School Cook / Chef

• Actual annual salary - £27,105.31 - £30,354.94 (£14.43 - £16.16 ph)

• Position Type: Permanent Full-Time Term Time Only

• Hours: 40 hours per week - Term time plus 2 weeks (41 weeks) Exact hours to be confirmed

• Start date: November 2026

• Interviewing: September 2026

Aurora Peartree is a  brand new school , opening its doors in  January 2027 , and we're looking for an experienced Cook to help make this vision a reality. This is a rare opportunity to be part of something truly transformative.

Aurora Peartree will be a nurturing, inclusive and ambitious school for children and young people aged 5–19 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. With a capacity of 120 students, our vision is to create a safe, enriching and aspirational environment where every learner can thrive.

We're looking for a passionate and organised Cook to lead our catering provision, creating nutritious, home-cooked meals that support the health, wellbeing and development of our pupils.

Your Role

As our Cook, you'll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the school kitchen, ensuring pupils and staff receive high-quality, nutritious meals in a safe and welcoming environment.

You'll play an important role in developing menus, maintaining exceptional hygiene standards and creating a positive dining experience, while working closely with colleagues, students and families to meet a range of dietary and sensory needs.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Preparing, cooking and serving nutritious meals using fresh ingredients wherever possible

• Planning balanced and appealing menus that meet a range of dietary, allergen and sensory requirements

• Managing stock control, ordering and budgeting to ensure an effective and efficient catering service

• Supervising and supporting kitchen staff, including rota management, training and day-to-day guidance

• Building positive relationships with students, encouraging healthy eating and gathering feedback on menu choices

• Maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene, health and safety, and compliance with catering legislation

• Working closely with students, staff and suppliers to ensure meals are nutritious, appealing and meet a range of dietary, allergen and sensory needs

About You

We're looking for someone who is passionate about creating healthy, home-cooked food and enjoys working as part of a school community.

You will have:

• Experience preparing and cooking meals using a wide range of fresh ingredients

• Knowledge of food hygiene, food safety and relevant catering legislation

• Experience managing stock, portion control and working within a budget

• Knowledge of special diets, allergens and nutritional requirements

• Experience supervising or supporting staff within a catering environment

• Excellent communication skills with a range of internal and external stakeholders

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to maintain accurate records

• Knowledge of learning disabilities and/or additional needs and how these may impact catering provision

How to apply?

For candidates that haven't worked in this sector before, please be aware that for regulatory reasons the application process is far more detailed and thorough compared to other sectors.

Please complete the online application form in full, including all employment and education details, and provide a personal statement that makes us keen to speak to you.

If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Liz in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at View email address on tes.com .

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled.

Please note that candidates who are shortlisted may be subject to an online search.