School Cook

Crosthwaite C.E. Primary School - School Cook

22.5 hours per week - Term time only (Required as soon as possible)

The Governors of Crosthwaite C.E. Primary School wish to appoint a warm, capable and enthusiastic School Cook to take charge of our kitchen from the autumn term. We are a small Church of England primary school in the Lyth Valley, on the southern edge of the Lake District, with approximately 110 pupils across four mixed-age classes, from Rising 3s through Year 6.

We are proud to cook our own food on site. Our cook is not a contractor working in the background but a valued and visible member of the school team, known to every child. This is a rewarding post for someone who takes pride in feeding children well. Currently, around 75-85 children have a school meal each day, depending on menu and time of year.

The post
Hours    22.5 hours per week, term time only
Pattern    Approximately 9.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m, Monday to Friday. There may be some flexibility on the daily pattern.
Contract    Permanent
Salary    Westmorland and Furness Grade 5, SCP 6, £25,989 per annum full-time equivalent (£13.47 per hour), pro rata for actual hours worked. Salary subject to any national or local pay award.

Start    As soon as possible following interview and pre-employment checks.

A second post is also available. We are separately advertising a Cleaner post of 12.5 hours per week. The two posts have been held together in the past and work well as a combined role of 35 hours per week. If you would like to be considered for both, please say so in your application - you are equally welcome to apply for this / the other post alone.

Main duties
•    Plan, prepare, cook and serve fresh, healthy school meals each day for our pupils and staff, to a consistently high standard;
•    Plan menus that are tasty, nutritious and varied, meeting the School Food Standards and catering for a range of dietary, allergen and cultural requirements;
•    Order food and supplies, monitor stock levels and work within an agreed budget;
•    Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and safety in the kitchen and servery, including temperature records, cleaning schedules and HACCP-based food safety records;
•    Manage allergen information accurately and communicate it clearly to staff and families, in line with Natasha’s Law and our allergy procedures;
•    Carry out regular checks of kitchen equipment and report any defects to the school office promptly, so the kitchen remains safe and in good working order;
•    Help supervise dining arrangements and encourage good manners, healthy eating and a calm, sociable lunchtime;
•    Work within the school’s health and safety, fire and safeguarding policies at all times;
•    Take part in the wider life of the school - seasonal meals, special days and occasional events - as the school’s own cook.

What we are looking for
Essential:
•    A Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene in Catering certificate (or willingness to obtain one before starting);
•    Proven experience of catering, including planning, preparing and cooking meals to a consistent standard;
•    The ability to work independently and take sole charge of a kitchen, managing time and priorities to serve on time every day;
•    A good understanding of food hygiene, allergen management and safe kitchen practice;
•    Warmth, patience and good humour with children, and the ability to work well with colleagues and families;
•    Sympathy with the Christian ethos and the core values of our school.
Desirable
•    Experience of cooking in a school kitchen, or in another setting catering for children;
•    Knowledge of the School Food Standards and of allergen legislation;
•    Level 3 Food Safety, allergen awareness training, or a relevant catering qualification;
•    Basic budgeting, ordering and stock control experience.

What we offer
•    A small, friendly school in a beautiful Lake District setting, where staff, children and families know one another well;
•    A well-equipped kitchen and genuine freedom over menus, within the School Food Standards;
•    A supportive team who are closely involved in the day to day life of the school;
•    Induction, training and support, including food safety and safeguarding training;
•    Local Government Pension Scheme membership and term-time-only working.

Safeguarding
Crosthwaite C.E. Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS disclosure with a check of the children’s barred list, satisfactory references, an online search and pre-employment checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Where appropriate to the post, a childcare disqualification declaration will also be required.

How to apply
For an application pack, please contact Andrea Pickering, School Business Manager: admin@crosthwaiteprimary.net.
For an informal conversation about the post, or to arrange a visit and a look round the kitchen, please ring Matt Jessop, Headteacher, on 015395 68471. We warmly welcome visits before applying.

Closing date    Friday 25th September 2026, 12 noon
Interviews    W/c Monday 5th October 2026

Please submit applications electronically, using the email address above.