General Catering Assistant

General Catering Assistant
For an immediate start

Welcome from the  Headmaster

Dear Candidate,

Barnard Castle School is seeking friendly, experienced front-of house catering
assistants for our thriving day and boarding school, which has remained at the
forefront of girls’ and boys’ education for over 130 years. Whilst the school retains a
strong academic record, its focus continues to be on developing life skills and nurturing
each character. This is something that we as a school take great care and pride in.

We welcome applications from all experience levels. Barney is an exciting and hugely
rewarding place to be, and I look forward to receiving your application.

Yours faithfully,

David Cresswell
HEADMASTER

The History of Barnard Castle School

Barnard Castle School has a rich and enduring history, deeply rooted in a tradition of learning and community. The
school traces its origins back to the nearby Hospital of St John, an educational and religious community established
by John de Balliol in 1229. John de Balliol also founded Balliol College, Oxford, and his passion for education and
opportunity remains central to our philosophy today.

In 1883, with a generous gift from Benjamin Flounders, a Victorian philanthropist, and the proceeds of St John's
Hospital, the present main school building was constructed. Since then, the school has grown and evolved, blending
its historical foundations with a forward-thinking approach to education.

In 2024, David Cresswell was appointed as Barney’s 11th Headmaster, continuing the school’s tradition of combining
timeless values with future-focused ambition. Today, Barnard Castle School remains a place where the lessons of
the past inspire the innovations of tomorrow, as we prepare our pupils to shape a changing world with courage,
kindness, and integrity.

Barnard Castle School: Shaping Tomorrow, One Step at a Time

"Parvis imbutus tentabis grandia tutus"
When you are steeped in little things, you shall safely attempt great things.

At Barnard Castle School – or 'Barney' as it is affectionately known – we believe that small steps lead to big strides.
Our vision is to inspire a generation of young people with the courage and kindness to dare greatly and shape a
changing world. We want them to shape the future while proudly standing on the shoulders of those who came before
them.

Ambition – Daring to achieve, with the courage to innovate and the curiosity to explore.
Character – Forged in challenge, strengthened by kindness, and rooted in integrity.
Community – Honouring the past, strengthening our school and town, and building global connections that last a
lifetime.

These principles guide everything we do – from our academic programmes to our vibrant co-curricular offering. Our
down-to-earth and inclusive community provides a safe environment for pupils to embrace challenges, pursue
passions, and develop a sense of purpose that will stay with them long after they leave Barney.

We are a school that blends tradition with forward-thinking ambition. Our origins trace back to the Hospital of St John,
founded in 1229 by John de Balliol, who also established Balliol College, Oxford. That same love of learning and
commitment to opportunity remains central to our philosophy today. As we look ahead to the 2030s, we continue to
invest in modern facilities and innovative teaching approaches to meet the evolving needs of our pupils and the wider
world.

Barney is a place where connections are made and memories are formed. It is not unusual to see Year 11 pupils
sharing lunch and conversation with younger peers or Sixth Formers mentoring new starters. Our pupils develop
confidence, resilience, and humility as they grow – always encouraged to support and celebrate each other's
successes.

Staff at Barney play a crucial role in this journey. We seek staff who share our purpose and are proactive in immersing
themselves in the life of the school. Through our extensive 'Mind, Body, and Soul' programme, which runs from 4pm to
5pm, staff have the opportunity to lead activities they are passionate about, fostering authentic relationships beyond
the classroom.

We are also committed to helping staff be the best versions of themselves. Our comprehensive Continuing
Professional Development (CPD) programme offers opportunities to hone their craft. We want staff who are
ambitious about their own development and passionate about lifelong learning, recognising that their growth directly
benefits our pupils and school.

Our location, on the edge of the historic market town of Barnard Castle – recently recognised as one of the safest in
England – offers a unique combination of heritage, community spirit, and access to outstanding natural beauty. We
also benefit from partnerships with world-class universities in Durham, Newcastle, and York, enhancing our pupils'
educational experience and broadening their horizons.

