Gordonstoun catering team acknowledged, Nationally, as sector leading

The Scottish School Food Awards were held in February this year and brought a number of impressive accolades for Gordonstoun.

Gordonstoun was shortlisted in four categories by a panel of judges and members of the Refectory team travelled down to Glasgow for the awards celebration. It was at these awards that they discovered what Gordonstoun had won.

The Wellbeing in Education Award

We are very proud that Gordonstoun has won The Wellbeing in Education Award, where we were up against some inspiring opposition. Winning this award is testimony to the hardworking Gordonstoun community who uphold the highest standards of wellbeing in education.

Gordonstoun welcomes children aged 4-18 to our community and education inspectors recently noted that, “The comprehensive systems, policies and procedures to keep the school community safe are monitored rigorously by pastoral leaders and are a model of best practice; and result in sector-leading pastoral care which nurtures and supports each individual.”

The banning of mobile phones, food innovation, trained peer support, sustainability initiatives, feedback processes, wellbeing facilities, staff training and the recruitment of additional wellbeing staff, are some of the many ways in which Gordonstoun’s dynamic community have improved and ensured the wellbeing of all on campus. In the curriculum, in the refectory, in the boarding houses and across the campus, Gordonstoun encourages open dialogue and is always striving to better their sector leading approach.

Foodservice Team of the Year Award,

Every day the whole Gordonstoun community sees the efforts our Refectory team go to and it was a joy to learn of their shortlisting as finalists in the Foodservice Team of the Year award category.

The catering team at Gordonstoun stand out in their dedication and commitment to food excellence. They are willingly the first people in the door in the morning and often the last to leave. The team is proud to serve some of the best produce in the country, with all meat, fruit and vegetables and fish coming from suppliers just a few miles from the school. Their dedication to ensuring they serve nutritional and wholesome food seven days a week never falters. At the heart of their approach is open discussion with students on the Refectory Committee, giving and receiving suggestions and inviting students into the kitchen to try new dishes and cook in the kitchen.

Whether it’s the day-to-day provision of over 1400 meals, introducing new healthy initiatives, catering for large scale community or VIP Royal events, the Gordonstoun foodservice team tackles every challenge with gusto and grace.

The School Chef of the Year - Ross Burgess

It’s not every school that can say they have a Head Chef with the calibre of Ross Burgess. His experience, varied skill-set and smiling face are well-recognised around the school. Ross has been awarded a very well-deserved ‘Highly Commended’ Award in this category and we are all very proud of him.

Prior to arriving at Gordonstoun, Ross had taken part in Series 13 of MasterChef, the Professionals and it was this enterprising and innovative spirit that he brought to Gordonstoun.

With a collaborative style of working, and a strong interest in other cuisines, Ross invites the students into the cookery kitchen to ensure our international dishes are authentic for our international students.

His passion for fine dining astounds VIP guests from around the world as he switches from fine dining to school catering with ease; quality and interest never wavering in either. Exquisite taster menus for eight, prepped alongside 1400 refectory dishes a day are just what he excels in. He is constantly adapting, changing things up and producing delicious, nutritious food, all while encouraging the team, talking to students and staff and sourcing seasonal ingredients as locally as possible.

Employee of the Year Award

Jamie Campbell has been a stalwart of the catering department at Gordonstoun for over 16 years and when it came to entering a catering employee of the year, there was a unanimous name mentioned by so many areas of the Gordonstoun community. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we can say that Jamie was named as Scottish School Food Awards Employee of the Year.

When talking about Gordonstoun catering, one name is synonymous with the service, and that is Jamie. He is that steady pillar that stands firm and is the person the community relies upon.

Not only does Jamie implement innovative catering initiatives, he also supports and develops his staff, having himself started as a pot washer over 16 years ago. Jamie’s commitment to the Gordonstoun community is repeated in the local community where he runs the Burghead Boys Brigade and raises thousands of pounds for local charities.

How Jamie finds time to carry out all his work duties and remain loyal to his family, and community, is a testament to his tenacity, loyalty, and dedication to all.

After the awards event, the school staff gathered to celebrate with, and acknowledge the unparalleled excellence of, the Refectory Team.

To find out more about what inspectors call, 'sector leading' pastoral care, including the excellent food at Gordonstoun, please contact admissions@gordonstoun.org.uk