Catering

“Boarders benefit from the provision of a large, clean, bright and spacious dining facility which is staffed by 33 competently trained catering staff. Meal times are orderly and social occasions and a large variety of healthy food is on offer. This includes a vegetarian option, a salad bar, pasta and jacket potatoes.
Boarders are able to participate in meal planning through the food committee which is attended by representatives of the boarding houses and four day pupils. Boarders’ suggestions are taken up and the school has recently introduced bagels and cream cheese and oatcakes and cheese as a result of listening to the pupils. Some produce used is from the school’s own trees and gardens.
The catering staff have received a five star award from the local environmental health department.”
(Ofsted Inspection Report, 2011)

Whilst maintaining a service which has at its heart a nutritionally balanced menu selection, we also encourage an atmosphere where we help all children to have an open mind to food.

Our menus are designed to tempt children of all ages to engage in a 'have a try' approach to the meals we provide, particularly if these happen to be from our selection of Around the World menus.

Special Days are also popular with the pupils such as Roman Day, Tudor Day or Chinese Day where we decorate the dining hall and have an authentic menu selection.

All this apart, some of the initiatives which have been adopted as policy in the Catering Department are:

• Fresh fruit is offered at all services for boarders and day pupils alike and no restriction is in place to limit the amount a pupil can have.
• As much as reasonably practicable, fried food is kept to a minimum.
• All vegetables are steam cooked to maintain as much as the vitamin content as possible.
• Fruit juice and dried fruit together with whole-wheat cereals are available at breakfast.
• A vegetarian option is always available at lunch and supper.
• A comprehensive salad bar is available at both lunch and supper times.
• On a half-termly basis the Catering Manager meets with the Pupils Food Committee to discuss the service provided.

For more information contact:

Chris Palmer
Catering Manager