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Head Chef Educator
South Baddesley Church of England Primary School & Nursery, LYMINGTON, Hampshire, SO41 5RPThis job expired on 11 May 2026 – see similar jobs
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
11 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
29 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Catering, cleaning and site management
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Part time (Can be done as a job share): 30 hours a week/ 40 weeks per year Monday to Friday, 9-3.30pm
Contract type
- Permanent
Actual salary
- Starting salary £16, 227
Pay scale
- Grade C
What skills and experience we're looking for
Are you a foodie with a heart for community? Do you believe that school lunch should be the highlight of a child's day? We are looking for a visionary Head Chef Educator to join our small, vibrant school and help us pioneer our exciting new catering service.
"Our project is dedicated to delivering homemade meals from fresh, locally sourced ingredients—soon to include produce from our own school farm. We are building a school food culture that reflects our value of kindness."
The Role: Lead, Innovate, Motivate
This isn't your typical school kitchen role. We are looking for a creative partner to work alongside us to design a service that fosters social interaction and food education. You will:
Lead a dedicated team in preparing fresh, interesting, and nutritious meals.
Collaborate on seasonal menu cycles that celebrate local produce.
Support a 'living curriculum' by helping children learn where their food comes from.
Promote a culture of kindness and health throughout the dining hall.
Manage kitchen administration, health & safety, and waste reduction with precision.
Who You Are
Above all, you have a passion for food. While food qualifications and industry knowledge are desirable, they are not the deal-breaker. If you have the drive to help children love healthy food, we will provide the full training you need to succeed.
A Creative Thinker: Excited by the prospect of 'Farm-to-Fork' cooking.
A Leader: Able to motivate a team and maintain high standards within budget.
A Role Model: Professional, polite, and friendly with children and colleagues alike.
Ambitious: You have high aspirations for what school catering can become.
What the school offers its staff
Why Join Us?
We are a small school with a strong family feel. You won't just be an employee; you'll be a vital part of our school community. As part of the Hampshire Local Authority, you will benefit from:
An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme.
Work-life balance with Term Time Only hours (enjoy your holidays!).
The opportunity to shape a pioneering service from the ground up.
Partnership with Chefs in Schools, providing access to elite professional training, a network of professional kitchens, and 1-on-1 support from a Chef Consultant.
Flexible working opportunities
Further information about the job
Person Specification: Chef EducatorEssential Qualifications & Experience
Experience in Fresh Food: Proven experience working and passion for cooking, this may include experience of working in a high-quality, professional kitchen using fresh, seasonal ingredients or educating others.
Qualifications: GCSE grade C/4 plus in English and Mathematics; other relevant qualifications or study will be considered.
Desirable Qualifications & Experience
Professional Cookery Qualification: Level 2 or 3 Professional Cookery (NVQ/Diploma) or equivalent significant industry experience in a fresh-food environment.
Food Safety: Current Level 3 Food Safety Supervision certificate (or willingness to obtain immediately).
Educational Engagement: Experience working with children or young adults or a passion for teaching (e.g., leading cooking workshops or "grow-your-own" projects).
Financial Literacy: Experience or interest in budget management, cost-per-head calculations, and stock control.
Allergy Management: Specific training in the management of the 14 food allergens within a catering environment.
Sustainability Knowledge: Understanding or interest in "Farm-to-Fork" principles, waste reduction, and composting.
Essential Personal Attributes (The "Heart" of the Role)
Visionary Mindset: A genuine belief that school food can be a tool for social change and health.
Kindness: A polite, patient, and friendly manner with children, encouraging them to try new things without pressure.
Adaptability: The ability to move from high-pressure service to a calm, educational conversation with a student.
Resilience: The "can-do" attitude required to build a new service from the ground up.
Commitment to safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding children and all employees, governors and volunteers are subject to robust employment checks.
We delivery regular, topical safeguarding briefings and train all staff annually on KCSiE (Keeping Children Safe in Education).
We have an internal online portal enabling all staff to report any concerns immediately and we have two Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL's) in school. A third member of staff has undergone the DSL training purely for the purpose of auditing our processes and challenging DSL decisions.
We are very proud of the strong safeguarding culture we have developed.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About South Baddesley Church of England Primary School & Nursery
- Organisation type
- Local authority maintained school, Church of England, ages 3 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- Size
- 131 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Email address
- adminoffice@southbaddesley.hants.sch.uk
- Phone number
- 01590 626243
South Baddesley CE Primary School and Nursery is a thriving Church of England school catering to pupils aged 3–11. Our vision and curriculum are firmly rooted in the Christian value of ‘Kindness’, which we explore through three dimensions: kindness to ourselves, kindness to others, and kindness to the world. This ethos fosters a calm, happy, and purposeful environment where laughter is a daily staple of school life.
Our curriculum is designed to help children ‘explore life in all its fullness’, cultivating wisdom, curiosity, innovation, and excellence for every child, regardless of their starting point. We utilise the core drivers of literature, people, and the world to shape deep, challenging learning experiences.
Strategic Growth and Innovation
As an outward-looking school, we take pride in our unique school initiatives. Following the successful opening of our Nursery in 2025, we are focused on the continued growth of our Early Years provision, embracing the DfE’s ‘Stronger Foundations’ guidance to ensure high-quality educational value from the very start.
Last year was marked by the exciting opening of our School Farm, which, alongside our bespoke catering service, provides a curriculum that is truly more than academic. These resources allow us to offer a rich, outdoor learning experience within the stunning grounds of the Pylewell Estate, utilising our Woodland School, meadow, and pond to enhance pupil development.
Commitment to Excellence and Reform
We maintain a rigorous focus on academic performance, ensuring strong outcomes at national milestones and through robust internal data. Our current school improvement initiatives are currently focused on:
-
Mathematics: Refining planning and delivery within our mixed-age class structure. - English: Developing a sophisticated writing curriculum in alignment with the DfE Writing Strategy.
- RE & Foundation: Conducting "deep dives" into our RE curriculum and enhancing assessment toolkits across all subjects.
In light of recent SEND reforms and the White Paper, we are committed to providing a bespoke offer that meets the needs of all pupils. We are specifically developing our ‘Ordinarily Available Provision’ to ensure that every learner is supported within our inclusive environment.
Collaboration and Professional Development
Teamwork and professional well-being are the cornerstones of our school. With 110 pupils currently organised into four classes, our staff are supported by a dedicated leadership team and a commitment to teacher development at all stages. We value our collaborative partnerships with local schools, Hampshire Local Authority and organisations such as Winchester University. Uniquely we employ a teacher mentor, prioritising ongoing growth and development for all staff.
Our July 2024 ‘Good’ Ofsted judgement—with ‘Outstanding’ recognition for welfare and behaviour—validated our unique approach to subject leadership and pupil support. Our vision remains to ‘strive and believe to shine’ for every individual.
Community and Environment
Located on the edge of the New Forest and near the Solent coastline, we make full use of our two school minibuses to bring learning to life through regular off-site visits. We are supported by a highly involved Governing Body and a tireless Parent-Friends Association (Friends of SBS).
We hope this provides a flavor of life at South Baddesley. We invite you to book a tour to experience our unique setting and meet our wonderful children and team.
Arranging a visit to South Baddesley Church of England Primary School & Nursery
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email adminoffice@southbaddesley.hants.sch.uk.
School location
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