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Fresh Thinking, Full Plates
At Mount Kelly, food plays a vital role in supporting every pupil’s wellbeing — fuelling active minds, strong bodies and a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
In partnership with our caterers, Thomas Franks, we serve fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced food every day. In fact, over 80% of what’s on your child’s plate comes from suppliers within 30 miles of the school; championing local farmers, reducing food miles, and ensuring top-quality ingredients.
Menus are carefully planned by expert chefs and nutritionists to meet the needs of growing children, whether they’re heading into lessons, out onto the sports field, or diving into the pool. Every dish is cooked from scratch on site, using Farm-Assured meat, sustainable fish, and seasonal fruit and vegetables. You’ll find everything from hearty hot meals and vibrant salads to homemade soups, delicious puddings and an abundance of fresh fruit.
We encourage pupils to eat with the seasons, helping them develop a healthy, varied diet and learn more about where their food comes from. Expect juicy tomatoes in summer, warming root vegetables in winter, and a creative, ever-changing menu inspired by nature’s calendar.
Fuel for Performance
For our performance athletes, nutrition is key. Our catering team works closely with pupils to support their training, offering appropriate portion sizes, high-protein options, and nutrient-rich meals that promote recovery, energy and long-term health. Pupil voice is central to our approach: food committees meet regularly to share feedback and drive improvements. We’re also committed to reducing our environmental impact, with food waste closely monitored, reused where possible, and kept to a minimum through smart planning and shared responsibility.
Inclusive and Individual
We cater for a wide range of dietary needs and allergies, with bespoke dishes made fresh to order. Our Head Chefs are always happy to meet with parents to discuss individual requirements and ensure every child feels confident and cared for at mealtimes.
A Celebration of Food
From Christmas lunches to Chinese New Year, Thanksgiving and Burns Night, our Dining Halls come alive with themed menus and decorations. Food at Mount Kelly isn’t just nutritious — it’s joyful, inclusive and shared.
“The kitchen is a hive of activity where all dishes and ingredients are freshly prepared and even the salad dressings are made from scratch. The only frozen foods permitted are sweetcorn, peas and puff pastry; everything else is made from natural, raw ingredients.
Our food is cooked using healthier cooking techniques such as stir-frying, steaming and baking, rather than frying or boiling. We reduce salt by flavouring with herbs and spices and we reduce sugar by flavouring with dried fruit and the natural sweetness of honey and root vegetables.
Part of the way we encourage healthy eating is to provide beautifully cooked food with plenty of variety and fresh fruit and vegetables, but we also use hidden vegetables or disguise them with delicious sauces.”
-Executive Head Chef-
