Catering Assistant
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5SL28 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
29 June 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
28 May 2026
Job details
Job role
- Catering, cleaning and site management
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £11,669.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 3 ( SCP 5-6) working Term Time Only plus 2 INSET days . Working 20 hours per week. FTE £25,584
Catering Assistant job summary
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is seeking to appoint a Catering Assistant to support the preparation, cooking and service of food as part of the school’s daily catering provision.
Working under the direction of the Catering Manager and Chef, you will help ensure that food service runs safely, efficiently and to expected standards. The role also includes supporting students in the dining area and helping to maintain a clean, safe and welcoming environment during the school day.
This is a practical and student-facing role that would suit someone who is organised, reliable and able to work well as part of a busy catering team.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist with the preparation and service of food.
- Serve food in an efficient and friendly manner.
- Wash up kitchen equipment and tableware.
- Clean dining areas, kitchen premises and kitchen equipment.
- Follow catering procedures, hygiene expectations and cleaning routines accurately.
- Support the supervision of students in the dining area.
- Contribute to a calm, safe and orderly dining environment.
- Interact with students, colleagues and visitors in a respectful, friendly and professional manner.
- Work in line with school and Trust policies, procedures and expectations.
The Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will have good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact appropriately with students, colleagues and visitors. They will be able to organise their own time, prioritise tasks and maintain attention to detail when following procedures and maintaining standards.
You will ideally hold an NVQ Level 2 or equivalent and a Food Hygiene qualification, or be willing to undertake relevant training. You will also be able to support the preparation, cooking and service of food safely and efficiently, while helping to maintain clean, safe and hygienic kitchen, dining and equipment areas.
We are looking for someone who works cooperatively with colleagues and contributes to a calm, professional and student-focused catering service.
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading (MER)
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is an ambitious, over-subscribed 11-16 secondary school in an urban context. The school is as committed to staff and student wellbeing as it is to delivering high-quality education.
Staff voice is central to shaping change and wellbeing priorities. The school benefits from excellent modern facilities and is proud of its vibrant, diverse student body who work hard and have high aspirations. A link to the school can be found here
About Maiden Erlegh Trust
Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 800 staff and 5,000 students across eleven schools, including primary, secondary, special and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise.
We Aim High, Be Inclusive and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all through collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement.
Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities and our annual MET Staff Conference, a day that brings colleagues together to share best practice and learn from one another.
Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise, playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.
Further information about working with us, and insight from colleagues across the Trust, can be found here on our website.
Benefits of Working with Maiden Erlegh Trust
Staff wellbeing and professional development are central to how we work. Colleagues benefit from a wide range of opportunities and schemes, including :
Pension Scheme - Generous employer contributions through the Teachers’ Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme
Annual Leave - Generous entitlement, increasing with length of service
ME Day - One additional day’s leave each year for a significant personal event
Professional Development - Extensive CPD through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, annual Trust Conference and apprenticeship opportunities
Hybrid Working - Flexible working arrangements for eligible roles
Perkbox - Discounts, wellbeing resources and monthly perk points
Wellbeing and Health - Free flu vaccinations and eye tests (where eligible)
Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 support and discount schemes
Mental Health First Aid Support
Recognition and Community - Celebrating achievements and milestones across #TeamMET
Employee Referral Scheme
Working for our Trust means contributing to something larger by supporting the education and life chances of children and young people every day.
Additional Information
If you believe this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution, please contact recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for an informal discussion.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early, as we reserve the right to close the advert and interview at any time.
Maiden Erlegh Trust is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Maiden Erlegh School in Reading
- School type
- Free Schools, None, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 885 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Maiden Erlegh School in Reading website
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is an ambitious, over-subscribed 11-16 secondary school in an urban context which is as committed to the welfare of students and staff as it is our high quality education. Our school benefits from excellent, modern facilities and teaching spaces and we are very proud of our vibrant, diverse and engaging students who work hard and have high aspirations.
We have a highly effective team of tenacious, optimistic and talented staff , supported by an experienced leadership team.
Professional development is a strength here, thanks to our Teaching School. We offer a flexible CPD programme which staff can tailor to their own needs which includes coaching and training for new entrants to the profession and to support career returners. We are very happy to discuss flexible working arrangements including part-time working and job-sharing.
The school is a part of the Maiden Erlegh Trust which offers a range of career opportunities in our vibrant and successful schools. We have a proven track record of supporting ambitious staff to middle and senior leadership posts and our can offer Specialist Leader of Education and school improvement opportunities to the right candidates
School location
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