A summary of what some of the schools achieved in their own voice.
Increased Take up
Fatfield Primary School: “The children have expressed very positive views about the choice and portion sizes and the number of meals taken since the free meal trial has gone up by approximately 200 meals per week. The number of staff taking a meal has also increased considerably, again due to the quality and good value of the food served.”
Cherbourg Primary school: “More of the children are eating hot meals regularly than ever before.”
Applemore Technological College: “Takings continue to be around 30% up on previous totals before the canteen refurbishment.”
Blake Valley Technology College: “The students look after their new dining room and meal numbers have increased.”
Increased efficiency
Blake Valley Technology College: “The installation of a dishwasher has also helped with freeing up time in the kitchen for food preparation and most importantly customer contact, we hold taster sessions every Tuesday to promote new dishes and to seek feedback from our customers and this has proven to be a huge marketing tool.”
Hetton Secondary school: “The refurbishment to the kitchen has shown that the kitchen can deal with an increase in take up giving the school confidence that can now implement a stay on site policy for years 7, 8 and 9.”
Improved flows
Hetton Secondary school: “We have been able to implement a break time service where students can purchase a sandwich and drinks. This would not have been possible before the refurbishment because they were unable to serve the students quick enough. This has proved very popular with the students…and the speed of service has meant that students are happy to have a school meal.”
St Luke’s CofE Secondary school: “The new (self service) counter had its first run out today and was a great success. The lower school got through even quicker than before”
St Luke’s C of E Secondary school: “Behaviour in the dinning hall has improved, an unpredicted bonus to the new self service counter.”
Improved quality
Hetton Secondary school: “The quality of the food has increased, especially the cooked meals. The food is served at a good temperature”
Fatfield Primary School: “The refurbishment of the school kitchen means that we now have our meals cooked on the premises. The food which is being produced is fresh, colourful and inviting”
Blake Valley Technology College: “The food has not changed but because it is displayed more attractively and safely (no ambient sandwiches, all displayed in chillers) students and teachers alike state how much the food has improved. This proves that the dining environment has a large part to play in promoting healthy meals.”
Improved dining experience
Applemore Technological College: “Our canteen has been transformed and regenerated into the heartbeat of the college with this project. The new 200 capacity venue will give the students time to enjoy great food in a relaxed atmosphere. We would like to thank the School Food Trust, the Sorrell Foundation and Hampshire County Council for their collaboration in this fantastic venture”
Hetton Secondary school: “The changes to the dining area have been positive changes, the students like it, the atmosphere is calmer and quieter. The students also have access to drinking water in the dining hall which has allowed us to satisfy the single issue that was identified in our desire to achieve ‘healthy school’ status.”
*Cherbourg Primary school: * “This project has really transformed our lunchtime and our whole school approach to food and cooking. There have been lots of positive comments from parents, pupils and staff which prove this project has been a huge success. The pupil led ‘Client Team’ wanted to make changes to aspects that adults may never have noticed and their insight has made eating in our hall a much more pleasant experience.”
Improved attitudes
Applemore Technological College: “Eating habits and culture has changed dramatically towards proper sit down meals and away from fast food. Behaviour is better and litter has been vastly reduced around the whole site. So the impact has been immense. Two months in and it looks as new as the day it was launched.”
Cherbourg Primary school: “I have been working more closely with our cook and catering team and have seen firsthand the real changes you can make to pupil attitudes when there is commitment at leadership level.”
Blake Valley Technology College: “The changes we made have made vast improvements on the profile of catering services”
