Catering Assistant

Solent Junior School, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 1HJ

26 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  Monday 13th April (or sooner by arrangement)

• Closing date

  22 February 2026 at 7pm

• Date listed

  27 January 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: £5,632.00 - £5,724.00 Annually (Actual) 10 hours per week Monday to Friday 11.30am to 1.30pm. Permanent

Catering Assistant job summary

Salary: Pay Band 3, £24,027 to £24,420 Full Time Equivalent

We are looking for a well organised, self-motivated person with a range of practical skills to join our friendly and approachable staff team. Both experienced and new to role would be welcome to apply given relevant skills. Food hygiene certificate desirable but not essential as training will be given.

Key Accountabilities:

• To actively promote the School’s Equal Opportunities Policy and observe the standard of conduct which prevents discrimination taking place.
• To maintain awareness of and commitment to the School’s Equal Opportunity Policies in relation to both employment and service delivery.
• To fully comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 etc, the School’s Health and Safety Policy and all locally agreed safe methods of work.
• At the discretion of the Head Teacher, such other activities as may from time to time be agreed consistent with the nature of the job described above.
• To work with colleagues to achieve service plan objectives and targets
• To participate in Employee Development schemes and Performance Management and contribute to the identification of own team development needs.

The successful candidate’s principal responsibilities / duties will be:-

• Cooking in accordance with menus, serving of meals including the organisation, setting up, cleaning and clearing up. To undertake general kitchen duties.
• To support and assist the Assistant Catering Manager/Lead Cook.
• Clearing and cleaning of Kitchen and Dining areas.
• To assist in ensuring that School’s standards are met.
• At the discretion of the Catering Manager, such other activities as may be agreed consistent with the nature of the job described above

In return we will offer:-

• A caring and positive environment inspired by our strong ethos
• A team committed to the wellbeing of staff and pupils
• The opportunity to work within a ‘good’ school amongst a hardworking team of friendly staff
• A supportive, friendly and welcoming school team
• Superb working conditions and environment
• Appropriate training as required

You will be based predominantly at The Solent Schools. However, as you will be appointed to The De Curci Trust, you may be required to work in any of The De Curci Trust’s academies or in any of the schools/academies that the Trust is supporting as reasonably directed by the CEO. The ability to travel independently between DCT academies/schools is therefore essential.

Visits to our schools are warmly welcomed and encouraged. Please contact Tracy Dinsmore at Solent Junior School by emailing recruit@thesolentschools.org to arrange an appointment time.

The Solent Schools and the De Curci Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS check at Enhanced level and any other background checks, including overseas checks, will be required prior to any offer of employment.

Completed application forms will be passed to the recruitment panel for shortlisting and will be reviewed against the person specification detailed in the advert. Applications will be assessed upon receipt and we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date. An early application is therefore strongly advised.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

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.

About Solent Junior School

• School type: Academy, ages 7 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 360 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 7 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Solent Junior School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/solent-junior-school

Solent Junior School is a thriving, oversubscribed three form entry Junior school. It is situated in Drayton on the Northern boundary between the city of Portsmouth and Hampshire. The school is one of three main feeder schools for Springfield Secondary School. In April 2017, Solent Junior School converted into an academy and is now proud to be part of The De Curci Trust. The De Curci Trust is a small, recently established Multi Academy Trust, comprising just three schools; Solent Infant School, Solent Junior School and Springfield Secondary School.

Solent Junior School is well known amongst our community for being a bright, warm and happy school with a keen focus upon the good mental health of both our pupils and staff. Visitors to the school frequently comment upon how the ethos and values permeate throughout all that we do. Our pupils are extremely enthusiastic learners, a result of the unfaltering focus on developing the whole child through an enriched and rewarding curriculum. The school offers a truly inclusive education, focusing on individual achievement, celebrating successes that are entirely relevant to the special journey of each of our magical pupils.

The school has been through some challenging, yet exciting changes over the past few years. Leadership structure, in turn, has changed significantly to reflect the current educational landscape. This has ensured that we continue to provide our pupils with the best possible education and care. Despite still legally being defined as two separate schools, with two separate DfE numbers, Solent Infant and Junior Schools now work extremely closely together as The Solent Schools with one shared Local Governing Body. Those that are new to the school often mistake us for a through primary school. The Schools have a number of shared staff including The Executive Headteacher, Site, Administrative and Network Managers. Feedback has told us that this shared working offers our pupils and their families a truly consistent, cohesive and highly effective approach from the moment they arrive in Year R to the day they leave Year 6. Our staff wellbeing surveys tell us that Solent is a lovely, caring and supportive place to learn and work where staff and pupil wellbeing is given a high priority.

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