Langley Catering

Our Langley School catering team offers a variety of meals that meet students’ nutritional needs. A balanced diet is crucial for adolescents, who are in a rapid phase of growth and development. We offer three main meals-breakfast, lunch, and dinner-with snacks to maintain energy levels throughout the day. Our Sixth Form students have access to a purpose-built café on-site in the Alston Centre, home to the Sixth Form. There is also a ‘tuck shop’ facility for all pupils. Menus are carefully balanced to provide sufficient protein, complex carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables to power a busy day. We cater to many different dietary requirements and preferences, such as vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets. We also insist on hydration via multiple water stations on-site. Good hydration is proven to improve performance and mental well-being.

A key challenge in catering at boarding schools is ensuring variety and engagement. Repetitive meals can lead to disinterest and food wastage. To combat this, we incorporate international specialties and seasonal dishes to help keep mealtimes interesting. Our boarders have access to mini kitchens within the boarding facility. They can make hot drinks, simple meals, toast and snacks. This helps foster independence, and it’s an important part of the boarding experience here. The younger boarders will have supervision when cooking. Weekend trips also allow our boarders some flexibility and the opportunity to eat off site. We have a suggestion scheme across all aspects of boarding, and take on board any catering-related suggestions.

Of course, there are times when children would like a treat, and we cater for those too at our tuck shop and the Sixth Form café. There are regular bake sales, spearheaded by pupils for local charities.

Quality control is a top priority for boarding school catering services. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are a priority. Our trained chefs and catering support team bake on-site as well as cooking main meals with as few processed foods as possible. The team always ensures that a supply of fresh fruit is available at all mealtimes.

• Sample Menu

Beyond just providing meals, catering at boarding schools often has an educational aspect. We are privileged to be one of a small number of schools offering the Prue Leiths CTH Level 3 Extended Certificate in Professional Cooking course. Prue Leith Cooking Schools are recognised as the top qualification that school-age pupils can earn in all aspects of food preparation and nutrition. The focus is on practical skills. This education empowers students to make informed choices about their diets and instils lifelong healthy habits.

We consider mealtimes to be an integral part of building a tight-knit boarding community. Shared mealtimes encourage bonding among students and provide a much-needed break from the structure of school life. Our dining hall is a welcoming and inclusive space where pupils can relax and build lasting friendships. The independent cooking facilities provided to boarders are a much-prized privilege, and although our boarding staff are on hand to help if needed, we find our boarding pupils (particularly the older ones) are happy to flex their skills themselves.

Our commitment to quality, variety and good nutrition ensures that pupils are well-fed, energised, and ready to succeed in whatever they turn their hand to.