Maidstone Grammar School for Girls ~ Catering Tender

Maidstone Grammar School for Girls is a selective grammar school in Kent with over 1200 students and 120 members of staff. The school motto is “Non Sibi Sed Omnibus” meaning “not for oneself but for all.” This is evidenced by the community spirit in existence at the school, demonstrated both by the staff and students.

The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing school facilities for pupils, staff and guests. The school is co-ed with year groups 7 – 11, plus a 6th form for years 12 and 13. There are currently just over 1200 students on roll and 120 teaching and support staff. From September 2023 the school will be moving to 7 forms of entry meaning student numbers will be increasing by around 30 per year for the next 7 years. We expect to be able to extend the seating area provided after September 2023 and would like more portals for serving cold food. The school expects 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 April 2022 to 31st March 2025 with the option to then extend for up to 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 a breakfast club, morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals are to be charged based on consumption and at a margin and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost.

During the Covid pandemic to date we have sent vouchers to Free School Meal families during lockdown periods and would not expect our caterers to provide food parcels to these families.

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 determined by sales:

Annual Sales From April 2019 – March 2020

Core pupil sales£243,180

Free School Meal sales£11,923

Hospitality sales£4,793

Other sales£7,566

Total sales£267,462

(We are requesting this time period as the last full annual period prior to COVID disruption so as to value the contract at its ‘usual’ value, before COVID impacted and reduced sales)

Therefore, the value of the term of the contract is £1,337,310 (total annual sales as above x 5, reflecting the maximum 5-year contract term)

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.

Please see SQ Document for more details.