Royal praise as school scoops food award

Tuesday 2nd December 2008, 10:00AM GMT.

A north Shropshire school has been named the overall winner in a new awards scheme aiming at taking the Jamie Oliver Healthy School Dinners campaign a step further.At an awards ceremony in London yesterday, Prince Charles paid tribute to organisers of the Food For Life partnership attempting to “rescue” a generation of “over-industrialised” youngsters who know little about where the food they eat comes from.

He also praised celebrity chef Jamie Oliver for his efforts to improve the quality of school dinners in his TV campaign.

The scheme encourages schools to improve their “food culture” and gives people the opportunity to plant, grow and cook produce and eat healthier meat and fish.

The school named the overall winner was St Peter’s Primary, in Wem, where pupils keep chickens and grow their own produce which is used for school dinners and runs cooking and gardening clubs for parents.

Headteacher Ian Nurser said: “We don’t know what kind of jobs will be around for these children when they grow up, so it essential we prepare them for life in general and growing and cooking food are some of the most vital life skills we can teach them.”

Shropshire County Council’s school meals service was awarded the Soil Association’s Food for Life silver catering mark – the first council caterer to receive it.

View more: North Shropshire news.