Shaldon School
CLIENT:
Trinity Clifton Ltd
PROJECT LOCATION:
Teignmouth, Devon
PROJECT VALUE:
£129k
ARCHITECT:
N/A
PROJECT MANAGER:
N/A
CONTRACTOR
N/A
Vision Commercial Kitchens delivered a full turnkey catering facility at Shaldon School, transforming a limited reheat kitchen into a modern scratch-cooking environment capable of supporting daily meal service for more than 200 pupils. Designed within a constrained footprint and delivered in a live school setting, the project combined practical design thinking, infrastructure upgrades and careful programme management to create a safer, more efficient kitchen built for long-term operational use.
A Kitchen Built for Growth
Moving Beyond a Reheat Kitchen
Shaldon School needed to move from a limited reheat setup to a fully operational scratch-cooking kitchen capable of supporting daily meal service for more than 200 pupils.
The new facility had to improve:
Production capacity
Workflow efficiency
Kitchen safety
Long-term operational reliability
Making Better Use of Space
Built within the footprint of the former car park, the kitchen had to maximise every available square metre without compromising functionality.
This created a layout that balanced:
Food preparation zones
Storage capacity
Staff movement
Equipment placement
Balancing Performance and Budget
With academy-funded budget considerations, the project needed to remain commercially practical.
Vision integrated selected existing assets, including refrigeration and warewashing equipment, alongside new high-efficiency appliances such as:
Induction cooking equipment
Rational iCombi Pro oven technology
The result was a future-focused catering environment built around performance, food quality and day-to-day usability.
Designing Around Real Site Constraints
A Flexible Servery Solution
One of the biggest design challenges was the servery arrangement.
Because the existing building footprint could not be expanded, Vision developed a mobile servery solution. Units could be stored safely within the kitchen and moved into position during service.
This improved:
Flexibility during service periods
Safe separation from pupils
Better use of available internal space
Improving Storage Capacity
Dry storage was another key operational issue.
Part of the administration area was reconfigured, within the structural limitations of the existing building, to create a larger and more practical dry store.
This allowed the school to:
Hold stock more efficiently
Reduce delivery frequency
Improve purchasing flexibility
Infrastructure and Planning Challenges
The project also involved major supporting upgrades.
Key works included:
Full electrical upgrade to a balanced three-phase supply
Coordination with National Grid
Careful integration of extraction systems
A powder-coated external flue to reduce visual impact in a sensitive seaside setting
Every decision had to balance practicality, compliance and long-term performance.
Full Turnkey Delivery in a Live School Environment
Full Project Responsibility
Vision Commercial Kitchens delivered the project as a full turnkey installation.
This included:
Site preparation
Building works
Mechanical and electrical coordination
Extraction installation
Hygienic finishes
Catering equipment installation
Testing, commissioning and handover
Managing the full scope allowed tighter control over programme, subcontractors and quality.
Working Around a Live School
Because the project was delivered during term time, safeguarding and operational planning were critical.
Works were carefully managed to minimise disruption to teaching, assemblies and daily school activity.
Strict controls included:
DBS compliance
Controlled contractor access
Daily sign-in and safeguarding procedures
Scheduled works to reduce noise and disruption
Efficient Delivery
Regular site walkarounds and progress updates gave stakeholders clear visibility throughout the programme.
Because Vision retained direct control over installation and coordination, resource planning remained streamlined and responsive.
The project was successfully handed over ahead of schedule, providing the school with a safe, modern and highly functional kitchen environment.
Designed for Long-Term Operational Value
A Practical, Sustainable Approach
The project was designed to deliver long-term value, not just a new kitchen.
By combining carefully reused assets with new energy-efficient equipment, Vision created a commercially efficient solution without compromising performance.
Operational Improvements
The completed facility now supports stronger day-to-day catering operations through:
Improved storage capacity
Safer workflows
Upgraded electrical infrastructure
Better equipment efficiency
A purpose-built scratch-cooking layout
Supporting the Team Beyond Handover
Comprehensive on-site training and structured handover support ensured the catering team could transition confidently into the new facility from day one.
The Shaldon School project highlights Vision Commercial Kitchens’ ability to deliver practical, technically considered catering environments for education clients operating within tight spatial, budgetary and safeguarding constraints.
Testimonial
"Vision Commercial Kitchens delivered a high-quality catering facility that has made a real difference to how our kitchen operates day to day. Their team understood the practical challenges of working within a live school environment and managed the project professionally, with clear communication throughout. The finished kitchen has provided a safer, more efficient space that supports our long-term catering needs."