At Barney, we believe that ambition, character, and community are not abstract ideals but lived experiences.
Together, we take small steps every day – steps that build towards remarkable achievements and a future as bright as
the generations of Barnardians who came before.

Our Vision

●  To be viewed as the leading independent co-educational day and boarding school in the North

of England.

Our Purpose

●  Our  purpose  as  a  school  is  to  inspire  minds  and  build  character,  within  a  down-to-earth,
inclusive community where everyone belongs, and hard work and good humour thrive.

Our aim

●  Our aim is to create a safe environment where pupils love their school, embrace small steps

toward great achievements, and are willing to dare greatly to shape a changing world.

Our Key Features

A Seamless Educational Journey

We  are  proud  to  offer  a  supportive  environment  where  students  can  complete  their  entire  educational
journey. At every stage, we nurture their growth, ensuring smooth transitions and a deep understanding of
each  student’s  unique  needs,  all  within  a  close-knit,  inclusive  community  that  helps  them  flourish  and
prepares them for life beyond Barney.

Fully co-educational Boarding and Day School

We  fully  embrace  co-education,  ensuring  equal  opportunities  for  all  students,  regardless  of  gender.  Our
strong  boarding  community  enriches  the  school,  enhancing  cultural  literacy  through  our  international
students. The extended school day and week provide ample time to deliver a broad and varied educational
experience.

Resilient Characters & Brave Minds

We have always offered  an education that goes beyond exams, which is  more crucial now than ever in a
rapidly changing world shaped by globalism, AI, and evolving careers. Our students need strong character,
adaptable soft skills, and a values-driven foundation to thrive in this uncertain future. With resilience and a
supportive  community,  they  are  empowered  to  dare  greatly  and  achieve  beyond  what  they  thought  was
possible.

A Broad Entry

Life is about engaging with people of diverse abilities and talents, celebrating personal growth rather than just
top grades. As long as we can support individuals in accessing our education and they demonstrate the core
character traits we value, we are committed to supporting them on their journey.

Traditional yet Innovative

Barney’s rich history and cherished traditions have shaped generations of strong, humble individuals. While
we honour these beloved ‘Barneyisms,’ we remain focused on staying relevant and forward-thinking as we
move further into the 21st century

Role Summary

Develop The purpose of the role is to support the Catering Manager and Head Chef in ensuring the delivery of
the highest quality food service during term time and for functions.

Job Description

Job Title: General Catering Assistant
Responsible to : Catering Manager
Reporting to: Catering Supervisor
Contract: 35 hours per week, term time only plus 4 weeks in summer
Start date: As soon as possible

Key Responsibilities

General

•  To be responsible for the efficient delivery of a high quality,  customer-oriented food production service
which  meets  the  needs  of  the  pupils,  staff  and  visitors  to  the  school  and  maintains  departmental
standards.

•  Supporting the delivery of catering and hospitality for functions and events.

Specific

•  To ensure the dining room is ready for use at the appropriate times for meals, break time, sports teas and

functions.

•  To ensure the dining room is cleaned and setup after each meal.
•  To ensure the service areas, counters and hot cupboards are cleaned after each meal.
•  To serve on the hotplate at meal times.
•  To work in the plate wash area at meal times.
•  To tidy and clean the plate wash area and ensure the removal of all waste.
•  To transport food and other supplies as requested.
•  To fill in and complete all paperwork when required (e.g. cleaning schedule, delivery notes)
•  To serve at morning break and controlling the issue of snacks.
•  Maintain the highest standards of health, hygiene and safety.
•  To immediately report all accidents, near misses, damage or breakages to the Catering Manager.
•  To actively assist in ensuring a five star food hygiene rating.
•  To ensure that the Catering Department is opening and closed at the required times and secured when not

in use.

