Head of Food and Catering Department

Esher Church of England High School, Esher, Surrey, KT10 8AP

26 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026

• Closing date

  23 February 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  20 January 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Subject: Food technology
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £34,298.00 - £52,490.00 Annually (FTE) plus TLR 2B (£6,259)

Head of Food and Catering Department job summary

Head of Food and Catering Department
Full-time, Permanent
Salary:  MPR/UPR (Fringe) £34,298 - £52,490 plus TLR 2B (£6,259)
Start date: September 2026

Are you looking for your next leadership challenge and ambitious to develop your career? 

We are seeking an enthusiastic and visionary teacher to lead our popular Food and Catering Department. This is an exciting opportunity for an energetic, forward-thinking professional who is passionate about high-quality teaching and the impact it has on students’ lives. As Head of Department, you will take full ownership of shaping the curriculum, driving standards, and inspiring both colleagues and learners. We are looking for a charismatic and dynamic leader who brings exceptional organisational and interpersonal skills, and who motivates others through their creativity, expertise, and love of the subject. You will be joining a supportive, dedicated team and working in our purpose-built cooking room, equipped to deliver outstanding learning experiences. Our Food and Catering courses enjoy a strong level of student interest, with typically two classes each year opting for GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition or Hospitality and Catering. We will consider ECT’s going into their 3rd year of teaching for exceptional candidates.

Esher High School is a high performing School and is proud to be part of Enlighten Learning Trust (ELT). We aim to equip our students with the skills to grow into confident, ambitious and responsible citizens ready to face the challenges of the adult world. Our staff are passionate about seeing young people succeed in their subject. 

In our latest staff survey, 94% of our team said they are happy working here, and 96% feel well supported—a testament to the strong culture of care and collaboration we foster. We are also deeply committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with 100% of staff recognising our proactive approach in this area. If you’re looking for a school where you’ll feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow, we’d love to hear from you. 

 Why work for us?  

We work hard to make all staff feel like they belong and can flourish. We create a bespoke induction plan for all new staff, shaped with their input based on their experience, strengths and aims. All teachers get an additional hour every fortnight of protected PPA, totalling 6 hours for a full-time teacher. We have a culture of 1% improvements, which means no hour-long lesson observations and no time wasted producing unnecessary paperwork. All staff love our 2-week October half term, have access to free gym use (with shower facilities), ample onsite parking, an up to date 2 in 1 laptop (tablet with pen and laptop all in one), a full Microsoft Office package and a vibrant and social staff body. 
For further information regarding this role please refer to the Job description. We welcome early applications and will consider holding interviews and appointing before the closing date for strong candidates. We welcome an informal tour of the school or phone conversation with the Headteacher or Head of Department. Please contact head@esherhigh.surrey.sch.uk to arrange. 

Closing Date:   Monday 23 February 2026 @ 8.00 am
Interview Date: Interviews will be held in the following 2 weeks of closing date

Shortlisted applicants will be asked to complete a self-declaration of their criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children.  It is an offence to apply for a role if applicants are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.   For further information please refer to our Child Protection & Safeguarding policy which is available on the Enlighten Learning Trust Careers page. Any successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure check by the Disclosure and Barring Service. 

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

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration of their criminal record or information that would make them unsuitable to work with children. This school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Please refer to the school website for further information regarding our Child Protection & Safeguarding policy. Any successful applicants will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service.

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 Esher Church of England High School

• School type: Academy, Church of England, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1130 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Esher Church of England High School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/esher-church-of-england-high-school

Esher High School is an excellent, high-performing School and is proud to be part of Enlighten Learning Trust (ELT). We aim to equip our students with the skills to grow into confident, ambitious and responsible citizens ready to face the challenges of the adult world. Our staff are passionate about seeing young people succeed in their subject.

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