Leicestershire schools celebrate Bronze and Silver awards

16 November 2011 – Eight schools in Leicestershire that have excelled in transforming their food culture were presented with a prestigious Bronze and SIlver Award at the Food for Life Partnership Leicestershire Award Ceremony Schools on 10 November. The Award Ceremony, which took place at Gilmorton Primary School, is the first of its kind to take place in the region.

The schools work with the Food for Life Partnership to transform its food culture and that of its community by reconnecting children with growing, cooking, eating and appreciating climate-friendly and healthy food. Seven of the schools were presented with Bronze Awards, while Humphrey Perkins High School in Loughborough was awareded Silver.

Bronze schools serve seasonal school meals that are at least 75% freshly prepared by a well-trained school cook. Pupils and parents are involved in planning improvements to school menus and the dining experience via a school nutrition action group, boosting school meal take-up. Every pupil has the opportunity to visit a farm during his or her time at school, and opportunities are given for cooking and food growing activity.

The Food for Life Partnership Silver Award means that Humphrey Perkins serves school meals on plates, not flight trays, and a range of locally sourced, free range and organic items are served. The school has a cooking club, and pupils get to cook with and eat the produce grown in the school growing area. Parents and the wider community get involved in food education via food-themed events.

All of the schools, apart from Humphrey Perkins, are catered for by Leicestershire County Council, which supplies meals to 222 primary schools in the county.

Jackie Manship, Senior Group Manager at Leicestershire County Council, said: "I would like to congratulate all the schools who have worked hard towards achieving this high standard. Learning about healthy eating as well as having access to healthy food is part of the valuable work done in our schools."

The schools awarded are:

Arnesby C of E Primary School, Arnesby
Burton on the Wolds Primary School, Loughborough
Highgate Primary School, Sileby
Humphrey Perkins High School, Loughborough
Huncote Community Primary School, Huncote
Husbands Bosworth Primary School, Husbands Bosworth
Ibstock Community College, Ibstock
South Kilworth C of E Primary School