Catering Assistant

River Academy, is looking to appoint a Catering Assistant to join our catering team at River Academy. Working under the direction of the Trust Catering Manager and the School Chef, the postholder will support the preparation, cooking and service of food, alongside maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene within the kitchen and dining areas. This role plays an important part in ensuring students and staff receive a high-quality catering service in a safe, welcoming and well-organised environment. River Academy opened in September 2024 with 180 students and seven students in its resource base. From September 2026, student numbers will increase again as the school welcomes its next cohort of Year 7 students. The school is currently oversubscribed, with waiting lists in all year groups, and expects continued high demand for September 2026. You will join a strong and committed school team, contributing to the delivery of clear routines and the setting of expectations in line with the River Way. River Academy has a strong focus on calm, purposeful learning environments. Classrooms are quiet, corridors are calm, and systems are designed to reduce workload so teachers can focus on their teaching craft. Tutor time is carefully structured and includes reading, assemblies and settling activities to support learning throughout the day. Students are expected to demonstrate good manners, strong oracy skills, and high standards of personal and academic presentation. Reflecting this focus on consistency and high expectations, River Academy is ranked in the highest decile across all DfE attendance measures, and Sparx homework completion rates consistently exceed 98%. Key responsibilities Assist with the preparation and service of food. Serve food in an efficient, friendly and professional manner. Wash up kitchen equipment and tableware. Clean kitchen equipment, dining areas and kitchen premises to required standards. Support the supervision of students in the dining area. Follow food hygiene, health and safety and Trust procedures at all times. Undertake any other relevant duties as required by the school. What we are looking for We are looking for a colleague who is organised, reliable and able to work effectively as part of a team. You will ideally have: NVQ Level 2 or equivalent, or relevant experience. A Food Hygiene qualification, or willingness to undertake training. Good interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact positively with students, colleagues and visitors. The ability to organise your workload, prioritise tasks and maintain attention to detail. An understanding of appropriate behaviour expectations when working in student areas. A respectful and inclusive approach when working with children and young people from a range of backgrounds. About Maiden Erlegh Trust Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 750 staff and 4,500 students across nine schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise. We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement. Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference—a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning. Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise; it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people. You can learn more about working with us and hear from colleagues across our Trust by clicking here to visit our website. About the School River Academy is a purpose-built secondary school serving the growing need for school places in the Reading area. Located on Richfield Avenue, the site includes specialist teaching facilities across the curriculum, including a hall, activity studio, learning resource centre, drama studio and sports studio. Classrooms are fully equipped with interactive screens and visualisers. The school has high expectations for all students, with a clear focus on academic excellence and participation. When fully open, River Academy will serve students of all abilities and backgrounds, alongside an additional resource base for students with moderate learning difficulties. The school also offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities through its after-school Electives programme, available to all students. To learn more about River Academy, please visit the school website: www.river-academy.co.uk Benefits Further information about working at Maiden Erlegh Trust can be found on our website here. Staff wellbeing an