Head Chef

Smestow Academy – Windmill Crescent, Wolverhampton, WV3 8HU

37 hours |Monday to Friday | Term Time Only

Starting Salary: £28,106.62 (FTE £32,677)  
Start Date: November 2025

The role:
Can you commit to refuelling our eager pupils? Are you able to provide a professional service to cater for staff, visitors and events? If so, this may be the perfect opportunity for you.

Smestow Academy are seeking to appoint a dynamic and highly-skilled Head Chef to manage our busy kitchen. You will oversee the smooth running of the school lunchtime periods, organise effective meal planning and provision and maintain highest standards of safety and hygiene. The Head Chef will directly manage all kitchen staff ensuring that these high standards are driven and training needs are identified.

About you:

In what will be a demanding, varied and extremely rewarding role, you will undertake all aspects of kitchen management from team supervision, stock control, accounting of supply and orders and menu planning.

Key skills and experience will include:

• ·       Having previous experience of preparing, cooking and serving food in a large catering operation e.g. school, large restaurant;
• ·       Previous experience in supervision and management of a group of staff;
• ·       Holding relevant catering NVQ (or equivalent) qualifications.
• ·       Being able to promote exceptionally high standards, maintain staff morale and provide healthy meals.

Please see job description for full list of skills, duties and responsibilities.

About us:

Smestow Academy recently joined Matrix Academy Trust in January 2023. We have a shared belief that no child should fail and are committed to improve life chances of all pupils through outstanding teaching. We offer opportunities for staff to coach and support each other.

We are committed to fostering a culture that values the health and well-being of all employees at Matrix Academy Trust. We are proud to offer a comprehensive well-being package to all employees, including access to 24/7 online GP, physiotherapy services and counselling services. We also offer all employees annual health checks which includes the flu jab, BMI checks and a general discussion with a qualified Nurse.

To apply please complete the application form on My New Term. 

You may also wish to contact Headteacher Ian Chamberlain:  ichamblerlain@smestowacademy.co.uk. to arrange an informal look at the school.  

Application Deadline: 14th December 2025

Please note that suitable candidates will be called for interview and we reserve the right to remove any advertised role early.

Matrix Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS clearance and pre-employment checks in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education.