A new breakfast initiative has led to such a marked improvement in punctuality and attendance at a Derby secondary school that pupils are now arriving early and queuing to get in.
The ‘Breakfast Base’ at Murray Park School in Mickleover has already welcomed more than 300 pupils this academic year. Opening its doors at 8am each morning, it offers a hearty breakfast and valuable social time with friends before the school day begins.
Since its launch, leaders say they have seen a significant increase in students arriving on time and ready to learn. Pupils can choose from a wide range of options, including cereals and fruity bagels, helping to set them up for the day ahead.
Although the base officially opens at 8am, staff have been arriving from 7.30am, with eager pupils already waiting outside for the doors to open.
Year seven student, Zahra Brown who attends the breakfast club every day, said: “I felt a bit shy when I started at the school, but since coming to breakfast base, I have felt much more confident and have formed lots of friendships here.
“We have so much fun here in the morning and play different games, each day of the week, I really look forward to coming.
“I feel like I belong here at the school and have built connections with pupils across different year groups, which has really helped me settle in. It feels welcoming walking around the school and saying hello to lots of different people, I don’t think I would have usually met.
“Fridays are definitely our favourite day, as when you register your attendance in the morning, you receive a raffle ticket and each week, one of us wins a £10 Amazon voucher.”
A range of activities are available, including board games and PlayStation tournaments, while pupils can also grab breakfast to go, making the initiative accessible and flexible for all.
As the school receives no additional funding to support this provision, it has had to find creative ways to make breakfast available for its pupils.
With support from the Food for Thought Alliance, the school now collects donations from Birds Bakery three times a week and from Warburtons once a week.
Additionally, through ‘Our Mickleover’, Tesco has donated a wide range of cereals and condiments to enhance the variety.
Assistant headteacher, Theresa Lucas, said: “I recently took over attendance and punctuality at the school and quickly realised the importance of pupils having a good breakfast and a reason to arrive early.
“Already, many pupils who previously struggled to get here on time are now coming early to be part of the Breakfast Base.
“We surveyed pupils to understand the barriers to attending a breakfast club and found that many thought they were boring. That’s why we named it the ‘Breakfast Base’ – to break that perception and move away from the stigma.
“The base also gives pupils a chance to build a connection with Aldith Kaye, our welfare officer, who oversees it. This regular contact helps pupils feel comfortable reaching out to her when they need support.
“The idea came directly from pupils through a survey about what they wanted to see at school. Listening to their feedback has allowed us to create something fun and welcoming that pupils are excited to attend.”
Deputy Headteacher, George Hagen, added: “This is by far one of the most impactful initiatives we have introduced in recent years.
“It has encouraged pupils who previously struggled with punctuality to arrive early and enjoy both the social aspect of the Base and the variety of food on offer.
“The team have done a fantastic job in shaping the initiative and ensuring it makes a real difference to our pupils’ day.”
