Hinchley Wood Learning Partnership ~ Catering Tender

Thames Ditton Junior School (TDJS) is a Junior school in Thames Ditton, Surrey, with children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6. In 2022 the school became an academy and joined as the third school in the Hinchley Wood Learning Partnership. The school will be moving from three to two forms of entry from September 2026. The kitchen was recently refurbished and includes a Rational combi oven.

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 current 360 students on roll and 55 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The school would like potential contractors to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly.

The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from September 2026 to August 2029 and 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 Thames Ditton Junior School for the duration of this contract.

The 2026/27 school year is based on a calendar of 38 weeks (due to a two-week October half-term). www.tdjs.org/61/term-dates ↗

INSET days are to be confirmed but typically there are four days are to be used for staff professional development, with one or two right at the beginning of September.

The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of lunchtime catering services within the school. Free School meals will be charged based on consumption.

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 catering profile of the student body is as follows and offers a good opportunity to increase the daily number of catered lunches:

Catered Lunches during the week: 175 – 196

Packed lunches during the week:164 – 185

Free school meal students:17

The value of the current contract is: -

2024/ 2025

Total££79,726.00

TDJS 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.

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 inward capital investment as part of the Contractor’s tender submission would be welcomed. The school would like the Contractor to look at making this investment within the existing kitchen area.

Please be advised that this contract will be let on a 3 + 2 Year contract

Please see PSQ document for more information.