At Independents by Sodexo, we work closely with pupils, parents, and staff to shape dining experiences that suit each school community. Here’s a look at what’s been happening so far.
A High-Street Dining Experience for Sixth Formers
Our refreshed sixth form dining offer, Social Sixth is designed to meet the expectations of today’s young people. It’s a dedicated sixth form dining space that mirrors the feel of a contemporary high-street café that’s vibrant and modern.
Pupils can enjoy everything from Instagram-worthy hot and cold drinks to gourmet sandwiches, freshly baked treats, grab-and-go salads, hot snacks and more. It’s a space that supports wellbeing, study, and social time in equal measure.
Celebrating Our People
We’re incredibly proud of the dedication shown by our colleagues across the country. Natalie Davies, Account Manager, completed an extraordinary 14km solo swim across Lake Annecy in just over five hours. Her determination and spirit reflect the passion that drives our teams every day.
We’re also delighted to congratulate our Sevenoaks team for winning the Zero Harm Mindset Regional Award. It is a fantastic achievement that recognises their unwavering focus on compliance and safe practices. Their hard work has set a new benchmark for excellence.
Sustainability in Action
Our ongoing partnership with Full Circle Farm at Hurstpierpoint College continues to flourish. This collaboration brings sustainable, farm-fresh produce from purple kale to giant courgettes straight into our school kitchens.
The partnership supports closed-loop farming and opportunities for pupils to learn about food systems and sustainability. Together, we’re helping to inspire the next generation of food leaders.
Pupil Feedback That Means the World
Across our schools, small moments of appreciation remind us why we love what we do.
At Hurstpierpoint College, a handwritten note from a pupil captured the heart of our chef’s work. At Churcher’s College, pupils created a personalised card, complete with an allergen champion armband, for Ian, our allergen and special diets chef. These gestures show the meaningful connections formed through food, care and community.
Cal’s Crumble Factory – A Sweet Success at Shrewsbury School
Inspired by the viral “Humble Crumble” trend, our team at Shrewsbury School led by Head Chef Calum with Senior Sous Jordan and Commis Chef Connor , served more than 750 crumble pots in just 25 minutes.
To keep the event sustainable, the team used windfall apples gathered from school grounds. Pupils and staff joined in by bringing their own apple harvests, contributing an impressive 200kg of fruit. The result? A delicious, waste-conscious event that brought people together.
Introducing Hawkers – A Global Street Food Experience
We’re thrilled to launch our Hawkers Street Food Pop-Up, bringing exciting flavours from around the world to pupils and staff. With flexible set-ups from counter service to outdoor gazebos Hawkers transforms school dining into a global culinary adventure.
These past few months have been full of progress and community spirit. Stay tuned for more updates.