Teacher (Food and Cookery)
Charles Darwin Primary School, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1DJ16 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
25 March 2026 at 12am (midnight)
Date listed
9 March 2026
Job details
Job role
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 2, Key stage 3
Subject
- Food technology
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- Salary: Qualified Teachers Pay Scales: Main Pay Scale (MPS) to Upper Pay Scale (UPS)
Teacher (Food and Cookery) job summary
Salary: Qualified Teachers Pay Scales: Main Pay Scale (MPS) to Upper Pay Scale (UPS)
Start Date: September 2026
This is a full-time role based at Charles Darwin Primary (NR1 1DJ) in Norwich, working with Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils from both Charles Darwin Primary and Jane Austen College.
We are seeking an inspiring, innovative, and dedicated Food and Cookery Teacher to work with pupils from Charles Darwin Primary and Jane Austen College. You will share our belief that every pupil deserves the opportunity to succeed and access an exceptional education. You will work within our newly opened, purpose-built cookery room at Charles Darwin Primary, designed to be and inspiring space which supports high-quality lessons as well as wider community programmes and family engagement initiatives.
In this role, you will help develop strong community links, support local families, and leader wider initiatives such as a “Fussy Eaters” programme for families at the schools. You will deliver a broad, balanced, and inclusive curriculum that supports pupils’ progress and contributes to high standards across both schools. You will motivate and challenge pupils while working within the subject to enhance and develop curriculum resources.
This post is suitable for both experienced teachers and Early Career Teachers. We welcome applicants to visit the schools for an informal discussion.
What You Will Be Doing
- Deliver high-quality Food and Cookery lessons to Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils, ensuring they understand and apply the principles of nutrition and health.
- Enable pupils to cook a repertoire of predominantly savoury dishes, supporting them to prepare healthy and varied meals independently.
- Develop pupils’ competence in a broad range of cooking techniques.
- Ensure pupils understand the source, seasonality, and characteristics of a wide variety of ingredients.
- Maintain professional conduct and actively engage in performance management and ongoing professional development.
- Collaborate effectively with colleagues, external agencies and the Senior Leadership Team.
- Participate in meetings and school events outside normal school hours when required.
- Promote and uphold the Trust and Academy’s ethos, policies, procedures, and Health & Safety standards.
- Monitor and support pupil safeguarding, welfare, attendance, punctuality, and behaviour.
- Plan collaboratively, set purposeful homework, adapt teaching for SEND/EAL pupils, and maintain high standards of pupil work.
- Contribute positively to school life, including the delivery of enrichment activities.
- Maintain good discipline, encouraging high standards of behaviour, attendance, and punctuality.
About You
You will be a strong communicator with empathy, patience, and creativity in your teaching. You will be adaptable, passionate about pupils’ success, and committed to fostering a positive and supportive learning environment. You will act as a positive role model and demonstrate a commitment to your own continuous learning and professional growth.
Essential:
- A relevant degree and the qualifications required for the award of QTS.
- Qualified Teacher Status (or on track to achieve QTS before taking up the post).
- Knowledge of statutory requirements relating to Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, SEND, and Child Protection.
- Ability to communicate effectively and build positive relationships with pupils, parents, colleagues, and the wider community.
- Strong subject knowledge to at least undergraduate level, with an understanding of a range of effective teaching approaches.
- Experience teaching Food and Cookery (or a related subject) to relevant key stages.
- Knowledge of effective teaching and learning strategies, including the ability to meet the needs of individual pupils.
- Experience of monitoring, assessing, recording, and reporting on pupils’ progress.
Desirable:
- Experience as a form tutor, supporting the wider personal development of pupils.
- Experience examining the subject for an appropriate exam board.
- Ability to offer extra-curricular or enrichment activities related to the subject.
Why Join Inspiration Trust
At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You will be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration, and innovation. We provide opportunities for growth and empower you to make a real impact in schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. As part of our thriving network of talented teachers, leaders, and support staff, you will receive a varied professional development programme designed to help you be the best you can be.
We offer:
- Generous annual leave, and access to the Teachers' Pension Schemes (TPS) with excellent employer contributions
- Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
- Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
- Free parking at most sites
- Personalised CPD and development programmes
- A structured and specific induction programme.
* Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.
About Us
Charles Darwin Primary School and Nursery is a free school located in the heart of Norwich which opened in September 2016. The school was rated outstanding by Ofsted in June 2019 for overall effectiveness and has maintained success in their first ungraded inspection in April 2025. Children who graduate from Charles Darwin are resilient, independent, and confident individuals who express themselves creatively and value their place in the world. They benefit from a wealth of experiences beyond the classroom, helping them stay happy, engaged, and inspired to learn.
The school offers an innovative curriculum that encourages every child to thrive, combining a strong academic focus with a rich programme of cultural and sporting opportunities.
Charles Darwin Primary has close links with the highly successful Jane Austen College and Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form, ensuring a strong educational pathway from early years through to post-16 education.
Although there is no on-site parking, the school and nursery are just a short walk from Norwich Train Station, served by several bus routes, with a range of paid parking options nearby.
Jane Austen College opened in 2014 as a flagship free school of the Inspiration Trust, with a focus on English and Humanities. Since then, it has grown from serving just two-year groups to become a full school of over 1,000 pupils.
In May 2024, the college was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all inspection areas, including leadership, behaviour and sixth form provision. Inspectors noted that pupils benefit from “exceptional academic education, excellent pastoral support and a character curriculum building life skills to see them succeed in progressing to some of the top universities in the country and into prosperous careers.”
The college prides itself on ensuring that all pupils, regardless of background or disadvantage, have access to powerful knowledge and transformative extracurricular experiences, as well as strong mental health and wellbeing support.
We are part of the Inspiration Trust; a thriving family of schools across Norfolk and North Suffolk, recognised nationally for pupil progress and excellence in teaching and leadership. We believe every young person deserves the best education, regardless of background. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.
The Trust offers extensive networks and opportunities to collaborate with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to delivering outstanding professional and learning opportunities for all staff, supported by a rich programme of continuing professional development led by some of the country’s leading educational thinkers and practitioners.
For information on what it is like to live and work in Norwich, click here.
Next Steps
Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you can tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.
To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.
When you start your application, you will receive several emails from our application provider, Vacancy Filler. Please be aware that some email providers may mistakenly mark these messages as spam. To avoid missing important updates, we recommend checking your spam or junk folders regularly throughout the application process and marking these emails as safe.
Closing date for applications: 9am on Wednesday 25th March 2026
Interview date: Tuesday 7th April 2026
Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities
Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.
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 Charles Darwin Primary School
- School type
- Free School, ages 2 to 11
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 443 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Charles Darwin Primary School website
Charles Darwin Primary and Nursery is a thriving free-to-attend school in the heart of Norwich city centre. We offer an innovative curriculum that encourages children to thrive, with a strongly academic approach paired with a rich range of culture and sport.
Part of the Inspiration Trust family of schools, we have close links with the successful Jane Austen College and Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form.
School location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed