TES Conference: Food For Life

In May 2008, St Wilfrid’s was chosen by Food for Life Partnership to become a Flagship school. A School Nutrition Action Group was soon set up, made up of pupils, teachers and governors to discuss ways of improving the way we see food within school and the local community. Ideas ranged from changing suppliers - increasing the proportion of locally sourced and organic food in school meals - to creating a school garden and allotment plots. The greatest visible outcome of SNAG’s work however has been the brand new canteen area, created during summer this year. Our success with the FFLP was furthered in November last year, when Lee Dawson, Josh Angell, Ben Oldroyd and Miss Egan made a great impression at the YouFood Youth Conference in Bristol. Lee, Josh and Ben helped to create a student manifesto that was presented at the National Soil Association Conference alongside Monty Don. Due to this influence from Food for Life, St Wilfrid’s is only a short step away from becoming the first Secondary school in England to receive the Silver award.

The National Hall, Olympia, was where the presentation at the conference took place. Fiona White, the FFLP London Manager introduced the presentation “The Future of Our Food”, before Lee and Josh began to present, outlining St Wilfrid’s position on food culture before FFLP involvement. Mrs Wright then gave an overview of the SNAG group, its achievements and role within school before leading on to “Wow! That’s a mouthful!” a film about our schools success created by sixth form Media students last year. Josh and Lee returned to the stage to explain the extent of the improvements in food culture at the school, with photographs of the new canteen, community involvement events and farm visits. This led on to a summary of St Wilfrid’s plans for the future regarding food by Mr Walsh, before Fiona concluded the presentation.

Guest Duncan Goodhew was complimentary about the presentation and Fiona White later said, “Lee and Josh really were terrific yesterday and I think our programme is very lucky to have two such enthusiastic and committed, and confident, students involved. I know that Emma Noble (Director of the Food For Life Partnership) feels the same.”

Lee Dawson