Job Description

Join a Community Where Everyone Feels They Belong at Philip Morant School and College

Are you a passionate individual who holds high expectations and aims for excellence? Are you ready to use your skills to contribute to a community where everyone feels they belong?

Are you wanting to work as a part of a team whose purpose is to enable every member of the community to feel they belong? Do you have the skills to contribute to a learning environment that enables staff and students to be the best they can be?

Philip Morant School and College was judged as "Good" in all areas by Ofsted in September 2023. We are looking for a Catering Assistant who can be a key part in our ongoing improvement journey.

Our school is a calm and orderly place. We work hard to ensure everyone feels welcome. As the largest school in Colchester, we have exceptional facilities. Through the Sigma Trust there are many opportunities to work with staff in other schools and to have opportunities for development.

Living and breathing our vision and values starts from interview day, with every applicant welcomed by the Headteacher. From there every member of staff is part of a strong team and support and opportunity is always available.

Our catering team pride themselves on producing high quality food to our school of 1900 students each day. The standard of food quality is very high and students and staff praise the service they receive. We are looking for an individual who can work effectively in a busy, hard-working environment, be part of a strong and dedicated team and will take pride in delivering the best school food in Colchester.

• The successful candidate will work 25 hours per week (9:30am to 2:30pm, Monday to Friday)
• This is a 39-week-per-year role, which includes term time and non-pupil days

A Day in the Life:

You'll be responsible for bringing your passion and expertise to the following areas:

• The preparation and simple cooking of food and beverages
• Serving customers at the counter/hatch or from a trolley or kiosk, as required

What We're Looking For:
You are the perfect fit for our team if you have:

• Experience of the preparation, cooking and service of food and beverages to the required standard
• Knowledge of health and safety, and food hygiene regulations Ability to maintain a high standard of personal and general cleanliness and hygiene to comply with statutory and school regulations
• Good working knowledge and ability to follow menu and recipes agreed

Why Choose The Sigma Trust?
We believe in investing in our staff and fostering a culture of collaboration. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package designed to support your professional and personal life.

Professional Development:

• A robust CPD training program that empowers you to flourish
• Unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, sharing ideas and building strong professional relationships

Employee Benefits:

• A competitive salary and excellent pension scheme
• A Health Cash Plan and Employee Assistance Programme for your well-being
• Exclusive perks like the Cycle to Work scheme, discounted gym memberships, cinema tickets, and eligibility for a Blue Light Card

Commitment to Safeguarding & Diversity

The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment processes, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision 'To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts', where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.

To Apply:

Ready to take the next step? Find out more about the role and apply by Midnight, Monday 5th January 2026 via My New Term or the following link:https://www.sigmatrust.org.uk/join-us/opportunities-with-us

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive an overwhelming response. Candidates may be invited to interview prior to the closing date, so an early application is advised.

• We are managing all current recruitment directly and kindly request that agencies do not contact us regarding open positions.

Information about the School

We are a large secondary school in Colchester and also enjoy a thriving Sixth Form College. We are a popular School with waiting lists for every year and are proud of our strong academic record. We have an excellent and enthusiastic staff led by a strong senior leadership team and we work hard to provide an environment where every student is valued and their varying needs met. Our pastoral care is based upon a highly successful house system and ensures support both for students and parents.

Safeguarding The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.