The Girls' Learning Trust ~ Catering Tender

The successful Supplier will be required to provide catering services for Girls' Learning Trust.

The Girls' Learning Trust (GLT) was formed in September 2015 and consists of three schools: Nonsuch High School for Girls, Wallington High School for Girls and Carshalton High School for Girls. All three are high performing, successful schools located in the London Borough of Sutton. As one of only two all-girls multi academy trusts in the UK, our aim is to empower girls and young women by delivering a first-class education and providing an inspirational start to their futures.

With around 4,000 students, 400 staff and a highly effective operating model, GLT gives member schools the financial and operational strength to drive school improvement and provides increased opportunities for students and staff across the Trust. The Trust is looking to grow to be a 5 school multi-academy trust in the future retaining the all-girls identity and operating within the London and South East region.

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 of all 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 August 2023 to 31st July 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 Trust for the duration of this contract.

The school year at all schools is based on 189 trading days however the school can have up to five days which are used for staff professional development.

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 with a margin attached and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost.

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

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 Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust which is 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 funding improvements as part of the Contractor’s tender submission would be welcomed.

Please see the SQ document for more details.