Pictured above: Regency School Key Stage 5 teacher Sarah Whitelaw (second to left), Hatts Kitchens Business Development Manager John Elliott (centre) and Regency School pupils

A Worcestershire kitchen design and installation firm are celebrating the completion of a brand new kitchen facility at a specialist sports college in Worcester. 

Hatt Kitchens, based in Hartlebury, were asked to design and install an up-to date kitchen at Regency High School Sports College, to assist them in their current up-skilling project for the school's diverse pupil population. 

The school is further developing the delivery of food technology and is beginning to offer pupils the chance to gain food-tech accreditation. However, their existing facilities were aging, and not of a high enough standard to provide what was needed for the training. 

Having completed previous projects in many similar organisations, Hatt Kitchens were able to use their extensive knowledge to design and install the most efficient kitchen facilities for Regency's pupils, with only a short school holiday period to project manage the various trades and install everything while the pupils were not on site.

The newly installed kitchen is packed with hi-tech and accessible features including an interactive white board which pupils are able to engage with during lessons. Other new facilities include adjustable surfaces and lower height hygiene facilities, so it is user friendly for pupils of all abilities.  

John Elliott, Business Development Manager at Hatt Kitchens, said "The existing kitchen facilities at the school were cramped and the equipment was beginning to date and didn't really facilitate the needs of a broader range of pupils.

"This coupled with the fact that Regency is eager on expanding their delivery of food technology meant it was time for a change.

"We have designed the kitchen to complement the organisation that needs to go into cooking, such as prominent hygiene facilities near the entrance, and equipment such as ovens and hobs located where they are not a hazard. We have also restructured the layout of the room to give more space for the pupils to work in." 

Stewart McConkey, Assistant Head & Director of Specialism at Regency High School and Sports College, said "Food technology is an important part of our curriculum and gives our pupils the chance to learn some practical and useful skills. 

"The children and staff very much enjoy their new surroundings and appreciate Hatt's hard work and professionalism".

"Having the new facilities from Hatt Kitchens has made a huge difference to the school as we now have much more room and better facilities, enabling the pupils to get the most they can from their learning."

The new kitchen comes just in time for Regency who are moving ahead with their up-skilling project, and complements the recent training teachers have had in the government funded 'Licence to Cook' scheme, where teachers are trained in food technology teaching.