Are you a passionate culinary leader with the vision to transform school dining? We are looking for a dynamic Catering Manager to lead a talented team in delivering nutritious, high-quality meals that inspire our students to eat well and thrive.
About WPT
At Wickersley Partnership Trust (WPT), we are fuelled by a single commitment: 'We never do less for other people’s children than we would for our own.' As a thriving network of schools across South Yorkshire, we combine high expectations with embedded inclusivity. We do not work in silos; instead, we rely on deep collaboration and school-to-school support to ensure every student develops socially, emotionally, and academically to achieve the highest standards.
About the Role
As the Catering Manager for one of our secondary schools, you will be more than just a kitchen lead; you will be a champion for healthy eating and student wellbeing. You will oversee the daily operations of a busy school kitchen, balancing the art of great cooking with the science of budget management. Your goal will be to innovate our menu offerings, increase meal uptake across the board—including Free School Meals—and foster a professional, compliant, and welcoming environment for both staff and students.
Responsibilities
Lead & Inspire: Train, mentor, and teach the kitchen team to prepare and serve healthy, appetising meals that attract more students to the dining hall.
Drive Growth: Proactively work to increase the overall uptake of school meals, ensuring the service is inclusive and accessible to those eligible for Free School Meals.
Financial Stewardship: Manage and oversee the catering budget, ensuring the provision remains high-quality while meeting the financial targets set by WPT.
Professionalism: Ensure a prompt, polite, and professional response to any reasonable requests from the school leadership or the Trust.
Operational Excellence: Respect and uphold school rules and maintain the highest operational standards at all times.
Safety First: Ensure full compliance with Health & Safety legislation, COSHH, and HACCP, ensuring all procedures protect the wellbeing of staff and students.
Flexibility: Complete any other reasonable tasks as requested by the school or Trust to support the wider educational mission.
Qualifications & Experience
Proven experience in a catering management or head chef role (ideally within an education or high-volume environment).
Recognised catering qualifications (e.g., NVQ Level 3 in Professional Cookery or equivalent).
Level 3 (or higher) Food Safety Certification.
Strong understanding of school food standards and nutritional guidelines.
Excellent leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop a team.
Strong financial literacy with experience in budget control and stock management.
Why Join Us?
Competitive salary
Generous Local Government (support staff) Pension Scheme
Health and Wellbeing: Including a Westfield Health subscription
Professional Growth and Development: Access to continuous CPD and opportunities within a collaborative Trust environment
Work-Life Balance: Term-time hours that align with the school calendar.
***Closing Date: Noon, Wednesday 3rd July 2026***
For further information and to apply, please visit our recruitment website: https://recruitment.wickersleypt.org
For more information about Wickersley Partnership Trust, including the benefits of working for us, please visit our main website: https://www.wickersleypt.org
We may hold interviews as and when applications are received, and this vacancy may be withdrawn without notice. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
To be successful in your application, you will need to demonstrate an effective and creative approach to education, a passion for your subject and a commitment to supporting the development of the department.
In line with our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students, the appointment will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check and satisfactory references. Further information about the Disclosure Scheme can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service
