George Mitchell School ~ Catering Tender

George Mitchell School

George Mitchell School is a popular and increasingly successful mixed, multicultural 3-16 comprehensive school with a nursery, attended by children who mainly live in the local area, although some do come from further afield. We are very well served by public transport and are located two sites –Farmer Road and Burchell Road. We are very much a community school, at the hub of the local community, and a haven in which our children feel especially safe, happy and valued.

We currently have 36 Nursery children (Oct 21), 358 Primary including reception, and 588 secondary pupils (October 2021 Census with 57 Teaching Staff and 36 support staff (FTE).

Our motto ‘More is in me’. We expect and encourage students, staff and families to push beyond themselves to improve their skills so that our students are given the best learning opportunities in school and at home.

At George Mitchell School we expect our students to develop

•A thirst for learning and a desire to achieve their best at all times

•Respect for themselves and others

•The ability to make safe and informed choices about what they do

The tender

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 with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The School would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly.

The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1st August 2022 to 31st July 2025 with the option to extend for a maximum of a further 2 years at the discretion of the client. This contract will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the School a guaranteed return / cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with The School for the duration of this contract.

The School year is based on a calendar of 195 days. Five days are to be used for staff professional development which means that School will be open to receive students for the legal minimum of 190 days.

The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the School, which currently includes morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals are to be charged based on consumption with a margin attached and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost.

Whilst the School prioritises value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, the Governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price.

The value of the contract is £846,536.10

The School 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. The School expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Every Child Matters.

The School believes that success should be celebrated and that pupils should enjoy their time at school; if lessons are stimulating and challenging then students will love learning.

As a school who are continually seeking ways to improve and develop the ethos and environment for students and staff, to give them the facilities they deserve and need to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, any consideration regarding improvements here as part of the Contractor’s tender submission would be welcomed.

See SQ document for more details.