•  To undertake any other tasks appropriate with the duties and responsibilities of the post

•  To  attend  any  relevant  training  sessions  to  ensure  that  you  are  fully  equipped  to  perform  your  role

effectively

In order to meet the high standards expected of a member of staff in our school, the Bursar is seeking to
employ a person with the following qualities, experience, skills and abilities

Role Criteria

Essential Criteria
•  Proven Ability to carry out all aspects of the role to a high standard at all times
•  Excellent social and verbal communication skills
•  Positive attitude
•  Approachable and flexible.
•  A common sense approach.
•  Must be able to work on own initiative, and with resilience.
•  The ability to organise workload and multi-task.
•  The ability to work without direct supervision.
•  The ability to work as a member of a team
•  Excellent attendance and punctuality
•  Highly motivated with a drive to introduce continuous improvement.
•  Reliable

Desirable Criteria
•  NVQ level 1/2 in Catering & Hospitality
•  Certificate in food hygiene training
•  Certificate in First Aid.
•  Certificate in Health and Safety including Knowledge of COSHH regulations, safe storage and working practices
•  Experience of delivering a catering service in a high volume environment.
•  Experience of working in a boarding school or residential environment.
•  An awareness of child protection and safeguarding procedures/ The Children’s Act
•  An understanding of Keeping Children Safe in Education.
•  An awareness of National Minimum Standards in Boarding.

This job description reflects the present requirements of the post and is not intended to be exhaustive. The post
holder may be required to carry out such other duties as the Finance Manager may reasonably require from time to
time.

Duties and responsibilities may be subject to change and development; the job description will be reviewed periodically
and subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

Expectations as a member of Barnard Castle School Staff

•  To have high professional standards and so be an appropriate role model of reliability, behaviour and appearance

•  To relate to children in an atmosphere of trust, frankness and ambition and to engender a climate of mutual respect

•  To make sure that pupils meet the School’s expectations of them

•  To facilitate the development of children’s confidence, self-esteem, determination, responsibility and personal pride

in achievement, behaviour and appearance

•  To  understand  that  offering  a  well-rounded  education  means  engaging  beyond  the  classroom,  and  therefore

contributing to the wider life of the Barney education.

•  To contribute to marketing the school and to promote the School to prospective pupils and parents
•  To establish and maintain high standards of communication with pupils, staff and parents
•  To uphold all the policies of Barnard Castle School
•  To take an interest in how the School functions and to convey suggestions for improvement to the Catering Manager,

Bursar and Headmaster from time to time

•  To subscribe to the School’s ethos of inclusivity, collegiality and helpfulness.

This job description reflects the present requirements of the post and is not intended to be exhaustive. staff may be
required to carry out such other duties as the Bursar may reasonably require from time to time.

Duties and responsibilities, may be subject to change and development, the job description will be reviewed
periodically and subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

Support

The staff member will be appraised by their Line Manager, but routine communication will be on going.

Terms and Conditions

Type: Permanent contract

Hours:  35 hours per week, term time only plus 4 weeks during the summer, – early and late shifts e.g. 7.00 am – 3.00
pm or 11.00 am – 6.30 pm and every other weekend during term time

Salary: National Minimum Wage

Probationary period: 6 months

Paid Holidays: 20 days holiday per annum plus bank holidays, the holiday year runs 1st September to 31st August.
Holidays to be taken during School holidays.
As we are a Boarding School, some public holidays are a normal working day and a lieu day can be taken in School
holidays working weeks for this.

Pension: In accordance with current pension legislation, Operational Staff are automatically enrolled in The Pensions
Trust Flexible Retirement Plan scheme unless they choose to opt out.  More information is available on request.

Recruitment Process

Applications

If you feel that you can meet the above requirements, then please submit a letter of application along with the
Barnard Castle School application form to the Bursar. Only applications containing the requested information
will be considered.

Applications should be sent to:

Mrs S M Metcalf
Bursar
Barnard Castle School
Barnard Castle
County Durham
DL12 8UN

Information about Interviews:

Applications will be considered as they arrive.

Telephone: 01833 696098

Email: hr@barneyschool.org.uk

Applicants should read carefully the application procedure – guidance for applicants, Policy on the
Recruitment of Ex-offenders and the Disclosure policy and the Safer Recruitment policy.

Barnard Castle School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and

young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from
the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all applicants will undergo child protection screening,
including checks with past employers and an enhanced DBS and Barred list check with Disclosure and
Barring Service.

Barnard Castle School is an equal opportunities employer.