Newbury Academy Trust ~ Catering Tender

The Trust

Newbury Academy Trust is a three school MAT, comprising of one secondary school and two primary schools. All three schools are located in the West Berkshire town of Newbury, approximately 2 miles apart. Our mission is to provide excellent education for all and dramatically improve the lives of our children and young people by providing high-quality education and experiences.

The Schools

Trinity School opened as an academy in 2012 and is the largest school in the Trust with 1289 NOR of which approximately 150 are Sixth Form students. It is a fully inclusive 11 – 18 secondary school with six forms of entry.

Fir Tree School was the first school to be sponsored by the Newbury Academy Trust in 2013. It has an oversubscribed Nursery and has waiting lists in several year groups. There are currently 239 NOR including Nursery students on role.

Speenhamland Primary School converted to academy status in February 2017. Speenhamland has a 1.5 class intake and there are currently 286 NOR, the school has a capacity of 315.

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 April 2024 to 31st March 2027 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 Schools 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 a calendar of 190 days – where the Schools will be open to receive students for food service for 184 days.

The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the Schools, which currently includes (where applicable); morning break, lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free School meals are to be charged per pupil on uptake 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 schools 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 funding improvements as part of the Contractor’s tender submission would be welcomed.

Trinity School

•Sales April 2022 – March 2023 - £230,172

•Estimated Sales April 2023 – March 2024 is £257,783

•Please be advised that the catering service is currently contracted to Aspens

•There are not incumbent staff at this school in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

Please see the SQ document for more information. Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: litmustms.co.uk/respond/K68HDGMFR2 ↗