Introduction:
The Hemel Hempstead School is a community mixed secondary (11 -18yrs) located in Hertfordshire. There are around 1190 pupils on roll. Prior to the improvements, in 2007, only 38% of pupils were having a school meal.
What were the drivers for change?
In 2008 Ann Hayward, Personnel Manager, was asked by Sandra Samwell Head Teacher, to look into the reasons behind the low take-up of school meals. Governors were also concerned about the take-up and quality of school food.
Take up:
The projected take-up, after improvements, was expected to increase from 38% to 60%.
The dining space:
The dining space was also being used for P.E lessons and in need of redecoration. Pupils found the dining area uninviting with poor lighting and inadequate temperature control. The windows had metal frames and were single glazed which created a cold dining room during the winter months. The pupils felt that the canteen was outdated, unappealing and generally in need of modernisation. To view the dining room before the improvements were made please click on the following link
Images of the Dining Room before the work
Click here to download (Adobe pdf doc 409KB)
Reduction of queues:
Pupils had to wait in lengthy queues to purchase their main meal. This caused two problems:
- The queue interfered with the seating area creating problems with the flow of pupils and access.
- The speed of service was slow which contributed to pupil behavioural issues when queuing
How was the project funded?
The School has spent £86,000 on refurbishment work and £5,500 was spent on consultancy fees. In 2008 The Hemel Hempstead School applied for, and was awarded, £35,000, from the Targeted Capital Fund for Kitchens and Dining Rooms. The remainder of the funding was taken from the school capital budget for both 2009/10 and 2010/11.
Who was involved in driving forward the changes?
- Personnel Manager – Ann Hayward
- Governors Personnel Committee
- Head Teacher – Sandra Samwell
- School Manager – Margaret Hodson
- The School Council
- Innovate Catering Provider
What improvements have been made?
Dining area:
The dining area was completely refurbished to increase the seating capacity from 180 to 212 seats. New furniture, modern lighting and new flooring helped to create a new branding within the canteen. The school created multiple seating areas to increase the seating capacity at lunchtimes.
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The Hemel Hempstead School purchased blinds for the windows in the dining room to create shade in summer.
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Artwork was displayed in the main dining area which has helped to increase interest and improve the ambience. Pupils created the art designs and the catering company then copied them onto screen prints.
A quiet seating area was created within the dining room. It is used exclusively by the sixth form pupils who are also allowed to eat in the area.
Pupils were involved in the selection of a catering provider. Members of the school council attended catering presentations and were involved in making the final decision. Pupils gained an understanding of the fact that the caterers needed to meet nutritional standards, Health & Safety regulations and employment requirements. They were also made aware of the financial considerations and constraints on Hemel Hempstead School.
The Head Boy & Head Girl attended a meeting to discuss creating a branding for the dining area. Work is still ongoing to select a name & brand image for the area.
Reduced Queues:
The installation of a barcode scanning system has reduced the time taken to make transactions at the tills, reduced queuing and provided data on pupil’s food selections. Prior to the refurbishment work the school had already installed a cashless system. The queuing system has been redesigned to enable pupils to queue away from the seating areas.
The Hemel Hempstead School now provides a wide range of both hot and cold food. Staff and sixth formers may buy food and drinks throughout the school day. This has enabled pupils to buy their food during break times and has reduced pressure on queues at lunchtimes.
Kitchen area:
Pupils can now watch the chef preparing food on the newly installed Tappan Grill. The Chef prepares fresh kebabs, noodles & stir fry dishes every day.
What have been the benefits to the school?
Pupil’s spending in the canteen has risen from £600 per day to £1100 per day. This would indicate an 83% increase in take-up.
The new dining space has proved very popular with pupils and has also received positive comments from parents. The time needed for queuing has been reduced considerably, due to the improvements which have in turn, resulted in a change in pupil’s behaviour.
Future priorities:
Dining area:
In order to increase the seating capacity further, The Hemel Hempstead School plans to improve the outdoor seating area by replacing seating and providing parasols and hard surface flooring which will improve disability access. There are plans to add double glazing to replace the single glazed windows in the dining area and create extra designated eating areas around the school. Furthermore, the Hemel Hempstead School would like to create a display case to showcase pupils’ work and promote topics throughout the academic year.
The kitchen area
There are plans to install hotplates and fridges to enable the school to provide a wider range of healthy food and snacks. Preparation areas will be reconfigured and larger worktop areas will be installed to allow a greater surface area on which to work. The School also plans to replace the dishwasher, install an additional fridge and upgrade the ventilation system.
The Hemel Hempstead School would like to install an additional drinking fountain and extend their recycling facilities.
Funding and resources:
Ann Hayward Personnel Manager is actively looking to secure additional funding to complete the remaining refurbishment work. Ann contacted the School Food Trust for information and advice on funding.
Tips for success:
Ann Hayward commented that “Funding is the key!”
Contact Details:
If you would like further information about this case study or potential funding opportunities for your school then please contact the School Food Trust on 0800 089 5001 or alternatively e mail info@childrensfoodtrust.org.uk
