Assistant Cook

We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge

Job Title: Assistant Cook
Location: Abbey Gardens School, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6SA
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Salary: £23,000.00 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract: Permanent | Term Time Only
Start: January 2027
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

We are looking for a reliable and enthusiastic Assistant Cook to support the preparation, cooking and service of nutritious, high-quality meals for our students. Working closely with the Cook/Supervisor, you will help ensure the kitchen operates efficiently, safely and in line with food hygiene and health and safety standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting with the preparation, cooking and serving of meals, including supporting special dietary requirements.
• Helping to maintain a clean, safe and hygienic kitchen and dining environment.
• Supporting food preparation for both on-site meal service and other locations where required.
• Ensuring food hygiene, health and safety procedures are followed at all times.
• Assisting with stock management and reporting any shortages, issues or concerns.
• Maintaining records relating to meal numbers, cancellations and additional meal requests.
• Supporting the smooth running of lunchtime service and helping to create a positive dining experience for students.
• Observing and reporting any concerns or incidents to appropriate staff members.
• Attending relevant training and working collaboratively as part of the wider school team.

This is a hands-on role that would suit someone who enjoys working in a busy kitchen environment, takes pride in maintaining high standards, and is committed to delivering an excellent meal service for students and staff.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has previous catering, kitchen or food preparation experience.
• Works well in a fast-paced environment and can adapt quickly to changing priorities.
• Remains calm, organised and flexible when managing short-notice changes.
• Is a positive team player who enjoys working collaboratively with colleagues.
• Has a good standard of education, including basic literacy and numeracy skills.
• Takes pride in maintaining high standards of cleanliness, food hygiene and customer service.

About Us

Abbey Gardens is a brand-new specialist school, part of Acorn Education, supporting young people aged 11–16 with SEMH needs. Opened in June 2026, we provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where every student is supported to thrive.

Our personalised curriculum builds on the National Curriculum while being adapted to each student’s individual needs, strengths and aspirations. We combine academic learning with personal development, helping students build confidence, resilience, independence and essential life skills.

As the school grows, our curriculum will remain relevant, engaging and purposeful, with Key Stage 3 and 4 pathways offering recognised accreditation wherever possible. Our aim is simple: to help every young person overcome barriers, experience success and build a positive future.

At Outcomes First Schools, we provide specialist education for learners who need a deeper level of understanding, expertise and support than mainstream education can typically offer. We support students with a wide range of complex, co-occurring and neurodivergent needs, including autism, ADHD, SEMH, speech and communication needs, dyslexia and experiences of trauma or adversity.

We are proud to be a part of OFG Education who in 2025 were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place students and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

OFG Education is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, OFG Education does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales .

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