Food HLTA

Job description

Job title and organisation: Food HLTA - Ralph Thorseby School (The Pennington Centre)
Salary: £24,598 - £26,683 pro rata
Hours: 37 (will consider 0.8), Term time only
Contract: Permanent
Location: The Pennington Centre, LS6
Closing Date and Time: Monday 4th April 2026

The Pennington Centre, an inclusive alternative provision, is seeking to appoint an adaptable and resilient Food HLTA to join our small, supportive team. Our pupils present with diverse and complex needs, requiring creative, therapeutic approaches that complement the national core curriculum and aim to achieve GCSE passes.

Do you believe a kitchen can change lives?
We're looking for a hands-on, creative Cooking Instructor to lead small, practical sessions with Key Stage 3 and 4 students - many of whom need a different approach to thrive. This isn't about perfect cakes, it's about building confidence, independence, and life skills through food.
What you'll be doing

• Lead fun, practical cooking sessions where students actually cook (and not just buns!)
• Inspire young people to try new foods, build confidence, and develop real-life skills
• Plan simple, creative dishes and manage weekly ingredient orders.
• Create a calm, safe, and welcoming kitchen where every student can succeed
• Deliver BTEC Home Cooking Skills Level 2 (with support if you're new to this)
• Support breakfast provision to give students a positive start to their day

More than cooking...
You'll work with students with social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, using a trauma-informed approach to:

• Build strong, trusting relationships
• Support emotional regulation and positive behaviour
• Turn challenges into opportunities for growth

What we're looking for

• Someone practical, patient, and resilient
• A natural relationship-builder who can stay calm under pressure
• A passion for helping young people succeed, especially those who've struggled in mainstream settings
• Experience in education, youth work, or similar (SEMH experience is a big plus)

Why this role matters

• You won't just be teaching cooking, you'll be helping students believe in themselves again.

Governors and staff at Pennington Centre are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children.

Please contact [email protected] for more information or visit https://www.ralphthoresby.co.uk/vacancies/ for a candidate pack and application form.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children's barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

The above post is not a Leeds City Council vacancy and has been advertised on behalf of the relevant organisation. To apply please follow their application instructions.
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