Teacher Tips

Michelle Woodard - 2024 Food Educator of the year from the King Edmund School, Essex. Standing with her arms crossed. There are students cooking behind her

Who better to give us their brilliant advice for achieving good school food standards than our 2024 Good School Food Award winners! For easy tips, read on…

Food Educator of the Year, Michelle Woodard from The King Edmund School in Rochford, says

I think it’s about caring about the kids. When I was a child, I had a food teacher who wasn’t very positive, which has made me passionate about being positive for my students.

Chef Hugo heads up the team at Reach Academy Feltham…

“I tell the team: if it isn’t good for you, then it’s not good for the kids, that’s our motto. It has to taste good. So we try to prepare everything fresh on the day, so it’s at its best.”
Jen Craven with staff and students outside, from Ysgol Trefonnen Primary, Wales

Jen is Family Engagement officer at Ysgol Trefonnen Primary School in Powys

“Just try to include healthier food and more movement into your day – you will never regret it. Also make links within the community, that’s really important. And contact your local Health Board, as you can get all the resources you need from there.”

Chef Russ is the head chef at Pokesdown Community Primary School in Bournemouth

Planning is the key. Working out the menu and what you can cook before you get started. Then organising your time. When you see the happy children eating, it’s really rewarding. Matt, my sous chef, and I have a motto: it’s never too early and never too much! Never too early to get it in the oven, and there’s never too much food
A boy from Ingol community school Preston, holding a bunch of freshly picked rhubarb

Naomi Parkinson is the headteacher of Ingol Primary School in Preston

Get the kids outside and grow your own. That’s cutting your costs massively. The children have so much pride in what they’re doing and their actual dedication to seeing a seed being planted and going all the way through to the harvest, it’s personal growth and ticking off a lot of boxes for cost and health.

Sarah Read, Business Director at North Ridge Sixth Form, this year’s Sustainability Stars, says:
“Don’t be afraid, start somewhere, that’s all anyone can do. There’s not a school up and down the country that hasn’t grown a cress head at some point. All you have to do is just start somewhere.” 

Madie Toplass, the Youth Activist of The Year, says:

“If you’ve got an idea or you’ve got something that you want to do, don’t be scared. Put all your effort into it because if you put your effort into it, the outcome will be positive, so believe in yourself.”