Haddenham

Frustrations over school meals

Home » News » Frustrations over school meals
Raymond Blanc & Karen Collett

Karen Collett, Headteacher at Haddenham St Mary's CE School, is committed to finding a healthy solution to the government's initiative stipulating the return of free school meals from September of this year. But there are serious hurdles!

The seemingly commendable legislation has, like many policy decisions, failed to take into account some obvious obstructions — for example the fact that the majority of schools stripped out their kitchens when they were no longer required to provide on site catering for pupils!

Karen was frustrated by the initial solution presented to her: 'airplane style' prepared meals delivered to the school from High Wycombe. The purpose of reinstating free school meals is to tackle obesity and ensure pupils have a balanced meal that educates them about nutrition. Mass produced foods packaged up in plastic trays may not be the best way to achieve this objective. Nor are they likely to be the cheapest option.

However, it does seem that a re-think is in progress, and Karen is confident that a better solution is likely to emerge very soon. We will keep you posted.

In the mean time, Karen will be hosting a Food Conference at Haddenham St Mary's school, on Friday 27th June, from 9.30am-3pm, to explore options with a team of experts including Raymond Blanc, nutritionist Amanda Ursell, Chair of the National Obesity Forum Tam Fry, Juliane Noble from the Jamie Oliver Foundation and Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins.

popular recent storiesAlso in the news

Macmillan Coffee 2023
Haddenham Webteam: Fri 29 Sep 9:30pm

For the 28th successive year, Mary White organised a Coffee Morning to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.This year's event was held on Friday 28th September at Haddenham Community Library and was attended by 102 people who raised the splendid sum of £1,181.Mary would like to thank all those who attended with particular thanks to all those who helped on the day.The...

Waste Recycling Centre
Haddenham Webteam: Thu 28 Sep 8:15pm

Household recycling centres change to regular winter opening hoursFrom Sunday 1st October, all 10 of Buckinghamshire's Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) will switch over to the usual winter opening hours of 9am to 4pm.The days each centre is open will remain unchanged but the change in hours reflects the fact that as it gets closer to the clocks going back at the end of October and...

Harvest Festival Aston Sandford
Haddenham Webteam: Tue 26 Sep 6:30pm

Aston Sandford Church — Harvest Festival DecorationsThis year the church at Aston Sandford is having a special event to open the building on the day before the Harvest Festival to give more people a chance to see the decorated church.This will be a unique opportunity for people in the neighbouring villages to view the little church whilst it is looking at its best. It will be...