Alongside the redevelopment of the Sixth Form Study Centre, we have also created a new café for our older students, located at the entrance to the Sports Hall.
‘The Refectory’ will be open to Sixth Form students from 3 September 2018 and will offer a range of hot and cold drinks, light bites and healthy snacks. A fully-equipped servery includes a barista-style coffee machine, with space for 50 customers. Food will be prepared on-site, with ingredients sourced from local suppliers such as coffee from Harris & James in Southwold and Twyfords of Beccles and locally-made cakes. Savoury items include sandwiches and sushi, as well as jacket potatoes and paninis for those preferring a hot option.
Whilst the school has funded the creation of the new café, the aim is for The Refectory to be self-sustaining rather than profit-making. To that end, Sixth Form students and staff will be able to make purchases from the café at cost price, with a small increase in pricing for members of the public using the facility. Pupils will have a set amount to spend on specific menu items each day.
Access for Sixth Formers will be via an internal door connecting the café to the main school building, and the café will also be open to parents and the wider community between 8am–10am and 3pm–7pm from Monday to Friday as well as Saturday mornings.
We hope that many parents and visitors will take advantage of The Refectory, which provides an ideal location to catch-up with fellow parents after the morning drop-off or whilst waiting for children to finish school.
The Refectory will also be open to the public during school events including theatre performances, swimming galas, ‘Learn to Swim’ courses, sporting activities, antiques fairs and the like.
We are very grateful to both Susan Barrett-Kelly and Tina Bell whose support has been crucial to the success of this project.