School Chef
Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 9LN3 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
14 November 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
6 November 2025
Job details
Job role
- Catering, cleaning and site management
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Fixed term
Full-time equivalent salary
- £26,546.97 Annually (FTE) Grade 6 (SCP 18-24) FTE Salary £31,537 Actual Salary £26,546.97 per annum
School Chef job summary
This role ensures that Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge delivers a safe, efficient, and high-quality catering service for students and colleagues. Working under the direction of the Catering Manager, the postholder will lead a team of catering assistants to prepare and serve freshly cooked meals, maintain hygiene standards, and provide a positive dining experience for the school community.
The School Chef plays a key part in supporting the health, wellbeing, and daily experience of students and colleagues. The role also supports the wider Trust by providing cover for other schools when required, helping ensure consistent standards across Maiden Erlegh Trust’s catering operations.
Key Responsibilities
Food Preparation and Service
- Prepare and present food to agreed standards, ensuring quality, safety, and portion control.
- Oversee the service area and the use of cashless tills, maintaining accurate records of daily takings.
- Support menu development, including allergen-safe options and compliance with nutritional standards.
Health, Safety and Hygiene
- Maintain high standards of food hygiene and kitchen cleanliness.
- Ensure all catering staff follow hygiene regulations and complete required training.
- Comply with Health and Safety and COSHH regulations at all times.
Team Leadership and Organisation
- Line manage catering assistants, supporting effective teamwork and professional conduct.
- Contribute to staff rotas, workload planning, and performance standards.
- Provide support for other Trust schools in times of significant staff absence.
Continuous Improvement
- Undertake training and development to maintain up-to-date knowledge of food safety and best practice.
- Identify and implement practical improvements within the catering operation.
- Work flexibly to ensure the smooth running of daily service and special events.
The Ideal Candidate
Professional Expertise
- NVQ Level 2 or equivalent experience.
- Food Hygiene qualification or willingness to train.
- Experience preparing and serving fresh food in a large-scale catering operation.
- Understanding of Health and Safety, COSHH, and first aid procedures.
Approach and Mindset
- Reliable, organised, and able to prioritise work calmly and efficiently.
- Confident leading a small team and contributing positively to a collaborative working environment.
- Flexible and proactive with a commitment to maintaining high standards.
- Physically capable of undertaking manual tasks such as lifting, cleaning, and standing for periods of time.
- Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
About the school
Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge is committed to ensuring that students achieve their full potential and flourish in a school where expectations of ourselves and our students are high. We provide a rich and varied curriculum, as well as an extensive range of extra-curricular activities. Staff and students alike can benefit from the smaller community school feel which makes Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge so special. The semi-rural location in Sonning Common lends itself to beautiful views, as well as being close to Henley and Reading. Staff have the chance to take part in lots of different opportunities within the school, and we are committed to continued professional development. Staff wellbeing is prioritised and our Wellbeing Group continues to work hard to support our staff body.
About Maiden Erlegh Trust
Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 750 staff and 4,500 students across nine schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise.
We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference—a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning.
Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise, it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.
You can learn more about working with us and hear from colleagues across our Trust by clicking here to visit our website.
Further information about working at Maiden Erlegh Trust can be found on our website here. Staff wellbeing and professional development are central to how we work, and colleagues across our Trust benefit from a range of opportunities and schemes designed to recognise their contribution and support their growth.
Benefits
Pension Scheme: Generous employer contributions, with auto-enrolment into either the Teachers Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme, both Career Average Earning Schemes.
Annual Leave: We offer a generous holiday entitlement, which increases with length of service.
ME Day: Colleagues may request one additional day’s leave each year to attend a special personal event, such as a child’s sports day or graduation, or a family celebration.
Professional Development: We offer a comprehensive programme of professional learning through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, including opportunities to both attend and deliver CPD. Colleagues also take part in our annual Conference, a full day of workshops, networking and learning for all staff. Colleagues can also access a range of professional development opportunities using Apprenticeship Levy funding, and benefit from professional development networks.
Hybrid Working: For eligible roles, we support a flexible approach to working arrangements, balancing remote and office-based work where appropriate.
Perkbox: Colleagues have access to Perkbox, which offers a wide range of discounts and wellness resources and receive 25 Perk points each month which can be exchanged for goods and services.
Wellbeing and Health: Free flu vaccinations are offered to all staff, and free eye tests are provided to those who are eligible.
Employee Assistance Programme: Incorporating discount vouchers, access to 24/7 support and more.
Mental Health First Aid support.
Recognition and Community: We regularly celebrate staff achievements, milestones and contributions across our schools, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging within the #TeamMET community.
Employee Referral Scheme.
Working for our Trust means contributing to something larger by supporting the education and life chances of children and young people every day.
Additional Information
If you believe this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution to the future of our Trust and its schools, please contact recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for an informal discussion.
Applicants are encouraged to apply early as we reserve the right to close the advert and interview at any time.
Maiden Erlegh Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
Further information about the job
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 421 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge website
11-16 secondary school in Sonning Common, part of Maiden Erlegh Trust
School location
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