School Cook

How would you like to be paid for five days but only work four ?

Our colleagues' wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do at OFG, so we're always looking for new ways to improve everyone's work/life balance. We're taking part in a trial of the 4-Day Working Week, meaning that you could be working one day less a week (or equivalent).

If the trial is a success, we'll be rolling the 4DWW out across the Group - so there's never been a more exciting time to join !

Job Title: School Cook

Location: Woodside Park School, Penge, London SE20 8QU

Salary: Up to £25,000.00 per annum depending on experience

Hours: 30 hours per week; Monday to Friday, 8am - 2pm

Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only (plus 1 week)

Start Date: September 2025

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a School Cook to join our close-knit team at The Holden School, part of Acorn Education.

Purpose of the Role

To be responsible for the planning and preparation of high-quality food and catering service to the School and to manage and supervise all kitchen staff

Key Responsibilities

• To plan menus for the School with reference to the dietary needs of the Service Users
• To undertake the monitoring of stocks by date rotation, portion control and quality and in accordance with the budgetary controls set
• To set up and clean down the kitchen areas before and after day-to-day use
• To ensure that necessary preparation is undertaken for the day/weekly demand/needs of the School
• To be observant of the need to minimise waste
• To provide suitable food to staff/Service Users with special dietary requirements

Who are we looking for

The ideal candidate will have

• Good knowledge of catering practices including the use and storage of relevant products
• Good knowledge of food safety requirements
• Good knowledge of devising and implementing effective systems of working
• Experience of catering work in a residential or educational or similar setting
• Experience of menu planning with reference to budgetary control and nutritional
• Experience at management level in similar setting
• Experience of supervising and appraising staff

Qualifications Required

• Culinary and Food Safety Qualifications

For a full list of Duties and Responsibilities, please see the Job Description

About Us

Woodside Park School is a brand-new school under Acorn Education and Outcomes First Group. Acorn Education has more than thirty-five schools across the UK, and Woodside Park is the company's first venture in London, and there are over 50 schools under OFG across Britain.

The site has recently been refurbished as of December 2024 to a high spec with all new fixtures and fittings, and with new internal systems such as access controlled doors and air con/heating systems. The role will be to complete daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly checks whilst also maintaining the internal and external spaces as and when required.

Acorn Education is the UK's leading independent provider of specialist education. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.

We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a 'Great Place to Work' for the fifth year running.

Why join Acorn Education?

Benefits

Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you'll get an exceptional reward package including:

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
• "Your Wellbeing Matters" - access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks

And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that's right for you, including:

• A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
• 100's of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
• Cycle to Work Schemes
• Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.

And that's not all, we place the outcomes of the pupils in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you'll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

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

You'll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit