Catering Manager - Term Time

St Eanswythes CEP School, Folkestone

• Ref:KCC886-3348-62S
• Posted:20/01/2026
• Pay:KS-C
• Start Date:TBC
• App Close Date:28/01/2026 at 12:00
• Interviews:TBC

Advert

We are currently looking to recruit a dedicated Catering Manager to lead our school kitchen, ensuring that students and staff are served healthy, balanced, and tasty meals every day. You will oversee menu design, food preparation, manage stock and budgets, ensure compliance with health and safety standards, and inspire a team of kitchen staff to deliver exceptional service.

The ideal candidate will have experience of leading and motivating a catering team to ensure high quality food services across the school day. You should have an understanding of DfE meal guidelines, food hygiene (ideally holding at least a Level 2 certificate but not essential as training will be given) and health and safety regulations.

Purpose of the Role

To prepare, cook and serve nutritious, balanced meals for pupils and staff in accordance with National School Food Standards and school policies. The role includes managing kitchen operations, maintaining high standards of food hygiene and safety, and ensuring that all children receive healthy and appealing meals.

Key Responsibilities

Food Preparation and Cooking

• Prepare and cook meals for pupils and staff, following agreed menus and nutritional standards.

• Adapt menus to meet special dietary needs and allergies as required.

• Ensure meals are cooked and served at the correct temperature and presentation standard.

Menu Planning & Stock Control

• Plan and develop menus in collaboration with school leadership or business manager.

• Monitor food supplies and order stock to maintain appropriate levels and minimise waste.

• Work within budgetary constraints and help achieve cost targets.

Hygiene, Safety & Compliance

• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and comply with Health & Safety and food hygiene regulations.

• Ensure safe storage of food and safe use of kitchen equipment.

• Complete records and documentation as required (e.g. food temperatures, cleaning logs).

Service & Customer Care

• Serve meals courteously to pupils and staff, encouraging healthy choices.

• Address queries from staff or parents about menus and ingredients where needed.

• Support special events or functions where catering is required.

Teamwork

• Work collaboratively with kitchen assistants and other support staff (if any).

• Attend relevant meetings or training to improve kitchen operations and food quality.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience in food preparation and cooking, ideally in catering or large-scale kitchen environments.

• Good understanding of food hygiene and safety (Level 2 Food Hygiene certification desirable).

• Ability to work independently, organise workload and meet deadlines.

• Good communication skills and a positive attitude to working with children and staff.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a school or educational setting.

• Supervisory experience or willingness to manage kitchen assistants.

Terms

• Term-time only (with possible training days as required).

Information about the school

St Eanswythes Primary is a school where individuals are valued and helped to achieve their personal best. We take a holistic approach to the education of our children and during their time with us, they make excellent academic progress. But the outcomes we achieve are much more far reaching than this; we also place great emphasis on developing the whole child through focusing on good manners, honesty, showing respect, cooperation and collaboration, taking responsibility for themselves and others, doing the right thing, being kind and generally being good people and good citizens. We strive to develop each child’s talent, skills and creativity. We give our children the best possible experiences in sport, music, art and include a wide range of extracurricular activities.The excellent start begins in Reception and continues through the school with staff providing a happy, supportive and purposeful environment, and a curriculum that excites and stimulates children’s imaginations and creative thinking. Frequent trips and visits, community activities and a wide range of after-school clubs further add to the opportunities available to children.

St Eanswythes School is a happy and caring community situated in the heart of the town right opposite the church of St Marys’ and St Eanswythe’s which is instrumental in supporting the school’s clear Christian ethos. Visits to the school are welcomed. We are very proud of our school and would love you to come and see what is going on, particularly when the children are here.

Job Contact Information

• Name:St Eanswythe's CE Primary School
• Address:Church Street, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 1SE
• Telephone: 01303255516
• Email: cjacobs@st-eanswythes.kent.sch.uk

Documents

Below are documents that have been added to this vacancy.

• Job description