Food technology classroom refurbishment Kent — this case study by Kent Commercial Kitchens.
Kent Commercial Kitchens carried out a food technology classroom refurbishment at Charles Dickens School in Broadstairs, Kent. Specifically, the project involved a complete strip-out and refit of an ageing food technology classroom, delivering a modern, practical teaching kitchen ready for use by secondary school students.
Furthermore, the refurbishment included bespoke stainless steel student workstations with individual gas hobs and electric ovens, a Rational combi oven for batch cooking, multiple handwash basins, and Bioclad hygienic wall cladding throughout. Consequently, students now have access to a properly equipped food technology facility that supports the full GCSE and A-level curriculum.
Moreover, the project was completed within 6 weeks, with the refurbished classroom handed over in time for the autumn term. Therefore, the school experienced minimal disruption to its academic programme. Above all, the new food technology classroom refurbishment Kent delivers a safe, hygienic and practical environment for food education.
Case study · Schools & Education
Charles Dickens School, Broadstairs
Food technology classroom refurbishment in Broadstairs, Kent — student workstations with individual gas hobs and electric ovens, Rational combi oven, Maidaid dishwasher, hygienic wall cladding and Altro safety flooring throughout.
Client
Charles Dickens School
Location
Broadstairs, Kent
Project value
£50k–£100k
Build time
6 weeks
The brief
Food technology classroom refurbishment Kent — keeping up with lesson time
Charles Dickens School is a co-educational secondary in Broadstairs — a well-used food technology classroom, an ageing layout, and a practical problem: lesson times were short enough that students routinely ran out of time to finish cooking. The school had secured grant funding for the works, which meant delivering a fully specified refurbishment within a defined budget.
The brief was a complete strip-out and refit: new student workstations, faster cooking equipment, improved hygiene surfaces and flooring — all designed around the school's timetable and completed during the summer holidays to be ready for the autumn term.
What we did
Strip-out to term-ready in 6 weeks
Student workstations
Bespoke stainless steel workstations fabricated in-house and installed across the classroom — each with an individual gas hob and electric oven, giving every student their own cooking position. A shared preparation sink at each station. One workstation designed as an adaptable position for a student with a disability, ensuring clear sightlines to the teaching position from every seat in the room.
Cooking and warewashing equipment
Rational combi oven installed to give the classroom faster, more flexible batch cooking — specifically addressing the lesson-time problem where students couldn't finish cooking within the period. Maidaid dishwasher installed to speed up the wash-up cycle between tasks, freeing students to continue with practical work rather than waiting on equipment.
Handwashing and hygiene layout
Multiple handwash basins installed in a newly created lobby area at the classroom entrance — keeping handwashing visible and accessible without interrupting the flow of the main working space. The layout was designed to reinforce hand hygiene habits from the moment students enter the room.
Hygienic wall cladding and safety flooring
Bioclad hygienic wall cladding installed throughout — durable, wipe-clean and appropriate for a food preparation environment used by secondary school students. Altro slip-resistant safety flooring laid across the full floor area, coved at wall junctions. Surfaces specified for ease of daily cleaning and compliance with food safety standards in an educational setting.
Equipment specified
Specified for teaching kitchen use
- Rational combi oven — batch cooking, faster lesson turnaround
- Maidaid dishwasher — rapid warewashing between tasks
- Individual gas hobs and electric ovens — one per student workstation
- Bespoke stainless steel workstations — fabricated in-house, with prep sinks
- Adaptable workstation — designed for a student with a disability
- Bioclad hygienic wall cladding — full classroom coverage
- Altro safety flooring — slip-resistant, coved finish throughout
- Handwash basins — lobby-positioned hygiene station
The installation
Inside the refurbished classroom
The outcome
Ready for the autumn term
The classroom was handed over a week before the start of the autumn term, with the school able to open a fully refurbished food technology space on the first day back. Delivered within the grant-funded budget — individual cooking positions for every student, faster equipment to keep pace with lesson time, and surfaces that meet food safety standards. Designed, fabricated and installed entirely in-house, no subcontractors.
Food technology classroom refurbishment Kent — Kent Commercial Kitchens has delivered food technology classroom projects throughout Kent and the South East. Furthermore, we specialise in schools, colleges and educational settings. Specifically, our team understands the unique requirements of teaching kitchen installations. Moreover, we provide a complete service from design through to installation and commissioning. Therefore, schools can rely on us as a single point of contact throughout their project.
Additionally, our food technology classroom refurbishment projects are completed to meet all relevant health and safety standards. Consequently, schools benefit from a compliant, practical teaching environment from day one. In conclusion, if you are planning a food technology classroom refurbishment in Kent, contact Kent Commercial Kitchens to discuss your requirements.