School Kitchen Assistant / Catering Operative
| Posting date: | 10 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £24,414 per year |
| Additional salary information: | FTE + Benefits |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 12 March 2026 |
| Location: | Hedge End, Southampton |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | AWD online |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | AWDO-P14395 |
Summary
School Kitchen Assistant
A great opportunity for a School Kitchen Assistant to join a friendly, fast-paced school kitchen team, supporting food preparation, service and cleaning while maintaining excellent health, hygiene and safety standards.
If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Kitchen Assistant, School Catering Assistant, Food Service Assistant, Catering Assistant, Catering Operative
SALARY: £24,414 per annum FTE / Actual Annual Salary £18,393 (based on 32.5 hours) + Benefits
LOCATION: Hedge End, Southampton, Hampshire (SO30) – Fully Site Based
JOB TYPE: Part-Time, Permanent
WORKING HOURS: A minimum of 32.5 hours per week, worked between 7.30am and 2.30pm, Monday to Friday, term time only (39 weeks)
Please note: This role is working between 3 school sites, so a driving licence and own vehicle is required
JOB OVERVIEW
We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a School Kitchen Assistant within a busy and welcoming secondary school environment. This role is ideal for someone seeking term-time working hours that fit around family or other commitments.
As a School Kitchen Assistant you will work under the direction of the Catering Manager, helping to prepare, cook and serve food and drink to students and staff. You will play an important part in ensuring service runs smoothly each day.
The School Kitchen Assistant will also support with setting up and clearing dining areas, along with cleaning duties, ensuring high standards of hygiene, food safety and health and safety are maintained at all times.
This is a varied, hands-on role suited to someone who is reliable, positive and enjoys working as part of a close-knit team in a fast-paced kitchen setting.
APPLY TODAY
Ready to make your next career move? Apply Now for our Recruitment Team to review.
DUTIES
Your duties as the School Kitchen Assistant include:
• Food Preparation Support: Assisting with the preparation and basic cooking of meals and ingredients
• Food Service: Serving food and drink to students and staff in a friendly and efficient manner
• Kitchen Setup and Breakdown: Preparing dining areas before service and clearing down afterwards
• Cleaning Duties: Cleaning kitchen equipment, work areas and dining spaces to required standards
• Health and Safety Compliance: Following food hygiene, health and safety and COSHH procedures
• Team Collaboration: Working closely with the Catering Manager and wider kitchen team
• Stock Handling: Assisting with the safe storage and rotation of food supplies
• Site Flexibility: Supporting catering operations across different school sites when required
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
ESSENTIAL
• A friendly, reliable and hardworking approach to work
• Ability to work effectively as part of a catering team
• Understanding of basic food hygiene and kitchen safety practices
• Willingness to work across multiple school sites when needed
• A full driving licence to enable travel between sites
DESIRABLE
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate or willingness to complete training
• Previous experience in a kitchen, catering or food service environment
BENEFITS
• Friendly and sociable colleagues
• Free on-site car park
• Staff membership rates to the modern Leisure Centre
• Good transport links
• Enrolment in one of the UK’s largest public sector pension schemes
• A tax efficient Cycle-to-Work scheme through salary sacrifice
The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. They will ensure that all recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
We reserve the right to close any of our vacancies early.
APPLY TODAY…
By submitting your job application to us you are hereby giving us your express consent to submit your details to our Client for this purpose.
JOB REF: AWDO-P14395
Part-Time, Permanent, Kitchen Assistant, School Cook, Catering and Hospitality Jobs, Careers and Vacancies. Find a new job and work in Hedge End, Southampton. Multi-Job Board Advertising and CV Sourcing Recruitment Services provided by AWD online.
AWD online specialise in sourcing candidates and advertising vacancies on multiple job boards for companies on a non-commission basis. AWD online operates as an employment agency.
AWD-IN-SPJ
A great opportunity for a School Kitchen Assistant to join a friendly, fast-paced school kitchen team, supporting food preparation, service and cleaning while maintaining excellent health, hygiene and safety standards.
If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Kitchen Assistant, School Catering Assistant, Food Service Assistant, Catering Assistant, Catering Operative
SALARY: £24,414 per annum FTE / Actual Annual Salary £18,393 (based on 32.5 hours) + Benefits
LOCATION: Hedge End, Southampton, Hampshire (SO30) – Fully Site Based
JOB TYPE: Part-Time, Permanent
WORKING HOURS: A minimum of 32.5 hours per week, worked between 7.30am and 2.30pm, Monday to Friday, term time only (39 weeks)
Please note: This role is working between 3 school sites, so a driving licence and own vehicle is required
JOB OVERVIEW
We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a School Kitchen Assistant within a busy and welcoming secondary school environment. This role is ideal for someone seeking term-time working hours that fit around family or other commitments.
As a School Kitchen Assistant you will work under the direction of the Catering Manager, helping to prepare, cook and serve food and drink to students and staff. You will play an important part in ensuring service runs smoothly each day.
The School Kitchen Assistant will also support with setting up and clearing dining areas, along with cleaning duties, ensuring high standards of hygiene, food safety and health and safety are maintained at all times.
This is a varied, hands-on role suited to someone who is reliable, positive and enjoys working as part of a close-knit team in a fast-paced kitchen setting.
APPLY TODAY
Ready to make your next career move? Apply Now for our Recruitment Team to review.
DUTIES
Your duties as the School Kitchen Assistant include:
• Food Preparation Support: Assisting with the preparation and basic cooking of meals and ingredients
• Food Service: Serving food and drink to students and staff in a friendly and efficient manner
• Kitchen Setup and Breakdown: Preparing dining areas before service and clearing down afterwards
• Cleaning Duties: Cleaning kitchen equipment, work areas and dining spaces to required standards
• Health and Safety Compliance: Following food hygiene, health and safety and COSHH procedures
• Team Collaboration: Working closely with the Catering Manager and wider kitchen team
• Stock Handling: Assisting with the safe storage and rotation of food supplies
• Site Flexibility: Supporting catering operations across different school sites when required
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
ESSENTIAL
• A friendly, reliable and hardworking approach to work
• Ability to work effectively as part of a catering team
• Understanding of basic food hygiene and kitchen safety practices
• Willingness to work across multiple school sites when needed
• A full driving licence to enable travel between sites
DESIRABLE
• Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate or willingness to complete training
• Previous experience in a kitchen, catering or food service environment
BENEFITS
• Friendly and sociable colleagues
• Free on-site car park
• Staff membership rates to the modern Leisure Centre
• Good transport links
• Enrolment in one of the UK’s largest public sector pension schemes
• A tax efficient Cycle-to-Work scheme through salary sacrifice
The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. They will ensure that all recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.
We reserve the right to close any of our vacancies early.
APPLY TODAY…
By submitting your job application to us you are hereby giving us your express consent to submit your details to our Client for this purpose.
JOB REF: AWDO-P14395
Part-Time, Permanent, Kitchen Assistant, School Cook, Catering and Hospitality Jobs, Careers and Vacancies. Find a new job and work in Hedge End, Southampton. Multi-Job Board Advertising and CV Sourcing Recruitment Services provided by AWD online.
AWD online specialise in sourcing candidates and advertising vacancies on multiple job boards for companies on a non-commission basis. AWD online operates as an employment agency.
AWD-IN-SPJ