Five Acre Wood Special School, the largest special needs school in the UK, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its innovative “FAWrient Express” train carriage café, established in collaboration with Costa Coffee. This pioneering project marks a significant milestone in the school’s commitment to empowering its pupils and fostering an inclusive community.
Serving over 860 pupils aged 4-19 with profound, severe, and complex learning difficulties, Five Acre Wood School has been awarded back-to-back Ofsted “Outstanding” judgements. Known for its visionary approach, the school is now taking a pioneering step forward with the launch of its hospitality training academy.
The “FAWrient Express” train carriage café, a former Mark 2 first-class buffet train, will serve as the hub for this ground-breaking initiative. All pupils will be able to access the café space as part of the curriculum, which is adapted to suit each child. Pupils will receive tailored hospitality and catering training from industry professionals, equipping them with the skills and confidence to pursue meaningful employment in the competitive hospitality sector. Those around secondary school age and above will have the opportunity to experience hands-on coffee training, dependent on their specific needs.
“Establishing a hospitality training academy for our pupils is not just a visionary idea; it is a transformative initiative that has the potential to revolutionise lives and our community,” said Peggy Murphy, Principal of Five Acre Wood School. “This project is essential, as it will empower our pupils, foster community engagement and inclusivity, and help address the employment disparity faced by individuals with learning difficulties.”
Working with Costa Coffee has been key to the success of this project. Following an initial outreach to the Nation’s Favourite Coffee Shop in 2023, the school has collaborated closely with the company’s community and talent development teams to develop a tailored training curriculum and secure essential resources and equipment.
So far, this has included providing coffee training for the FAWrient Express Cafe Manager at the world-class Costa Coffee Roastery and pairing him up with the Store Manager from the school’s local Costa Coffee for ongoing mentoring, creating a connection with the nearby store that will continue strengthening over time.
John English, community manager at Costa Coffee, says, “We’re delighted that the Costa Coffee team has been able to play a part in the creation of the FAWrient Express as part of our nationwide Community Programme, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. We look forward to continuing to work with the inspiring Five Acre Wood team, and to seeing the cafe in action as it enables pupils to develop valuable skills that will support their aspirations for the future – perhaps a career in coffee!“
Sandra Knatchbull, chair of the Cobtree Charity Trust, a generous donor of the project, said “The trustees at Cobtree Charity Trust are delighted to have been with Five Acre Wood on this project, in delivering the magnificent FAWrient Express. The pupils and public in equal measure will gain so much for years to come.”
“We are incredibly grateful to the phenomenal individuals, as well as local, national and global organisations that have backed our pioneering project,” said Tim Williams, headteacher (Loose Site) at Five Acre Wood School. “Their extraordinary support is acknowledged on our ‘wall of honour’ in the FAWrient Express. Their generosity highlights the remarkable power that this initiative holds to ‘achieve new possibilities’ and change lives within and beyond our immediate community. Costa Coffee’s ‘above and beyond’ approach and their commitment to ensuring the long-term success of the project have been instrumental in making this dream a reality.”
The “FAWrient Express” train café carriage promises to be a hub of activity, bringing together the local community and businesses. It will provide a space for interaction, collaboration, and skill-sharing, ultimately raising awareness about the capabilities of individuals with special educational needs and disabilities.
The grand opening of the “FAWrient Express” train café carriage on 1st October 2024 marks a significant step forward in addressing the employment disparity faced by individuals with learning difficulties. By providing a direct pathway to employment and instilling essential life skills, Five Acre Wood School are not only transforming the lives of its pupils but also contributing to a more equitable and inclusive society.
