the school, please visit our website Chigwell Primary Academy.

As a member of the REAch2 Trust, a national family of primary academies, Chigwell Primary Academy is committed to raising standards and achieving excellent for all pupils whatever their background or circumstance. The Trust provides a strong culture of collaboration and support, together with high expectations for staff and pupils alike. Chigwell Primary Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people / vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory written references.

What did Ofsted say? (October 2023)

Chigwell Primary Academy remains a good school. Pupils enjoy coming to this school. They are proud to show their values of ‘respect, responsibility and resilience’. The school playground is a happy place. Pupils look after each other. Older pupils look forward to, and enjoy, helping the younger pupils through their roles as play leaders. Pupils behave well and work hard during their lessons. The school and the trust have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Pupils strive to reach these high expectations. Pupils are very respectful of differences. They understand the importance of treating others with respect. They enjoy learning about the diversity of cultures across the world. Pupils especially like learning about the different world religions. The school has designed a curriculum that is ambitious for all pupils. The school provides useful and precise information on how best to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The wider development of pupils is a priority for both the school and the trust. Enriching the curriculum is important to leaders at all levels. There are many opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.