Aurora Academies Trust ~ Catering Tender

Aurora Academies Trust was established in 2012 and currently operates seven schools across East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, West Sussex and Surrey providing education to around 3,000 pupils. Aurora is determined to provide the best possible standard of education to pupils in our nursery, primary and secondary academies across the south-east of England. We are determined that every child in our academies benefits from a challenging and knowledge rich curriculum that is expertly taught so that regardless of starting points, pupils are well equipped to be successful at the next stage of their education or transition to employment. Aurora schools are unique and serve their own communities. Thus, our schools keep their own name, choose their own uniform and logo and ensure that they serve the needs of the pupils and families who attend them. However, because of the very collaborative manner in which our schools work together, best practice has emerged and so there are things that all of our schools do collectively. This is particularly true in relation to our reading curriculum and the work we have recently completed on the curriculum for foundation subjects. Our schools promote equality and diversity and place great emphasis on teaching respect and tolerance of others’ cultures and beliefs. The six primary schools also all have an onsite nursery provision for around 200 pupils from ages 2-4, included in the numbers above. *Westvale Park opened in September 2020 and will grow by 60 pupils each year, to 450 pupils by Sep 2026. Trust would look to incorporate any new schools joining within the contract period into this contract. The Trust is expecting to grow within the contract period and any new schools would be incorporated in the tender, depending on existing catering contracts. Gatwick School is an All through primary school, with capacity for 420 primary children (age 4-11) and 600 secondary pupils (11 – 16) The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 3,000 pupils on roll and 430 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Trust would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly to reflect any changes to cost of living, ensuring the menu offer is varied and food is good quality. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2026 and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the Trust a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with Aurora Academies Trust for the duration of this contract. The School year is based on a calendar of 195 days. Five days are used for Trust wide staff professional development and each school has up to a further five INSET days which means that School will be open to receive students for a minimum of 185 days. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the Trust, which currently includes morning break, lunch, hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. Whilst the Trust prioritises value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, the Trust Board is not obliged to accept the lowest price and the tender will consider quality as part of the scoring process. Aurora Academies Trust expects the successful contractor to enable the continued development of catering through the provision of an innovative, healthy food service, with fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients being prepared on-site. Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 years basis. Additional information: Please note, this is a Contract Award Notice. This contract has already been awarded.