Catering

At Royal Russell, we believe in the importance of a healthy, nutritious and balanced diet for all our pupils.

We pride ourselves on the quality of food we produce. It is freshly prepared each day by our professional and talented catering team who are focussed on delivering innovative, healthy and tasty meals.

We recognise that a good diet improves children’s wellbeing, mood and academic performance. Encouraging healthy eating habits within school, teaches children how to make positive food choices which will continue throughout their lives.

Mealtimes should be looked forward to and there should be something for everyone to enjoy so we have recently extended the range to include:

Morning Break Tuck Trailer
Street Food (different foods from around the world)
Bistro Kitchen (offering freshly baked Pizza and Panini)
Main course of the day with fresh vegetables
Pasta Bar (including gluten free), with two fresh and tasty sauce toppings
Jacket potato with a choice of toppings

Soup Bar – two freshly made soups (one always suitable for vegan diets), served with freshly baked bread & croutons
Healthy ten item salad bar selection with a separate chef’s selection protein bar
Daily selection of handmade hot and cold desserts
Selection of cut and whole fresh fruit
Freshly made natural yoghurt

Special Dietary Needs

We support a wide range of dietary requirements, including intolerances, allergies, vegan, Halal and offer bespoke requirements for individuals.

Boarding at Royal Russell

The catering team provides breakfast, lunch, tea & supper for our Boarding Community, seven days a week. Boarders also have the opportunity to prepare snacks in their Boarding Houses. Throughout the year, special events are catered for which the Boarders participate in the planning and menu selection. These include summer BBQ’s, Halloween / Bonfire Night, the annual Snow Ball and Chinese New Year celebrations.

Drapers’ Café

Inspired by the founders of the school and independent café life now so widespread in the High Street Royal Russell Sixth Formers, Staff, Parents and Visitors are now using the Drapers’ Cafe in a variety of ways: to have a freshly made barista coffee or speciality tea, enjoy a range of snacks and cold drinks and treats, just to meet with friends, read the newspaper, catch up via TV on the news and world events or to just quietly sit and work.

Sustainable Catering at Royal Russell

The 40 strong Catering team provides over 8,000 cooked meals a week along with numerous requests for packed lunches, sports and events refreshments and catering for more formal occasions within the school calendar. Given the scale of the catering operation, environmental sustainability is a top priority. Our suppliers are as local as possible to minimise ‘food miles’, our takeaway containers are biodegradable and we use plant starch ‘not a plastic’ cups for cold drinks. Single use plastics and takeaway containers are used sparingly and as a last resort.

We Measure Our Food Standards By

Using the expertise of our highly experienced Catering Manager and Craft Guild of Chefs member Executive Chef to ensure that all our food is produced to a healthy and nutritious standard
Creating recipes and use cooking methods that minimize the amount of salt, sugar and saturated fats in our food
Consistently achieving the highest rating – 5 Star – from Croydon Borough Council Environmental Health Department
Partnering a third-party Procurement company to ensure that all suppliers are fully compliant with legislation, continually deliver to our specification and advise on the quality and availability of fresh seasonal produce
Ensuring all our raw meat is sourced locally from UK only suppliers who adhere to UK guidelines on animal welfare and food production. All meat purchased is fully traceable to its origin
Inviting feedback from our pupils at twice termly meetings. We respond to their input and regularly include their suggestions in our menus

Royal Russell has been accredited by Raising Nutrition in recognition of the School’s commitment to providing high-quality food and nutrition. This accreditation reflects our ongoing work to raise standards and deepen knowledge, helping pupils make informed and healthy choices each day.

Overall, we strive to deliver the best catering possible and are always looking at options for improvement. The Catering Manager, Edward Broderick, welcomes the opportunity to talk to both parents and pupils about the catering service and any special dietary needs. Please contact him via the School Reception if you would like any further information.

Book a Visit

The best way to understand Royal Russell is to come and see it for yourself. Walk the grounds, meet our pupils, talk to our staff, and decide whether this is the right place for your child.

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Nursery & Junior School

Senior School

Sixth Form

Boarding