Kent school wins a tasty £5,000 cash prize

21st September 2009, 9:43am

The Folkestone Academy in Kent has won £5,000 in the School Food Trust's School of the Month competition in recognition for the effective ways they have promoted healthy eating to encourage more pupils to eat a nutritious lunch every day.

Feedback has been gathered from pupils about what changes should be made, such as introducing a soup corner and consulting pupils in the design of new menus.

By listening to pupils comments, adjusting the menus and forming a taste panel for new dishes before they were included on the menu, the Academy has changed student's perception of healthy food and encouraged them to try new foods.

Mark Kent, executive chef at The Folkestone Academy said: "The catering team have shown incredible innovation and dedication to increasing the uptake of school meals and our students are already engaged in healthy eating, through regular competitions and world menu days. One idea we have for the £5,000 prize fund is to invest in induction plates to allow the introduction of theatre style cookery at lunchtimes where fresh dishes such as omelette and stir fry could be created to order. I believe that if we can excite students about food, we have won half the battle."

The School of the Month competition is a new initiative set up by the School Food Trust to recognise excellence and innovation in the area of school food. It allows all the schools that are signed up to the School Food Trust's Million Meals campaign the chance to win £5,000 every month.

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