Food for Life: Award

The Prince of Wales First School has scooped an award for healthy food after connecting with the countryside. The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester has won the Food for Life Partnership’s Bronze Award for its healthy and climate-friendly food culture. It serves seasonal meals, which are freshly prepared by school cook Shirley Thompson at theThomas Hardye School. The Maiden Castle Road school gives every pupil the opportunity to visit a farm, cook and participate in food growing activities. Pupils and parents are also involved in making improvements to the first school’s menu and dining experience.

Janet Moger, who is the healthy schools co-ordinator, said: “The children love learning to cook, often with fruit and vegetables that we have grown in the school grounds. “We have been really fortunate to have Laurie Barbour, our resident creative force who has taken a lead in creating a Dig for Victory Garden. “We are also fortunate to have our site manager John Butcher, who, with help from Dorset V Involved, has created raised beds and a polytunnel so all our children can learn about growing their own food.”

The school has been working with the Soil Association-led Food for Life Partnership to transform its catering culture by connecting the children with eco-friendly and healthy food. Catering manager Shirley said: “Since September 2009 we have been providing meals with produce that is locally sourced, some of it organic. “It is important to support Dorset farmers. We prepare all our meals fresh on the premises. We try to listen to feedback from the children and provide a tasty and nutritious meal. It must be working because the number of children choosing to eat a hot lunch has increased threefold.”

Pupils have been visiting the nearby Maiden Castle Farm. Hazel Hoskin, from Maiden Castle Farm, said: “Our family has been pleased to welcome the children from each class in the Prince of Wales School, who visit our farm once a term. “This helps them to learn about the way in which their food is produced and the work of farmers.”

Headteacher Peter Farrington added: “We are very keen to share what we have done with raising the profile of food education with other local schools. “Visitors are very welcome to visit to see our gardens, talk to staff about our cooking programme and our learning about food programme.”

Taken from Dorset Echo: Wednesday 5th May, 2010