Potential outsourcing of School Canteen Service

Background to the School
Strathearn School is an all girls' grammar located at 188 Belmont Road, Belfast BT4 2AU. The school was this year ranked the top grammar in Northern Ireland in the Sunday Times Parent Power Report.
As a Voluntary Grammar School, the school is managed by its Board of Governors, which acts as the employing authority for staff. The school has a greater level of autonomy and self-governance over its budget and maintenance than schools in the Education Authority Controlled sector.
Current Canteen Provision
Enrolment at the school is 823, approximately 50% of whom choose a canteen lunch. Of these, the number of pupils in receipt of free school meals is 58. All pupils and c.120 members of staff have access to canteen facilities at the following times:
- Breakfast: 8.15 - 8.45am
- Break: 10.50 - 11.05am
- Lunch: 12.20 - 1.45pm
The school is willing to consider any extension of these times that a supplier may seek, for example for the provision of hot drinks. There is a separate servery in the Sixth Form Centre, which is located adjacent to the canteen, and there may be demand from these pupils (as yet untested) during study periods.
In addition, enrolment in the Preparatory Department is currently 120. Prep pupils are served lunch in the canteen at the earlier time of 11.45am and approximately 50% choose a canteen lunch.
The canteen operates a cashless biometric system whereby pupils pay using their fingerprint. Education Authority (EA) funding for Free School Meal pupils is received at £3.34 per meal. For Prep pupils, a set lunch cost (currently £3.05 per meal) is billed to parents on a termly basis.
In its current configuration the canteen provides seating for c.375 pupils. The Sixth Form Centre accommodates pupils in L6/U6 (c.200). Sixth form pupils are also allowed to leave the school grounds at lunchtime. Pupils are encouraged to eat their lunch in the canteen, including those with a packed lunch. The school has modern, well-maintained...