School Chef

• South Lee Prep School and Nursery • Address: Nowton Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2BT • Salary: Competitive Salary • Hours: Full Time, working 3 days a week, 8.00 am - 3.00 pm (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday), and 2 days a week 9.00 am - 5.00 pm (Wednesday and Friday), Approximately 35 weeks per year, Term time only • Contract: Permanent, required as soon as possible • Reference: 0935   Can you enrich the lives of young people as a School Chef? South Lee Prep School and Nursery are looking for an all-year-round School Chef to lead our kitchen team in providing delicious, nutritious food in an organised and professional environment. You will oversee all aspects of catering in the school, including provision for our thriving year-round nursery, catering mainly for the pupils and staff each day at lunchtime but also for events such as match teas and special end of year dinners. We are looking for someone with vision, passion and commitment who can create exciting and healthy menus for family-style dining. You will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to deliver the school’s vision and be a key part of our bustling South Lee Prep community.   About the role Leading the kitchen at South Lee is about far more than simply preparing meals. Food is an extremely important part of school life for our children and families, and we take great pride in the quality of what we serve. We care about where our food comes from, using local suppliers wherever possible and making the most of fresh, seasonal produce. We do not compromise on quality by buying cheap, heavily processed foods, and we avoid unnecessary additives and preservatives. Our expectation is that food is cooked properly from scratch, on site, every day, with no reliance on jars, packet mixes or convenience sauces. As the School Chef you would lead the kitchen with these principles at its heart, creating nourishing, varied and appealing meals while also working with our pupil food committee to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for food. We want someone who takes real pride in what they produce and understands that good food plays an important part in the happiness, wellbeing and experience of every child at South Lee Prep. Could you be part of this exciting journey?   Your responsibilities • Design and deliver a nutritious, delicious, seasonal and diverse lunch and snack menu, providing for those with special dietary requirements. • Create, develop and promote a school food identity / brand around healthy, locally-produced, delicious food. • Be a central part of the school community, getting to know the staff and pupils and living by the school values. • Run an environmentally aware kitchen, minimising waste, and sourcing local food where possible. • Have excellent structures and routines in place for service, kitchen hygiene and ensure all staff are working together to this end.   Staff Benefits • Very competitive salary. • Company pension contributions. • We will work with you to provide the training to progress your career. • Free hot lunch each day. • On-site parking available. • Collaborative and supportive work environment. • On site gym for staff to use. • Current chef will be available for a strong handover. If you are passionate about food and would relish the opportunity of working with us in our supportive, fun, and stimulating professional environment, then we would welcome your application.   About South Lee Prep School and Nursery Founded in 1961, South Lee School is a thriving, highly successful, co-ed day prep school. Pupils move on at 13+ to a range of senior schools, locally and further afield. South Lee Prep School is a forward-thinking school that is always looking for ways to enhance learning and ignite intellectual curiosity in our children. We want them to become independent learners, to ask questions, to challenge what they already know, to learn new ways of thinking and to be the best they can possibly be. We also want them to learn who they are and how to be resilient and happy in their own skin. Through our six South Lee pillars (authenticity and achievement, communication and community, nurture, and zest) we aim to instil the skills and confidence in each child so they can go out into the world, ambitious and brave, ready to make a positive difference in whichever way they choose.   For more information Please read the Job Description (pdf) [https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/ExtOrgs/Attach/H-Aug/0892-JD-School-Chef-South-Lee-Prep-School.pdf]. Please contact Clare Fayers by calling 01284 754654 or emailing recruitment@southlee.co.uk [recruitment@southlee.co.uk] or visit our website [http://www.southleeschool.co.uk/]. Visits to the school are welcomed.   How to apply To apply, please submit your completed Application Form (Word) [https://sccrecruit.blob.core.windows.net/assets/ExtOrgs/Attach/H-Aug/0892-app-form-School-Chef-South-Lee-Prep-School.docx] by email to recruitment@southlee.co.uk [recruitment@southlee.co.uk]   Closing date: 9.00 am, 25 September 20 26. Interview date: Week commencing 28 September 20 26. Promoted as SPJ (Standard Plus Job) on Suffolk Jobs Direct.   Suitable candidates may be interviewed before the closing date and the school reserves the right to withdraw the position if an early appointment is made. Applicants are therefore encouraged strongly to apply in good time. For reasons of safer recruitment, please be aware we do not accept or review curriculum vitae. To progress your application, we will require a completed South Lee Prep School Application Form. It is our policy that we request employment references for all short-listed candidates prior to interview. Applicants will be asked to confirm that they have not been disqualified from working with children. Any gaps in employment will be explored at interview. Candidates should be aware that in line with Keeping Children Safe, we will conduct online searches for shortlisted candidates. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING To apply, please follow the application process detailed above. This job does not have a Suffolk Jobs Direct online application form. The ‘Apply Now’ button below only allows you to submit a job alert, not an online application.