Catering Assistant

About this role

This part-time position offers an opportunity to support the daily routines at Meadowbrook College, working within an environment where food preparation and student collaboration meet. Rather than operating in an isolated commercial kitchen, you will work directly alongside both our Hospitality Manager and our students, helping to maintain a predictable, calm routine where young people learn valuable life skills and practical independence. Under the guidance of our Hospitality Manager, your day-to-day focus will balance high organizational standards of kitchen hygiene with meaningful, grounded student interaction. By maintaining an immaculate environment and a smooth service window, you provide the consistent structure and welcoming space that our school community relies on each day.

What skills / experience are required

To keep our kitchen running methodically and safely, we require an individual with high standards of cleanliness, tidiness, and strict attention to food hygiene practices. You will need a calm, organised approach to work effectively during the busy, time-sensitive lunchtime service window. Because student collaboration is central to our daily routine, you must be comfortable working in an environment where young people are actively involved in day-to-day kitchen tasks. Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential, as you will take clear direction from the Hospitality Manager to maintain our structured routines. Previous experience in a commercial kitchen, school catering setting, or a customer-facing food service role is highly desirable, though reliability and a structured mindset remain our absolute priorities

What we can offer / about our school

At Meadowbrook College, we pride ourselves on a well-run, calm kitchen where high organizational standards are the norm. We don't believe in performative or chaotic environments; instead, we protect your working conditions through clear routines and predictable expectations. You will work within a supportive team culture that respects your time and values your contribution to our school community.

Education has the power to change lives, communities and society for the better. At RLT we believe that we can achieve more for our pupils, trainees, staff and communities by working together rather than alone. Schools in RLT are united by a common belief in the benefits of working together, and by our commitment to shared principles.

OUR VISION is for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously and sustainably: to be better faster together.

OUR ‘WHY?’ is that children and young people ‘only get one go’ in school and therefore as part of RLT we aim to ensure the best possible ‘go’ for our pupils.

OUR ‘HOW?’ is through the highest support and challenge for our schools and each other, underpinned by our principles.

Our employees benefit from a wide variety of support including extensive continuing professional learning and development opportunities, wellbeing and staff networks and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS) for all staff. For more information on what it is like to work for the Trust, and the benefits you could access, please see our “Working in RLT” guide.

This role includes regulated activity relevant to children.

The school reserves the right to consider and interview candidates ahead of the closing date if appropriate. An offer may be made to an exceptional candidate in this instance.

If you would like to have a confidential conversation with Jacqui West the Headteacher, about the role, prior to application, then please email lhook@meadowbrookcollege.org.uk or telephone 01865 253198.

The River Learning Trust and Meadowbrook College are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates. Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link List of offences that are not filtered