London schools help shape plan for better school food
25 Mar 2013
Teachers, parents and school cooks from across London are to join forces to help shape the future of school food in England.
On Monday 25 March, Grey Coat Hospital School in Westminster will host the last of seven school food events taking place across the country.
The roadshow will help to inform the independent School Food Plan which is currently being drawn up by Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent of Leon restaurants.
Teachers, school cooks and parents have been invited to discuss the benefits of children eating healthily, share their experiences of school food and tell Henry and John what they would like to improve.
Siân Maddrell, headteacher at Grey Coat Hospital School, said:
We are committed to giving our students the very best opportunities for educational success, and we understand the importance which good nutrition plays in educational attainment. Our catering team take pride in producing a wide range of delicious meals for our students from locally sourced, fresh ingredients. However, it isn’t just the students who benefit from the excellent food; many of our staff opt for lunch from the Grey Coat Café too.
We are delighted to be hosting this event and supporting the campaign for better school food.
Gabby Logan, sports commentator and guest speaker at the event said:
Food, health and nutrition are huge passions of mine. What we eat is everything, we fuel our brains and our bodies to help us fulfil our dreams and ambitions whether it’s in sport, the arts, academia or any walk of life.
I am totally committed to helping give children the best possible start in life and helping them achieve their dreams. The best way to break a cycle of obesity and inactive lifestyles is to educate the youngest in our society and feed them the best way we possibly can.
Henry and John were appointed by the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, to lead an independent review of school food. The review will look into what more needs to be done to accelerate the inspiring work done by Jamie Oliver and others to ensure that all children eating in English schools are offered good food and develop an understanding of food and nutrition.
Henry Dimbleby said:
There is so much good work being done to improve school food by people in schools around the country. Our priority is to hear from as many teachers, cooks, parents and pupils as we can, to produce an action plan which will nurture and accelerate the improvements already happening in schools.
The event follows the publication of the draft national curriculum which, for the first time, requires all secondary school children to learn about food and cookery. With almost a quarter of reception children and over a third of year six children in the London overweight or obese, there has never been a more important time for them to learn these essential skills.
John Vincent said:
We promised to deliver an action plan that gets to grips with exactly how ideas and dreams can be implemented for all kids, and stick. We can only do that by hearing from those schools that are doing this well – including the Grey Coat Hospital School – and sharing their success with others.
The School Food Plan – which will set out what more needs to be done to make sure that all school children are offered good, nutritious food and are given an understanding of food and nutrition – will be published later this year.