🏫 The Charles Dickens School: Refurbishment of Food Technology Classroom

📚 Project Overview: Upgrading the School’s Food Technology Classroom

The Charles Dickens School in Broadstairs, Kent, is a well-known co-educational secondary modern school named after the famous 19th-century writer and social critic. As part of their efforts to improve educational facilities, the school invited us to tender for the refurbishment of their food technology classroom. This project was particularly challenging, as the school had applied for a grant to fund the works, meaning we needed to work within a very strict budget.

Our team was committed to providing a solution that met both the grant conditions and the high standards the school required, ensuring they received the necessary support for a successful application.

🛠️ Project Details: Delivering Quality Within Budget

The project took place over the summer holidays, allowing us 6 weeks to complete the works. Despite the additional challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, we ensured that our team worked safely and efficiently. Our priority was to complete the project a week before the autumn term to ensure the classroom was ready for the new academic year, without compromising quality or safety.

We worked closely with the school to design a layout that improved both the functionality and accessibility of the space. A key design feature was the inclusion of an adaptable workstation for a disabled student, ensuring that every student could clearly see and be seen by the teaching staff.

🍴 Improving Workflow and Kitchen Efficiency

One of the primary issues the school faced in their previous setup was the short lesson times, which resulted in students often preparing food but being unable to finish cooking within the available time. To address this, we installed a Rational combi oven, allowing for faster and more efficient cooking. Additionally, we installed a Maidaid dishwasher to speed up the washing-up process, allowing students to quickly clean their tools and continue with their work.

🧼 Hygiene & Safety: A Key Focus for Students

We were mindful of the importance of hygiene in the classroom environment. To encourage proper hand hygiene, we installed several handwash basins in a newly created ‘lobby’ area, keeping the main classroom free of unnecessary distractions.

The theme of improved hygiene was extended to the walls and floors with the use of Upvc hygienic wall cladding and new slip-resistant vinyl flooring. These materials not only made the space easier to clean but also ensured a safer environment for both students and staff.

🥘 Tailored Workstations for Every Student

We designed each student workstation with care, providing individual gas hobs and electric ovens, ensuring that every student had the equipment they needed to practice cooking skills. Additionally, each workstation featured a shared preparation sink, allowing students to work both independently and collaboratively.

📞 Contact Us for Your School Refurbishment Project

Are you looking to upgrade your school’s kitchen or food technology classroom? Whether you’re planning a small refurbishment or a large-scale renovation, our team has the expertise to design and install high-quality commercial kitchens and practical learning spaces for schools.

Call us today on 01304 249963 to discuss your upcoming project and learn how we can help.

📸 Scroll Down to View Project Photos

Take a look at how we transformed the food technology classroom at The Charles Dickens School. See how our design improved the workflow, safety, and learning environment for students and teachers alike.