Hove Park School ~ Catering Services Tender

Hove Park School is a split site secondary school and sixth form college located within Brighton & Hove. The Valley campus houses years 7, 8 and the sixth form whilst the Nevill campus houses years 9, 10 and 11. A new build kitchen and canteen was opened on the Nevill campus in February 2020 and the dining hall on the Valley campus is in the process of being extended and is anticipated to be ready in September 2021.

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 1250 pupils on roll and 198 teaching and support staff, with a focus on exciting and healthy 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 + two years in duration from January 2022 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 Hove Park 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 the school will be open to receive pupils for the legal minimum of 190 days.

The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the school, which will include morning break, lunch and hospitality requirements. The school is planning to operate staggered breaks and lunches. The school will operate two thirty minute breaks and two thirty minute lunches on each site. Free school meals and hospitality will be charged 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 current contract is:

Annual Cash Sales = £163K - Annual Free School Meal Sales = £64K

Hove Park 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. Much time, therefore, is spent reviewing and planning schemes of work to ensure that they are differentiated to meet the needs of all students. As a result, the school are very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Contractor.

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 wish for the Contractor to look at making this investment within the existing dining area.

Please see SQ document for further details.