School Chef

Griffin Primary School, London SW8 4JB Permanent, Part-time, 40 weeks per year Start date: As soon as possible Salary: Inner London Scale 6, Point 18 - 20 (£33,168.51 - £34,164.18 FTE p/a) Love food? Want to make a difference to children's lives? Join Elliot's Kitchen! At The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust, we are committed to ensuring every child enjoys a nutritious meal every day and develops the knowledge and skills to make healthy, sustainable food choices for life. Do you believe every child deserves a fresh, nutritious and delicious lunch? Griffin Primary School, part of The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust, is looking for a passionate, skilled and organised School Chef to lead our kitchen team. In this role, you will lead a friendly team, prepare fresh meals, and ensure every pupil—including those with allergies and special dietary needs—enjoys a safe, appealing lunch. Working alongside our Principal, Regional Chef Educator, and school staff, you will help shape our food education vision, using produce from our school garden and creating memorable celebration meals. At Griffin, food is part of how we teach, celebrate, and care for our children. You will have the support and freedom to make a real difference to their wellbeing every single day. Key Tasks & Responsibilities: Lead and work alongside the kitchen team to prepare fresh, high-quality meals with consistency and correct portion control. Deliver our menu cycle in line with the School Food Standards, serving meals attractively and on time. Cater safely for pupils with allergies, intolerances and special dietary requirements. Plan menus with the Principal and Regional Chef Educator, following and creating recipes that reflect seasonal availability. Allocate daily tasks, supervise, induct and motivate kitchen staff, and manage shift cover. Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and safety, including temperature records, cleaning schedules and termly deep cleans. Order food and sundries, check deliveries and invoices, rotate stock and keep waste to a minimum. Monitor meal uptake, food costs, stock takes and budgets with the Regional Chef Educator. Work with our Green Leader to use school-grown produce, and support food projects, school events and the bakery. Prepare special meals such as celebration days and community lunches, occasionally outside regular hours. Train and supervise staff in food safety and hygiene, enforcing correct use of uniform and high standards at all times. Build cooking knowledge in yourself and your team, fostering a positive, professional, welcoming and inclusive kitchen culture. Notify the Principal and Regional Chef Educator in advance of any significant changes to the planned menu. Keep accurate kitchen records and report complaints, incidents and concerns to the Headteacher or line manager. Keep kitchen equipment in good working order and report any issues promptly. Support the school's commitment to healthy eating and pupil wellbeing. Be familiar with, and follow all school policies and procedures. Set a high standard of conduct with pupils. What We Are Looking For: Essential Qualifications: Level 2 (or above) Food Hygiene Certificate Food Allergen Awareness training First Aid certificate Essential Experience: Leading a team in a professional kitchen Planning and preparing meals for large groups Working to a set menu and budget Catering for dietary needs, including allergies and intolerances Ordering food, managing stock and checking deliveries Essential Skills and Knowledge: Excellent cooking and food preparation skills Strong understanding of food hygiene, health and safety, and allergen labelling Knowledge of nutrition and School Food Standards Ability to lead, motivate and delegate Initiative and problem-solving under pressure Strong organisation and time management Clear communication with adults and children Essential Personal Qualities: Commitment to The Elliot Foundation Academies Trust values and ethos Flexible, reliable and calm under pressure Passionate about high-quality meals for children Committed to continuous improvement and a strong team player Willing to work occasional flexible hours and to undertake training Safeguarding Commitment: Griffin Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including a Barred List check, a Disclosure and Barring Service check and references. Welcome to Elliot's Kitchen! We are seeking an enthusiastic School Chef to join our team at Griffin Primary School. Working alongside our Regional Executive Chef Educator, you will help deliver delicious, nutritious menus that meet school food standards, reflect the seasons and celebrate our school community. You will play an important role in supporting children's health and well-being, while helping connect school meals with our Green Curriculum and food education. A supportive, collaborative catering team. The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to children's lives. A focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and sustainability. Professional development and the chance to help shape the future of Elliot's Kitchen. Permanent, Part-time, 40 weeks per year - Start date: As soon as possible - Closing Date: 23rd October 2026 - Interview Dates: Week commencing 19th October 2026. Appointment to this post will be subject to satisfactory safeguarding pre-employment checks including a Barred List check, Disclosure and Barring Service check, and references. - Please note, it is a criminal offense to apply for this post of employment if you are barred from working with children and young people. If you wish to arrange an informal discussion in relation to the Trust and/or the specific role, please do not hesitate to contact Simon Pink via email at Simon.Pink@elliotfoundation.co.uk - Please submit an application form and covering letter to Rida Begum via email at recruitment@elliotfoundation.co.uk TPBN1_UKCT