Catering Assistant

St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School, Gillingham, SP8 4GG

19 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  23 February 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  2 February 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Catering, cleaning and site management
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £1,860.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 1, Scale Point 2

Catering Assistant job summary

Salary: Grade 1, Point 2: £1,860 per annum

Contract: Part-time, 3 hours 20 minutes per week, 38.4 weeks (term time plus inset days), fixed term until 22nd July 2026.

We require a Catering Assistant with a flexible approach to undertake a range of catering responsibilities, depending on the operational needs of the catering facility. The role is to cover the lunchtime period on Thursdays and Fridays for 1hr and 40 minutes each day. Duties will include assisting in the preparation, cooking and serving of meals (under the direction of the Catering Supervisor), general washing up and cleaning.

Main responsibilities and duties

• To assist in all aspects of food preparation, cooking and serving of meals
• Preparing the area for meals
• To carry out washing-up, cleaning of equipment and kitchen areas, as directed
• To clear and clean the dining areas
• To prepare beverages, as directed
• Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy

To find out more about the benefits of working for SAST, click here

For more information about our school, please click here to view our careers page.

Should you wish to arrange a visit to view the School, please do not hesitate to contact the School Office on office@stmarygillingham.dorset.sch.uk or on 01747 824446 who will be happy to arrange this.

SAST will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. In line with KCSIE guidance, this will be part of safer recruitment checks, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role may include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to-day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will have to meet the person specification, and the post is subject to safeguarding checks, including an enhanced DBS check and Children’s Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

SAST recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce and is committed to building a workforce which reflects diversity from the communities it serves. SAST values the contributions from all staff from a wide range of different backgrounds and actively seeks to promote an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment and at the same time supports fair promotion and cultural acceptance. Under the provision of the Equality Act 2010 SAST welcomes applications from everyone and operates a recruitment process which is fair and does not discriminate against or disadvantage anyone because of their age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or nationality, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

This role is UK- based and your right to work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

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

Safeguarding responsibilities associated with this role will include engagement in regulatory activity, such as administering first aid or supporting an upset child. It will have contact with young people on a day-to day basis. SAST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will meet the person specification and is subject to an enhanced DBS and Children’s Barred List check. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

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 St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School

• School type: Academy, Church of England, ages 2 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 241 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 2 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St Mary the Virgin Church of England Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-mary-the-virgin-church-of-england-primary-school-gillingham

We are part of SAST and are proud to be part of a trust where there is considerable support and collaboration with the other schools and leaders across these schools.

You are warmly encouraged to visit us in advance of applying. When you visit the school, you will notice the:
• Strong Christian ethos
• Friendly and welcoming atmosphere
• Children that are thriving and enjoying learning
• High expectations of all
• Breadth of experiences and opportunities
• Hard working, committed and caring staff
• Strong local community

There are 240 children on roll. The School has a Church of England foundation within the Diocese of Salisbury. The school was judged to be Good when last inspected by Ofsted in February 2023 and Excellent when inspected as a Church School in June 2019. We are an innovative school and continue to strive for the very best for all in our community.

We are excited to be part of SAST. There is real strength in coming together with a collective responsibility for all the children’s development and progress between 0-19 years. We believe in preserving schools in their local community. This means that there will be considerable local expertise to support the school and staff with the chance to make a contribution to wider developments.

At the heart of SAST is the desire to work in partnership, to collaborate with others and to be outward facing for the benefit of children and staff. The schools have extensive links beyond the immediate area and are keen to extend these further.

We are looking for someone with high expectations, a love of learning, able to inspire and laugh and enjoy the challenges of this role. You need to be a team player; you will go the extra mile to support children and want to continually develop and pick up the best ideas from around the world in education. In return, you will join a School and Trust that is full of activity, opportunity, and optimism.

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