Job Details

Hours of Work:  27.5 hours per week, term time only (39 weeks per year, including inset days). 

Position Type:  Permanent

Line Manager:  Catering Manager

Travel Required:  No

The salary is dependent on current qualifications and experience, please see the attached job description for more information.

Ryedale School is seeking a reliable, enthusiastic and skilled Assistant Cook to join our friendly and hardworking catering team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about good food, high standards, and creating a positive dining experience for our students.

About the Role

Reporting to the Catering Manager, you will support the smooth and efficient running of the school kitchen and dining room. You will assist in preparing and serving high‑quality meals, maintaining excellent hygiene standards, and ensuring a welcoming environment for students and staff.

In the absence of the Catering Manager, the deputising role will cease, and you will assume their responsibilities to ensure continuity of service.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and serve appetising and nutritious meals and beverages as directed.
• Follow all food safety, COSHH and school policies while carrying out daily tasks.
• Support the ordering, receiving and correct storage of goods and supplies.
• Help to manage stock, food costs and labour records when required.
• Prepare, cook and serve appetising and nutritious meals and beverages as directed.
• Support the setup and clearing of the dining room, including arranging and cleaning tables and chairs.
• Use kitchen equipment safely and report any faults promptly.
• Engage positively with students during service times, supporting dietary needs and encouraging healthy eating choices.
• Work cooperatively with the Catering Manager and wider team, reporting potential hazards and contributing to service improvements.
• Assist in promoting the catering service to pupils and parents.
• Provide support in supervising kitchen staff when necessary, including allocating and checking work.
• Attend training, meetings and personal development activities as required.
• Commit to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, raising any concerns appropriately.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking someone who:

• Has experience working in a kitchen or catering environment (school catering experience is an advantage but not essential).
• Is passionate about preparing good quality food and delivering a positive dining experience.
• Understands the importance of hygiene, food safety and maintaining high standards.
• Works well as part of a team, with good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Is adaptable, reliable and able to use their initiative when required.
• Can remain calm and organised during busy service periods.
• Is willing to take on additional responsibility when covering for the Catering Manager.
• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding and the wellbeing of students.
• Has a positive attitude, a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn

About the Trust

Areté Learning Trust currently has 11 schools and educates over 7,000 young people in and around North Yorkshire from ages 2-18.  Our learners are at the heart of everything we do.

At Areté Learning Trust we work together and collaborate to ensure that all of our learners and our staff team have the chance to reach their potential.

Our Trust is committed to promoting:

• Health, happiness and wellbeing
• A safe, disciplined and supportive environment
• A love of learning through a passionate and committed approach
• High standards and expectations
• Integrity, kindness and good manners
• Respect for individuality and difference
• Collaborative working to secure excellence

 To realise our aspiration for every child to be the best they can be, we need to ensure that as a Trust we are ‘Striving for Excellence’.

Why work for us?

We want everyone who works within ALT to feel valued and see how their work fits into the bigger picture.

We seek employees who are prepared to take personal responsibility and constantly challenge the norm to improve performance.

In return, we are committed to providing an empowering and supportive learning environment for all staff.

Areté Learning Trust is committed to being the ‘Employer of Choice’.

Essentially this means that we want our schools and our central team to be great places to work. We want our staff development opportunities to be first class and we want to enable staff who are ambitious to grow their careers with us. To give our learners the best education and opportunities we are committed to recruiting and retaining the very best people in all areas of our organisation.

Regardless of role, we seek staff who:

• Have high expectations of themselves and the people they work with.
• Are committed to our Trust values.
• Show initiative and are responsive to change.
• Have strong interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Are creative in their approach to problem solving.
• Are able to influence effectively, whatever their role.
• Are team players.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds; for more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy statement (https://www.arete.uk/careers). If you are ready for the next step in your career and you feel that your skill set makes you a good fit for this very exciting opportunity, then we look forward to receiving your application.

 Application Process

Please complete the online application form to apply for this role. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.  You should use the information supplied with in the Job Description & Person Specification to make the best of your application by identifying some specific pieces of work you may have undertaken in any of these areas. Your application may be viewed in regard to some or all of the skill specific areas over the course of the selection process.  Applications via agencies will not be considered.

Interviews will take place the week commencing 20th April 2026.

The Areté Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting our children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  All posts are subject to a safer recruitment process which includes enhanced criminal records and barring checks, scrutiny of employment history, robust referencing and other vetting checks.

Our safeguarding system is underpinned by a range of policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the Trust. On joining you will be required to undergo continuous professional development to maintain safe working practice and to safeguard our children and young people.