Catering Assistant

40 hours per week, 40 weeks per year

Actual Salary

£23,284.72 FTE £26,538.48 Hourly rate (holiday incl.) £14.55 per hour

We have an exciting opportunity for a Catering Assistant to join the team at our new Ashdown Garden School, in Forest Row.

The school is opening in 2026 and is based near the Emerson College site near the beautiful Ashdown Forest and the village of Forest Row.

As a Catering Assistant, you will play a key role in preparing and serving high‑quality meals using fresh, biodynamic and organic ingredients, many grown in our own gardens. You will support the School Cook and wider catering team, helping create a warm, welcoming dining environment that reflects our educational ethos and Trust values.

The key duties of this role will include

• Prepare and cook nutritious lunches and meals that meet all dietary, cultural, and medical needs.
• Support the Trust’s seed‑to‑table approach, using biodynamic and organic produce whenever possible.
• Prepare and serve teas, coffees, and refreshments for daily service and special events.
• Maintain high standards of hygiene, food safety, and cleanliness across the kitchen and dining areas.
• Assist with washing up, food preparation, clearing, and general kitchen duties.
• Recycle all waste appropriately, including food waste, in line with Trust expectations.
• Help maintain the aesthetic and atmosphere of dining spaces in keeping with School and Trust values.
• Order food and supplies as directed by the School Cook.
• Work with students under supervision, modelling positive behaviour and supporting their development.

•Travel occasionally between sites as required.

To undertake this position successfully you will have

•Catering experience, particularly using fresh and seasonal produce.

• Knowledge of biodynamic or organic food principles (or willingness to learn).
• Ability to prioritise a varied workload and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of food hygiene standards (Level 2 Food Hygiene desirable).
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Willingness to embrace Steiner-inspired education and the Trust’s holistic ethos.
• Commitment to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

Working at Ruskin Mill Trust is incredibly rewarding; we offer competitive salaries and holiday allowances, an auto-enrolment pension scheme with a salary sacrifice option, a health cash plan and employee assistance programme via Medicash.