Shaftesbury High School in Pinner recently opened a new coffee shop to encourage employability skills in students with special needs and disabilities.
Coffee on the Quad, which has been five years in the making, was officially opened by Deputy Mayor of Harrow, councillor Salim Chowdhury. It will see Sixth Form students serving drinks to customers and staff while learning business and social skills.
In her opening speech, the school’s community engagement manager Deborah Stone said: “We know from the government’s own statistics, that less than five per cent of adults with a disability are currently in paid employment and that means that 95 per cent of people who want to work can’t.
“The coffee shop will become a place for real-life work experience, where students will learn about customer service, how to run a small business, and financial planning, and at the same time building and developing their social and communication skills.”
Deputy Mayor of Harrow councillor Salim Chowdhury said: “It was an absolute pleasure and honour to be opening the coffee shop. The students and staff did an amazing job.”
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