Lead Teacher for Food Studies

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for a passionate, experienced and innovative Lead Teacher of Food Studies to provide strategic and operational leadership within our specialist setting. This is an exciting opportunity for a dedicated professional to shape an ambitious, inclusive and highly adapted curriculum that meets the complex needs of our learners. The successful candidate will be committed to delivering high-quality teaching, promoting learner wellbeing, and ensuring all pupils are supported to achieve meaningful outcomes and develop independence through Food Studies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership of Food Studies within a SEND setting, delivering an ambitious, inclusive curriculum that supports learners with complex needs to achieve meaningful outcomes.

• Lead and manage the department, including curriculum design, progression pathways (Entry Level, ASDAN, Functional Skills and vocational routes), staff line management, CPD, and the safe, effective running of facilities.

• Plan and deliver high-quality, differentiated teaching using adaptive, sensory-aware and therapeutic approaches, maintaining a safe, purposeful learning environment.

• Oversee assessment, monitoring and reporting of pupil progress, using data to inform planning, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, and regulatory requirements.

• Work collaboratively with families, therapists, external professionals and the wider school community, contributing to whole-school priorities and promoting learner wellbeing, independence and employability.

Key Requirements:

• Qualified to degree level and above

• Food Hygiene & Safety Certification

• Right to work in the UK

• Recent and relevant professional development

• Experience teaching Food Studies or vocational/practical learning.

What the school offers its staff

OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.