2023 School Leader Food Hero Helena Honeybone, Town Field Primary School, Doncaster
Helena Honeybone is a headteacher after our own hearts! She and her team are on a mission to ensure every child in her school is fed properly.
Helena believes that children should have access to a nutritious daily meal without passing rising costs onto families. She always prioritises the needs of her children, going above and beyond to ensure that food is incorporated into their education, helping staff weave health themes into their lessons. Children also find the fun in food by learning to cook their own meals. And she supports Chef Andy who makes magic happen in the canteen with his powerhouse team.
During the pandemic, Helena worked tirelessly to ensure that food parcels or vouchers were organised and passed out to those in need, sometimes delivering them herself. We know that Helena would say this was a huge team effort, which it was, but she led from the front and put the needs and health of the children at the heart of it all. She deserves the shiniest crown!
Judged and presented by Jessica Ennis-Hill
We chatted to Helena…
What was it like to win your award?
It was so fabulous. It’s that recognition of everyone’s hard work, the whole team at Town Field. It was a chance to celebrate something that’s so important – lunchtimes – and helping to set those good habits.
How has winning affected your school?
We’ve had so much support from our parents and the community. Moving forward, the aim is for every single child in the school to have a healthy, nutritious lunch. And numbers are rising all the time, more children are signing up for school meals. The kids give us positive feedback each day about our food and how it tastes – and they do eat it all, fruit and vegetables. It’s all about enjoyment.
What is their favourite dish?
All the children really love pasta dishes – we have a tomato and veg sauce that goes down a treat. Then, of course, they like the traditional puddings, like flapjack and sponge pudding with custard. And because we’re such a diverse community, the kids inspire each other to try different dishes.
Are you marrying up what they’re learning in the lunch hall with the classroom?
We do. We combine PSHE with food technology, so they’re learning about nutrition and how important that is, while also understanding why those good habits are important, too. So hopefully, as they move on to secondary school, to university and beyond, those healthy eating habits continue and set them up for the future. And it works! Coming here on the train today with two of our children, I said they could bring a snack for the journey. I didn’t stipulate what to bring, but they both had fruit. I was so proud.
What is your secret?
For us, it’s about working with our catering company to use local produce to make dishes that taste delicious – that’s the most important thing. We also ask the children their likes and dislikes, so we can create a menu that’s attractive to them. Variety is important – new dishes excite the kids and make them want to try it, so we’re always introducing new things. It makes such a difference when they feel like they’re part of that important part of the day.
What are your goals for 2024?
We want to create leadership opportunities for children at lunchtime, from helping to serve and tidy away to supporting the younger children in their choices at the canteen. Because they do have the skills to take on those responsibilities.
What are you most proud of?
The team coming together to make sure the children have an enjoyable, healthy lunchtime. That’s what I go to school for.