St Woolos Primary School Serves Up A Pop-Up Restaurant

St Woolos Primary School in Newport is running a pop-up restaurant after school on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd March which will be staffed by eighty Year 1 and 2 pupils. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The restaurant, which pupils have named Hungry Heroes, has a superhero theme and pupils have designed and voted for their favourite new superheroes. The restaurant is the culmination of a creative project which the Year 1 and 2 classes have been taking part in over the past term. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They visited Nando’s, Bistrot Pierre and Drago Lounge in Friars’ Walk, to find out how restaurants are run and the food they serve. As a result, the pupils designed a three-course menu which will be served to their parents and invited guests. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each pupil will have a specific job such as waiter, cashier or entertainer, and they will work on one of the two nights. Over the two days, the restaurant will be serving approximately 160 three-course meals to the diners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first night will be opened by the Mayor of Newport, Councillor Herbie Thomas, an old boy of St Woolos, and former Wales international footballer Nathan Blake. On the second night, the restaurant will be opened by the managers of Nando’s, Bistrot Pierre and Drago Lounge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The school project was part of Welsh Government’s new Lead Creative Schools’ scheme, run in conjunction with The Arts Council of Wales, to develop creativity in pupils through them working with a range of arts practitioners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Debbie Wilcox, Newport City Council’s Cabinet Member for Education & Young People, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is truly a fantastic project for the school and all pupils involved. I’m sure all involved have enjoyed their visits to Friars Walk and working with the creative companies that supported this project. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is rewarding to see such innovative practices being embraced by a Newport school, providing a stimulating and engaging learning experience for the young people involved. I’m sure the pop-up restaurant will receive glowing reviews – full marks to all involved”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

St Woolos Primary School worked mainly with a media production company called It’s My Shout Ltd, a Cardiff based company which works with a range of actors and production staff. Their work in the school enabled pupils to turn the school into a film set last week when they made their own Hungry Heroes restaurant advert, which is being screened at Cineworld, Friars’ Walk, on Friday morning. It’s My Shout have also helped the pupils to work on stand-up comedy, which will be taking place during the restaurant opening times of 6pm to 7pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Heather Vaughan, Headteacher of St Woolos Primary School, said, ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This project has been a fantastic opportunity for pupils to immerse themselves in a series of experiences which have had a direct impact on their learning and confidence. They have also learned a lot about the world of work and have gained a real insight into a range of careers. The project has involved the whole school community and the support from parents and has been absolutely brilliant. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that they enjoy their meal!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition, the pupils all visited the Capital FM studios in Cardiff Bay, where Neil Sloan, the Programme Controller and Paul Robinson, the Creative Account Manager, helped them to compose and record their own radio jingle which has been added to the advert. Pupils also composed some restaurant music with Upbeat Music and Arts which will be played during the evening. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Vicky Spray, Foundation Phase Leader and co-ordinator of the project, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The project has been an amazing experience for all of the pupils and staff. The pupils have excelled in the project and we have improved outcomes for learners and developed their creativity. We are extremely proud of them and have developed the saying ‘Don’t put lids on kids!’ We would also like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped with the project.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project has been so successful that it has now been selected as one of nine across Wales to be filmed by Welsh Government to promote the Lead Creative Schools scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​