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Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.
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South Baddesley CE Primary School
Lymington
Posted: 5 May 2026
Deadline: 11 May 2026
Compensation: £16,227
Living Wage employer
Paid Part-time Permanent
Job description
Are you a foodie with a heart for community? Do you believe that school lunch should be the highlight of a child's day? We are looking for a visionary Head Chef Educator to join our small, vibrant school and help us pioneer our exciting new catering service.
"Our project is dedicated to delivering homemade meals from fresh, locally sourced ingredients - soon to include produce from our own school farm. We are building a school food culture that reflects our value of kindness."
The Role: Lead, Innovate, Motivate
This isn't your typical school kitchen role. We are looking for a creative partner to work alongside us to design a service that fosters social interaction and food education. You will:
Lead a dedicated team in preparing fresh, interesting, and nutritious meals.
Collaborate on seasonal menu cycles that celebrate local produce.
Support a 'living curriculum' by helping children learn where their food comes from.
Promote a culture of kindness and health throughout the dining hall.
Manage kitchen administration, health & safety, and waste reduction with precision.
Application information
Who You Are
Above all, you have a passion for food. While food qualifications and industry knowledge are desirable, they are not the deal-breaker. If you have the drive to help children love healthy food, we will provide the full training you need to succeed.
A Creative Thinker: Excited by the prospect of 'Farm-to-Fork' cooking.
A Leader: Able to motivate a team and maintain high standards within budget.
A Role Model: Professional, polite, and friendly with children and colleagues alike.
Ambitious: You have high aspirations for what school catering can become.
Why Join Us?
We are a small school with a strong family feel. You won't just be an employee; you'll be a vital part of our school community. As part of the Hampshire Local Authority, you will benefit from:
An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme.
Work-life balance with Term Time Only hours (enjoy your holidays!).
The opportunity to shape a pioneering service from the ground up.
Partnership with Chefs in Schools, providing access to elite professional training, a network of professional kitchens, and 1-on-1 support from a Chef Consultant.
Safeguarding Statement: South Baddesley CE Primary School and Nursery are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check along with other relevant pre-employment checks. In line with KCSIE guidance, online background searches will be conducted for all shortlisted candidates.
Equal Opportunities: We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.
Please get in contact to arrange a visit or call to our school.
Email: adminoffice@southbaddesley.hants.sch.uk
01590 626243
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About South Baddesley CE Primary School
We are a small school in the New Forest. We have recently taken over the management of our catering service and are working to link it to our programme of sustainable development. We have opened a farm and our long term goal is to ensure that we have a fork to plate catering service and offer high-quality food education to our pupils.
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