Docklands dinners

24th April 2008, 4:49pm

When the School Food Trust was looking for schools that face up to the full range of challenges and meet them head on, it quickly identified the Royal Docks School in the London Borough of Newham as an example that others can learn from. David Foad reports

About a third of the 1,200 pupils at Royal Docks School qualify for free school meals and about 60% are what are termed non-indigenous – in other words they were not born in this country but come from India, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Far East.

Putting together a menu that appeals to such a culturally and ethnically diverse group of children is the headache that faces Anne Ledgley, London Borough of Newham Area Manager, Secondary Sector.
"The added complications we face are a small dining area that can handle only about 200 people at a time, a short lunch break and the fact pupils can leave the premises at lunchtime and there are chip shops and fast food outlets just across the road."

To add appeal to her meals and counter the effects of the competition outside the school gates she has developed a range of meal deal offers and Lite Bite options that present pupils with a decent meal for £1.60.
The main meals include a meat or vegetarian option served with vegetables and a choice of rice, pasta or potatoes plus a choice of fruit, yogurt or dessert such as sponge pudding. Instead of dessert children can choose a drink.
"Our Lite Bites deal includes a sandwich, wrap, roll, pizza or salad box plus two of a dessert, fruit, salad or drink."

The help tackle dining room congestion, exacerbated by the significant number of special needs children that need feeding, she offers a takeaway option for either the main meal or Lite Bite.
She has also developed a popular morning break business selling bacon rolls, sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, nuts and raisins.

"With the pressures we face to maintain a viable school meals service and at the same time educate and encourage children to eat more healthily we're always looking for ideas.
"We believe in the importance of a whole school approach to healthy eating, including consulting with students on what they would like to see on the lunch menu. That's why we're using the Purely Potato range in schools throughout the borough."

For the launch Donnie Munro, McCain development chef, prepared the products as part of a menu on the day that included spicy chicken and cajun wedges, lamb curry with rice, vegetable pasta and chicken bravas.

McCain Purely Potato

When the new Government nutritional standards were introduced they dealt a double blow to potato product specialist McCain. Not only did the standards restrict the number of times each week that chips – a McCain best-seller in the market – could be offered on the menu, they also labelled its oven-cooked chips as a 'fried food' on the basis that the chips were flash-fried for a few seconds in the production process.

The company decided it needed to act quickly and its product development went into overdrive and came up with a new range of products for schools that it calls Purely Potato.

And after working with Royal Docks School for a number of months to 'road test' the products in a genuine school environment the Purely Potato range was officially
launched at the school in February.

Under its Alternatives banner, the range includes British potatoes peeled and
chopped into a selection of different cuts
and steam blanched. Cuts include wedges, slices, diced and chips. Other products that have been processed include patties, roast potatoes and croquettes.

McCain also produces a range of wheatgerm pizza bases under the Alternatives brand.
The new range has been designed to be cooked without oil to get the humble spud back on the school dinner menu. Unrestricted under school food guidelines, the company hopes Purely Potato will help school meal providers who are struggling to increase school meal uptake.

Adrian Greaves, McCain Foodservice Associate Director says: "McCain Purely Potato cuts through the confusion around school meals. For each cooking method, we have added information to help caterers know how often they can be served under current regulations and we're delighted that the SFT has backed this initiative."

Royal Docks Community School

Type  Mixed comprehensive
LEA  London Borough of Newham
Pupil roll 1,200
Age range 11-16
Meal take-up 450
Free meals 350
Meal deal price £1.60