Director of Food, Hospitality & Catering in Stockport

We are seeking to appoint an outstanding practitioner and innovative leader to the new post of Director of Food, Hospitality & Catering. Stockport School is a very popular, high-achieving, over-subscribed school, and this is a wonderful opportunity for an exceptionally talented teacher who is looking to take the next step in developing their leadership career. The post would suit an inspirational and innovative teacher, ideally with a proven track record or immediate potential to lead and help us further develop this departmental area.

Our new Director of Food, Hospitality & Catering will be an inspirational, innovative, and ambitious leader of a dynamic and forward-thinking subject area, capable of meeting the needs and aspirations of our students and of helping them to develop a vital set of practical and academic skills and experiences to support their future career ambitions. We are looking for an individual who is skilled at developing young people, recognising their potential, and engaging them in meaningful learning.

The successful candidate will be required to create an exciting and adventurous curriculum that will enthuse our students to be creative, with an ability to address the food, hospitality & catering opportunities and challenges presented in our world today. You will need to be able to demonstrate your ability to lead and inspire both students and colleagues and communicate your own extensive and confident specialist subject knowledge and technical skills with proactiveness and a commitment to the highest of academic and pastoral standards.

Currently, all students in Years 7-9 have the opportunity to study Food & Nutrition by way of a rotation, and we are seeking through this appointment to greatly enhance our curriculum provision at both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, to include continued access to the latest and most appropriate Level 1 and 2 qualifications, GCSEs, and other relevant courses as appropriate to the demands and needs of our ambitious students.

The successful applicant will be expected to help lead and shape the vision of the department so that it continues to adapt and develop in terms of an innovative curriculum offer, new enhanced facilities, and sustained high-quality outcomes for students. Our new Director will be expected to help us invest in the further design and development of additional new equipment, resources and physical facilities, as appropriate and required, to support the high-quality delivery of our Food, Hospitality & Catering curriculum, and the wider Technology offer across the school.

Currently within the department, there is a large specialist Food room, equipped with new modern facilities and equipment. The department also has access to its own set of laptop computer facilities that can be used to support learning and other associated portfolio work at KS4. The newly appointed Director will also have line management and subject liaison responsibilities with other specialist Teaching staff and subject Technicians.

To be considered for this important post, you must be dedicated & ambitious about teaching and must be committed to delivering high-quality teaching and learning, while promoting outstanding progress for all students. The right candidate for us will be someone who can demonstrate:

• Experience, knowledge and well-developed technical skills of teaching Food, Hospitality & Catering, and wider Design & Technology within a secondary school (ages 11-16).
• Dedication to the value and importance of Food, Hospitality & Catering, and wider Design & Technology, as a subject area, providing opportunity for all.
• Excellent curriculum knowledge and the ability to successfully sequence the skills, techniques, and knowledge needed.
• The ability to inspire, challenge, motivate and empower young people to achieve excellence.
• A record of / commitment to outstanding teaching and securing high levels of student progress.
• Experience of or a commitment to wider school responsibilities.
• Exceptional interpersonal and organisational skills together with an ambitious and dedicated professional approach.
• Qualified Teacher Status.
• An appreciation and an understanding of a school at the heart of the community.

Applicants are required to be well-organised, inspirational teachers, who are dedicated about their subject. You will be able to work independently and in liaison with other colleagues to create and lead a high level of challenge for a range of learners in every lesson and support the ongoing development of this department. Teaching at Stockport School is a highly rewarding experience due to our strong team ethos and highly motivated students.

Please find the application pack for further details of the role and of how to apply on our website or contact the Headteacher's P.A., Mrs J. Richards, regarding any enquiries. The closing date for applications is 9.00am on Thursday 12th February 2026, although the school reserves the right to close the deadline sooner dependent upon applications. The successful applicant's appointment will be subject to satisfactory clearance by the DBS. Our school is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment.