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- Tasks: Inspire a team to create delicious, nutritious meals for school children using fresh ingredients.
- Company: Join Pyrford School's catering team and make a difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, health support, and training opportunities.
- Why this job: Combine your passion for cooking with a rewarding role that impacts young minds.
- Qualifications: Experience in kitchen management and a love for healthy cooking are essential.
- Other info: Flexible term-time hours allow for a great work/life balance.
The predicted salary is between 20631 - 20631 £ per year.
This role is based at Pyrford School. Though you will only work during term time, you will be paid a salary every month including school holidays.
This role has a starting salary of £20,631.06 per annum for working 35 hours per week, 38.4 weeks per year (equivalent to £13.35 per hour, plus annual leave allowance).
Our Offer to You
- Final salary pension
- Discounts on various services including food shopping
- Health and wellbeing support
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Full induction
- Term time only hours that allow for good work/life balance
- Training and development opportunities, including a Level 3 Food Hygiene Qualification.
About the Role
Using your passion, creativity and enthusiasm, you will inspire a team to produce an outstanding menu using fresh ingredients. In addition to using your flair and passion to create great dishes, you will record meal transactions, control and administer stock, order food and sundry supplies, and take responsibility for the day to day running of a smooth kitchen. Your main goal will be to provide school children with tasty, nutritious meals that help them develop healthy bodies and minds.
Customer service is at the front and centre of the Twelve15 Vision and Mission. You will be a fantastic communicator with an ability to work with our school clients and our customers to promote the benefits of the service we offer.
Your Application
Your application should evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:
- A passion and skill for cooking with an ability to deliver high levels of meals in a food production environment
- Health and Safety Certificate Level 1, and proven understanding of health and safety in a kitchen environment
- Level 2 Food Safety Certificate
- NVQ Level 2 in food preparation and cooking or equivalent
- IT and administrative skills
- Excellent communication skills (including teamwork, leadership, and customer service)
- Experience supervising staff and managing a kitchen
- Experience using catering equipment and the ability to train others
- Excellent time keeping and flexibility around locations.
We'd also love to hear about any other relevant skills, interests, or knowledge that you could bring to the table. Perhaps you have detailed knowledge about allergies, or a particular interest in nutrition. Additionally, if you don’t hold these qualifications but have a significant amount of experience catering for large groups of people in a management role, please don’t hesitate in applying!
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:
- Why do you think eating healthily is so important for children and what is the impact of a healthy school meal for children?
- Please tell us about your experience of working in a kitchen, including the part you played in the production of food.
- What experience do you have supervising / managing staff responsible for producing large quantities of food?
- Please list any skills and qualifications you have that are relevant to this role.
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 8th February 2026 with interviews to follow. We look forward to receiving your application.
We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.
Chef Manager - Pyrford School in Woking employer: Surrey County Council
Contact Detail:
Surrey County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef Manager - Pyrford School in Woking
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the school and its values! Research Pyrford School and understand their mission around healthy eating. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in contributing to their vision.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! As a Chef Manager, you'll need to inspire your team and engage with students. Try role-playing common scenarios or questions you might face in the interview to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your culinary creativity! Prepare a few ideas for nutritious meals that could be served at the school. This not only demonstrates your passion but also gives you something tangible to discuss during your interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re tech-savvy and comfortable with the process, which is a great skill in today’s job market.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef Manager - Pyrford School in Woking
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Cooking: Let us see your love for cooking shine through in your application! Share specific examples of dishes you've created or how you've inspired others in the kitchen. This is your chance to show that you’re not just about the food, but about making a difference in children's lives.
Be Clear and Concise: When answering the application questions, keep it straightforward. We want to understand your experience and skills without wading through too much fluff. Use bullet points if it helps to make your points clearer!
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to showcase any relevant experience you have, especially in managing kitchens or supervising staff. We’re looking for leaders who can handle the heat, so don’t be shy about sharing your achievements in these areas!
Tailor Your CV and Answers: Before hitting that submit button, double-check that your CV and answers align with the job description. We want to see how your skills match what we’re looking for, so make it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect fit!
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey County Council
✨Show Your Passion for Cooking
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for cooking and how it relates to providing nutritious meals for children. Share specific examples of dishes you've created or how you've used fresh ingredients in your previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Your Leadership Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience supervising staff and managing a kitchen. Highlight any challenges you've faced and how you motivated your team to deliver high-quality meals, showcasing your ability to lead effectively.
✨Know Your Health and Safety Standards
Brush up on your knowledge of health and safety regulations in a kitchen environment. Be ready to explain how you ensure compliance and maintain a safe workspace, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Prepare for the Application Questions
Think about the four questions you'll be asked in advance. Craft thoughtful responses that reflect your experience and understanding of healthy eating for children, as well as your relevant skills and qualifications.
