Mealtime Assistant

Devonport High School for Girls, Plymouth, Devon, PL2 3DL

8 days remaining to apply

Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
22 January 2026 at 9am
Date listed
14 January 2026

Job details

Job role: Catering, cleaning and site management
Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern: Part time: Monday to Friday 6.25hours per week - 38 weeks per year
Contract type: Permanent
Actual salary: £3,455 per year

What skills and experience we're looking for

RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervision of dining areas:

Prepare and/or reinstate the area as necessary at the beginning and end of the lunch period.
Supervise the lunch queue ensuring that students enter the area in an orderly manner and according to the school’s guidelines.
Supervise return of used crockery and cutlery by the students.
Ensure that students leave the tables clean for next occupants.
Operate the till as required to relieve any ‘bottle neck’.
Assist catering team as required.
See that any spillage is removed quickly.

General:

Encourage good standard of behaviour from students on site at lunch-time.
Monitor the safety of students by walking around the site and buildings. Enter classrooms to check activities and behaviour. Years 7 to 11 remain on site during the lunch break. Only Years 12 and 13 are allowed off site.
Alert the Estates Manager of health and safety hazards.
Attend to minor accidents and report them immediately to the main school office.
Ensure litter from packed lunches is placed in litter bins and all cutlery/crockery is returned to the kitchen.
Ensure the dining room is left clean and tidy including the floor and table tops.
Undertake any other duties as requested by the Business Manager which may reasonably be regarded as within the nature of the duties and responsibilities/grade of the post as defined. Agreed changes of a permanent nature shall be incorporated into the job description in specific terms.

The job description outlines the duties required for the time being of this post to indicate the level of commitment and responsibilities expected. It is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and duties may be varied from time to time which does not change the general character of the job or the level of responsibility.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The post-holder should have:

Ability to organise students
Ability to supervise students and ensure their safety
Good communication skills – able to effectively talk to students and colleagues
Ability to think on their feet

The post-holder should be:

Well organised
Calm and positive
Flexible in approach
Willing to undertake First Aid and Food Hygiene training (desirable)
Willing to undertake any other training required

The post will be subject to requirements of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and as it includes access to children, an enhanced Disclosure Barring Check.

What the school offers its staff

Devonport High School for Girls was established in 1908 and is situated on a lovely green site overlooking Plymouth’s Central Park, approximately two miles from the city centre. It is an 11-18 selective girls’ grammar school and became an Academy in April 2011.

There are approximately 960 students on roll, including around 225 in the Sixth Form. Students come from Plymouth and the surrounding counties of Devon and Cornwall.

The school is part of The Link Partnership (TLP) with four other schools in the city in order to extend curriculum provision for students in the Sixth Form.

As well as its strong international links, Devonport High School for Girls has gained a reputation for academic excellence, which helps launch its students on their chosen career paths. The work ethic in the school is very strong and staff are deeply committed to their teaching.

The school places a strong emphasis on developing the whole person and as part of this commitment organises a broad range of enriching extra-curricular opportunities and a comprehensive programme of field visits, with opportunities for students to travel abroad.

The staff of approximately 100 teaching and support staff (a mixture of full-time and part-time employees) are led by the Senior Leadership Team, which consists of the Head Teacher, Director of Finance and Resources, Deputy Head Teacher and four Assistant Head Teachers.From September 2026, this will also include six Associate Senior Leaders (SENDCO and five Heads of Faculty).

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

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced check by the Disclosure and Barring Service.