School Cook
| Posting date: | 21 November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £23,638.00 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 December 2025 |
| Location: | Papworth Everard |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Acorn Care and Education |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 296105FAJ |
Summary
How would you like to get paid for five days, but only work four?
At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.
Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.
Job Title: School Cook
Location: Papworth Hall School, Papworth Everard, CB23 3RD
Salary: £23,638 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only
Start: November 2025
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a School Cook to join our close-knit team at Papworth Hall School, part of Options Autism.
About the Role
As our School Cook, you’ll play a key role in creating delicious, nutritious meals that fuel our pupils and staff every day. Working at the heart of the school, you’ll bring warmth, creativity, and professionalism to our kitchen—ensuring everyone is well-fed, cared for, and ready to learn.
You’ll take ownership of the daily running of the kitchen, from planning menus to supervising staff, all while ensuring the highest standards of food quality, safety, and hygiene. Your meals will make a real difference, especially for pupils with additional needs who rely on consistent, balanced, and thoughtful catering.
What You’ll Do
Plan and prepare high-quality menus that meet pupils’ dietary and nutritional needs
Lead and support the kitchen team, ensuring smooth day-to-day operation
Maintain excellent standards of cleanliness, organisation, and food hygiene
Manage stock rotation, portion control, and ordering within budget
Cater for special dietary requirements and individual needs
Monitor deliveries, check invoices, and maintain accurate kitchen records
Report maintenance issues and uphold strict health and safety practices
Respond flexibly to changing school needs and mealtime requirements
What You’ll Bring
Experience working in catering within a school, residential, or similar setting
Confidence with menu planning, nutrition, and budgeting
Knowledge of safe catering practices, food hygiene, and equipment use
Experience supervising staff and managing a busy kitchen
If you’re passionate about good food and creating a welcoming, well-run kitchen environment, this role offers the chance to make a genuine impact every day.
About Us
Papworth Hall School is in the picturesque village in Cambridgeshire. It is within close proximity to Huntingdon and Cambridge. Our new specialist school caters for young people with complex communication needs, autism and associated learning and emotional needs and has the capacity for 30 students.
For over 19 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.
Why join Options Autism?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
#1
At Outcomes First Group, we believe in better work/life balance — and we’re putting wellbeing first.
That’s why we’re proud to be part of a 4-Day Working Week (4DWW) trial, where you can work one day less each week (or equivalent hours), while still receiving your full-time pay.
Many of our schools have already introduced the 4DWW — and others are preparing to roll it out as soon as they reach full staffing. So whether it’s already in place or just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to join #teamOFG.
Job Title: School Cook
Location: Papworth Hall School, Papworth Everard, CB23 3RD
Salary: £23,638 per annum (not pro rata)
Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Contract: Permanent, Term Time Only
Start: November 2025
UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.
As part of our continued growth, we now have a fantastic opportunity for a School Cook to join our close-knit team at Papworth Hall School, part of Options Autism.
About the Role
As our School Cook, you’ll play a key role in creating delicious, nutritious meals that fuel our pupils and staff every day. Working at the heart of the school, you’ll bring warmth, creativity, and professionalism to our kitchen—ensuring everyone is well-fed, cared for, and ready to learn.
You’ll take ownership of the daily running of the kitchen, from planning menus to supervising staff, all while ensuring the highest standards of food quality, safety, and hygiene. Your meals will make a real difference, especially for pupils with additional needs who rely on consistent, balanced, and thoughtful catering.
What You’ll Do
Plan and prepare high-quality menus that meet pupils’ dietary and nutritional needs
Lead and support the kitchen team, ensuring smooth day-to-day operation
Maintain excellent standards of cleanliness, organisation, and food hygiene
Manage stock rotation, portion control, and ordering within budget
Cater for special dietary requirements and individual needs
Monitor deliveries, check invoices, and maintain accurate kitchen records
Report maintenance issues and uphold strict health and safety practices
Respond flexibly to changing school needs and mealtime requirements
What You’ll Bring
Experience working in catering within a school, residential, or similar setting
Confidence with menu planning, nutrition, and budgeting
Knowledge of safe catering practices, food hygiene, and equipment use
Experience supervising staff and managing a busy kitchen
If you’re passionate about good food and creating a welcoming, well-run kitchen environment, this role offers the chance to make a genuine impact every day.
About Us
Papworth Hall School is in the picturesque village in Cambridgeshire. It is within close proximity to Huntingdon and Cambridge. Our new specialist school caters for young people with complex communication needs, autism and associated learning and emotional needs and has the capacity for 30 students.
For over 19 years Options Autism have provided care and education to pupils and adults with autism, complex needs and learning difficulties. As part of Outcomes First Group, we are leading our sector in setting and delivering new approaches that provide measurable outcomes for those in our care.
We are really proud to say that in 2024, Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the fifth year running.
Why join Options Autism?
We place the outcomes of the pupils and vulnerable young adults in our services at the heart of everything we do, so you’ll wake every day in the knowledge that your role will have a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.
Benefits
Your health and wellbeing are important to us, so you’ll get an exceptional reward package including:
Life Assurance
Pension scheme with options to increase your contributions
“Your Wellbeing Matters” – access to a wide range of first-class mental health support services and physical health checks
And a market-leading benefit offering through our Flexible Benefits Platform, Vista, enables you to choose the package that’s right for you, including:
A wide range of health, wellbeing, and insurance benefits
100’s of discount options valid in the UK and abroad
Cycle to Work Schemes
Electric Car Purchase Scheme
Critical illness cover
Family Growth Support - inclusive benefits package covering enhanced maternity and paternity leave, along with paid fertility treatment support.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
*You’ll work 80% of your contractual hours for 100% of your pay, giving you more time to do the things that make you happy. 4DWW is subject to successful completion of probation and is not a contractual benefit
Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.
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