Children help at Tettenhall Wood School cafe

When a pick-me-up coffee and slice of cake are called for, staff at a Wolverhampton school have no need to leave the premises. more

Pupils at Tettenhall Wood School have set up a cafe, The Tree Room, offering freshly ground coffee served by pupils specially trained in the skills of a professional barista.

The aim of the coffee shop is to boost students' employability by teaching them a range of skills and increasing their self confidence.

The cafe currently serves members of staff only, who can order either filtered or instant coffee but in September the Tree Room is open for business to local companies and groups who can hire it out for free.

Laura Bennett, the school's secondary phase leader, said: "It's just shop-bought pre-packaged cakes that we're selling at the moment but we're hoping eventually to serve up our own cakes when we have gained the relevant hygiene certificate.

"The purpose is to provide in-house work experience for our pupils where they can learn life skills, practise customer service, use their English and Maths skills and generally improve their confidence. There will be a booking system so they will have to organise that as well.

"The teachers are using it as an alternative staffroom and they've been very impressed by the service. By inviting companies to come in, we are hoping to build up our links with local businesses."

Eight post-16 pupils at the Regis Road school have been trained by Shropshire Coffee in Bushbury in barista skills while the rest of the school will eventually help provide the cakes.

Two students came up with the name and tree logo following a competition. The school funded all the equipment needed to set the shop up, including two coffee machines, and indoor and outdoor furniture.

The cafe will operate between 9.30am - 2.30pm from Monday to Friday