Chef

Matthew Arnold School, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 9JE

19 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  ASAP

• Closing date

  31 October 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  12 October 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: £16,926.00 - £22,021.00 Annually (Actual)

Chef job summary

Chef - Immediate Start Available!

Salary: Grade 6 - £16.52-£17.90 per hour

Actual Salary: £16,936 - £22,021

Full-time equivalent: £27,709-£30,023 per annum

Working Weeks: 39 Weeks plus 12 additional days Term Time Only

Hours: 25-30 hours per week -Term time Plus 12 days

Join Our Catering Team

Matthew Arnold School is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Chef to join our in-house catering team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about food and enjoys working in a busy, team-focused environment. You will play an important role in providing high-quality, nutritious meals for our school community, supporting school events.

About the Role

As our Chef, you will be responsible for organising and delivering food for our main dining areas and ensuring that the catering service operates efficiently and on time and to a high standard. While supporting the Catering Manager and team with daily tasks.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Plan with the Catering Manager menus and preparing, cooking and serving Plan menus with the Catering Manager and prepare, cook and serve nutritious meals in line with catering legislation and food safety standards.
• Create termly menus and associated documentation, supporting the continued development of the catering offer.
• Deputise for the Catering Manager when required, including ordering, stock control, supplier management and maintaining accurate HACCP records.
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene, health and safety, including preparation for inspections and visits.
• Organise catering for school events and support the smooth day-to-day operation of the catering service.
• Ensure financial controls, cost management and waste reduction measures are adhered to and remain within budget.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties as requested.

Requirements:

• Experienced in catering, food preparation, stock control and ordering supplies.
• Able to lead by example, motivate colleagues and promote a positive working environment.
• Organised, reliable and able to work under pressure.
• Knowledgeable about food hygiene, health and safety requirements and safe working practices.
• Passionate about preparing nutritious, high-quality food.
• Committed to excellent customer service and supporting the wider needs of the school.

The successful candidate will be expected to follow school policies and procedures and maintain consistently high standards of hygiene, safety and food quality.

What We Offer

You will have the opportunity to develop your catering and management skills through workplace training and formal courses including via apprenticeships. We are committed to supporting staff development and providing a positive working environment. If you are passionate about food and would enjoy making a difference to the daily experience of students and staff, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please complete the application form via My New Term. For further information or questions about the position, please contact Jeremiah at hrwest@acertrust.org.uk.

We recommend that you apply as soon as possible. Matthew Arnold School reserves the right to interview suitable applicants early and may close the vacancy before the advertised closing date.

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 Matthew Arnold School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 1255 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Matthew Arnold School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/matthew-arnold-school-oxford

Matthew Arnold is a popular and successful school on the edge of Oxford with an excellent local reputation. We are focussed on improving outcomes for every student and are committed to staff development to support this.
The school is part of the Acer Trust family of schools so there is opportunity to share expertise and experiences and enjoy professional development with more than one school. Our induction programmes give strong support to NQTs.
We offer defined-benefit public sector pension schemes (Teachers Pension, Local Government Pension Scheme), a 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme, good bus links, car and cycle parking.

School location

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