Catering Assistant

Start date: As soon as possible 
Location: Ark Alexandra Academy, Hastings, East Sussex 
Salary: Ark Outside London Support Scale 2, Pay Points 2-3: £24,482 to £24,795 (pro rata) 
Actual salary: £14,999.02 - £15,190.78 (gross) paid in 12 equal monthly payments 
Hours: 25 hours per week, 9:30am - 2:30pm, term time only plus 1 extra week (40 weeks per year) 
Contract: Permanent  
Closing date: 11:59pm on 20 September 2026 

The school reserves the right to close this advert early and interviews may take place before the advertised closing date. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early for this role to avoid disappointment. 

A note for recruitment agencies:  We prefer to hire people directly, but we do have a preferred supplier list for when we require additional support. We will be in touch if we need you.  

 This is a rare opportunity to join our hard-working, dedicated catering team in our growing academy. As a catering assistant you will be based at one of our two campuses under the direction of a Catering Supervisor. This is a term time only position, which means you will only work 39 weeks of the year, plus one extra week in the school holidays as directed by your manager. Pay is spread evenly over the year so you would never have a month without money.

Our standards are high and meals are prepared daily from fresh ingredients. We need someone who can work quickly and safely, be part of a team and has the confidence to interact with staff and students. We will show the successful applicant how to operate our cashless tills and any other items of catering equipment.

For more information please read the job description and person specification available for download.

As the ideal candidate you will:

• Have experience of working in a busy kitchen
• Be available to work the hours of 9.30am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday
• Have a resilient character and a strong personal drive
• Be able to take ownership of tasks and complete to a high standard
• Have a health & safety and/or food hygiene qualification or be willing to train towards
• Be a team player that can work collaboratively as well as using your own initiative
• Be flexible in covering other team members when required, even if it’s on the other campus
• Be committed to Ark’s ethos of high expectations and no excuses

Our school:

We are aiming to create one of the top performing schools in the UK right here in Hastings.

Ark Alexandra Academy is a popular secondary school in Hastings. We operate a ‘One School, Two Campus’ model, which brings with it unique opportunities for career growth and development. The school is on an exciting and rapid journey of improvement which is underpinned by research and best practice. We place primacy on traditional values: discipline, courtesy and respect. Our students are smart and ready to learn and thrive. We are a strict no mobile phone school.

As part of the Ark network, Ark Alexandra Academy has access to the dedicated support of a highly successful MAT with a well-regarded CPD offer for leaders and teachers at all levels. In addition, the school is part of the Hastings DfE Education Investment Area giving an increased focus on the region, potential funding, and genuine opportunities for collaboration between schools.