EB top ten: outstanding school catering

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Ark Kings Academy, Birmingham.

Ark Kings Academy believes that if its students eat well, they are better able to learn. To that end, health and nutrition is a priority in the school canteen. The catering is provided by CityServe, part of Birmingham City Council. Each day the school provides two choices of homemade traditional meals, as well as homemade sandwiches, baguettes, rolls, wraps and bloomers, salad and fruit pots and homemade desserts. The school has a number of themed days and promotional days throughout the year which gives students the chance to try new foods. The catering team also works with the wider school to link in with the curriculum. The school operates a cashless payment system, which means that each student has their own account. This helps speed up lunch service and means pupils do not have to carry cash on a daily basis. This summer, Ark Kings Academy put on a BBQ that proved a huge success with all. There was music, stalls, activities and food from CityKitchen. The BBQ was the school’s largest to date, with 312 parents, 71 staff, Year 7 students and guests attending. The event also allowed student chefs to put their cookery skills into practice.