By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 12:34, Wednesday, 07 November 2012

Tapas and freshly baked pastries are perhaps the last items a school canteen might be expected to serve, but sixth form students in Carlisle can now indulge in just that.

Pupils, from left, Chris Marsh, Emma Goodman and Alex Murray

The sixth form at Trinity School, in Strand Road, has officially opened its Carliol Bistro, designed to offer a more sophisticated area for the 17 and 18-year-old students.

Previously year 11 and 12 pupils did not have their own dedicated area to relax, socialise or carry out “informal study”.

The new open-plan room – split into relaxing, dining and working areas complete with nine new computers – was designed by teaching staff but with huge involvement from the student council.

Headgirl Olivia Hodgson, 17, from Knowefield, Carlisle, explained: “We had a look around other institutions like the college and the university, and a lot of the furniture in here is inspired by that.

“We didn’t have a common room and while we have the sixth form library, it is only for work.”

Even the food on offer was partly chosen by the students.

Olivia continued: “There is finger food and tapas; it is more sophisticated food.”

The bistro was officially opened yesterday and saw an influx of sixth formers exploring the area for the first time.

Headboy Andrew Glendinning, 18, of Belle Vue, Carlisle, said: “They’ve been surprised by it – we had an idea of what it would be like, but didn’t know what to expect. It’s really good.”

A coffee machine is offering free drinks for the first week, to entice the students to enjoy the room, and they were queuing up to take advantage.

Chris Marsh, 17, from Currock, Carlisle, was among those tucking into a mid-morning bacon roll.

“It’s a lot more sophisticated,” he said, “and you can get a lot more work done than in the old room.

“It’s now a place to learn and relax, without the younger pupils.”

Deputy headteacher Sheila Johnston said that the refurbishment of other parts of the school were almost complete, but staff had felt it important that the sixth form students felt they had a place of their own with the same standards.

“We view our sixth form as a college within a school,” she explained.

“We also wanted them to have their own sophisticated place which met their needs.

“We know many sixth form students were forced into town to Starbucks and places, so we wanted to offer them something so they didn’t have to.”

Food and drinks will be served in the bistro all day, allowing students to indulge over the studies whenever the urge takes them.

The school has also tried to keep the prices down, to make it accessible to all.

First published at 11:45, Wednesday, 07 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk