A taste of life in the catering business

Youngsters cooked up plenty of treats for business representatives, politicians and dignitaries at the relaunch of their school restaurant last week.

The Carter’s Restaurant at Towers School in Faversham Road had been closed for nearly two years, but was reopened with a buffet prepared by pupils on Thursday.

It was named after Kent County Council leader Cllr Paul Carter who greeted pupils and staff at the lunchtime dinner service.

Towers’ careers and progression manager Philip Carter says the Towers pupil Jake Dawkins serves food at the reopening restaurant has been twinned with a business conference centre to give pupils hands-on experience of the world of work.

He said: “Our aim is to ensure that we provide the best opportunities for our pupils and sixth form students. We have got the facilities to provide training as well as to build stronger links with businesses and members of the Chamber of Commerce.” The facilities are also open to other schools and youngsters in the area, with a group from Brockhill Park School near Hythe also waiting on the diners, along with a Year 11 catering group from Towers.

Resident chefs Mrs Val Perry and Mrs Tory Collick want the restaurant to be open to the public for lunches, and it can be hired out for evening functions.

Youngsters from the Wyvern School, which supports those with special educational needs, will also be using the kitchens, and Wyvern school head John Somers visited along with Deborah Hainsworth, Wyvern’s head of school for ages 14 to 19.

Cllr Carter said: “We need to make sure that young people have the opportunity to explore their skill sets in excellent centres like this.

“Catering and hospitality will provide career opportunities in the future, and helps those who perhaps don’t have the academic ability to go to university to get the skills they will need in commerce and running a business.”

For information about the restaurant visit www.towers. kent.sch.uk or email carters@ towers.kent.sch.uk.

Thee Carters restaurant at Towers School in Ashford relaunch with Towers catering and hospitality Year 11 pupils. Left to right: Rhys Daily, Jake Dawkins, Paul Lockwood, Shane Cooper, Lewis Chilton, Megan Noble, Daniel Mumford, Tom Knight

Brockhill Park pupils waiting on tables, from left, James Ramsay, Jacob Molloy, Keelen Curtis and Katie O’Callaghan

Chefs Valerie Perry, left, and Tory Collick

Some of the treats made by pupils