We are delighted to report on the CAP Award success of Vinehall School in East Sussex. The school’s catering provision secured a prestigious Bronze award at its very first participation in the programme. Here’s a press release:

PRESS RELEASE

Vinehall School in the beautiful surroundings of East Sussex has landed a prestigious Bronze Award from the Continuous Advancement Programme (CAP) for its catering prowess. CAP Awards are a nationally-recognised honour.

The school chose to submit its catering to stringent independent scrutiny by the CAP Assessment team in September. Landing the Bronze Award puts the school’s catering provision among the most select education establishments in the country.

Vinehall caters for a wide range of pupils from age 2 to 13, accommodating full, weekly and flexible boarders as well as day students – factors that can sometimes challenge the provision of effective and dependable catering services. The Chief CAP Assessor, Ian Jackson, noted a good balance of fresh produce on offer, including ‘superfood’ kiwi berries and a relaxed supper for boarders with ‘a plentiful variety of second helpings’ available.

In his official report, Jackson singled out some of the school kitchen’s down-to-earth dishes for special praise. “It was refreshing to see traditional foods like chicken pie being delivered so well. And the steamed sponge with custard is excellent,” he says.

Joff Powis, the headmaster at Vinehall School, acknowledges the challenge facing the catering staff and the contribution the team makes to school life: “Members of our catering department are amazing in so many ways. They manage to look after a wide range of pupils’ needs across all school years and provide such variety. We are proud of them and delighted that they have now received recognition through this award.”

Members of the CAP Awards programme share a passion for raising the standards of catering provision in schools and healthcare organisations throughout the UK and Ireland. This is the first time that Vinehall has engaged with the CAP Awards programme to assess its catering provision, though the school has previously won two CAP Gold Awards for its exemplary housekeeping.

ENDS