Westcliff High School (Boys and Girls) ~ Catering Tender

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for both Westcliff High School for Girls (WHSG) and Westcliff High School for Boys (WHSB). The two schools share one catering facility. WHSG WHSG is a high achieving girls’ grammar school, with a mixed sixth form, based in Westcliff-on-Sea Essex. There are up to 915 students in years 7-11 and a further 440 in the sixth form. Students travel from a wide area to attend and have diverse dietary needs. The school currently offers break and lunch to all the students and runs a separate coffee shop, which is distinct from the catering offer, that provides food and drink to all before school and to the sixth form throughout the day. WHSB WHSG is a high achieving boys’ grammar school, with a mixed sixth form, based in Westcliff-on-Sea Essex. There are up to 925 pupils in years 7-11 (Sixth Form students are catered for separately, in the School’s own 6th Form Canteen, and this is not part of this tender). Pupils travel from a wide area to attend and have diverse dietary needs. The school currently offers lunch to all the pupils. Due to logistical reasons, a break-time service for the boys’ school is not currently offered, but the School are open to ideas. The two schools jointly own the catering facility which is run in house, where all the current financial transactions pass through WHSG. The lunch service starts at 12.10 for WHSG and at 1.50 for WHSB. The students are kept separate. 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 facility of the schools, with a focus on exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of pupil tastes and dietary requirements. The Schools 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 January 2024 to 31st December 2026 with the option to 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 schools for the duration of this contract. The School year at both schools 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 Schools, which currently includes morning break (at WHSG), lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals are to be charged with a margin attached and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. Whilst the schools prioritise value for money as a key objective of the Competitive Tender Process, it is not obliged to accept the lowest price. Furthermore, in the event that none of the bids find favour, the schools reserve the right not to appoint. The 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. The schools expect 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 schools believe 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 information.