Our Year 9 pupils rounded off Autumn 1 in style, celebrating the successful completion of their barista training with a fantastic in-house coffee showcase at Leaways School.
Malakhi, Eddie, Lewis, Kieran and Archie have spent the half-term developing their barista skills through weekly Thursday training sessions with Climpson & Sons, gaining valuable hands-on experience in coffee preparation, customer service and hospitality.
To celebrate their achievements, Sujan from Climpson & Sons joined us for a special in-house showcase, giving pupils the chance to demonstrate their newly acquired skills to the wider school community.
“The Corner Café was buzzing with all the teachers, students and support staff. It really created the atmosphere of a busy cafe during a morning rush. Students took turns working a 'mini-shift' and collaborating as a team. One student took orders, another pulled shots, and another steamed the milk. The roles were swapped after a few orders so that each student got a chance to operate in different stations.
Slowly, as the coffees and hot chocolates were being made, I noticed the students starting to take ownership of their place behind the coffee machine/bar. The less I felt I needed to guide them. You could see them display a sense of responsibility and pride for every cup they made.”
Staff and pupils were invited to enjoy freshly prepared coffees and hot chocolates, a particularly welcome treat during this week's chilly weather!
The morning was an outstanding success, with music, conversation and a wonderful sense of togetherness filling the room. One member of staff described the event as inclusive, lively and full of positive energy, perfectly capturing the atmosphere as pupils confidently prepared and served drinks.
Beyond learning how to make a great cup of coffee, the programme has supported pupils in developing communication, teamwork, independence and confidence, alongside valuable employability skills.
A special thank you to Can, our Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA), for accompanying pupils to their weekly training sessions and supervising the in-house showcase. We are also incredibly grateful to Sujan and the team at Climpson & Sons for their continued support.
Without doubt, this was our most successful coffee showcase yet! A huge congratulations to our Year 9 baristas for their hard work, enthusiasm and professionalism.
What a fantastic way to end Autumn 1!
