School and pub team up to banish burgers (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

School and pub team up to banish burgers

A COTSWOLD headteacher says her school is leading the way in ensuring pupils eat a healthy, balanced diet.

In a week which has seen the Government pledge to raise the standards of school dinners, North Cerney Primary School has revealed it has teamed up with the neighbouring Bathurst Arms in a bid to liven up the school dinners with fresh, local produce.

The move would certainly please TV chef Jamie Oliver, who is also currently in the limelight with his bid to transform the way schoolchildren eat across the country.

Both pupils and parents at the North Cerney school are enthusiastic about the new initiative.

Headteacher Bridget Goodrich said: "The pupils are very excited and positive about teaming up with the village pub.

"I was just talking to a couple of parents who said they are going to swap from pack lunches to hot dinners next term. At the moment about two thirds of the children have hot lunches everyday, but we are hoping that will increase.

"Obviously with freshly produced ingredients there will be an increase in the quality of the lunches. And the price isn't changing either."

The decision to come out of the school's current catering contract was made by governors back in October.

It was felt more locally and freshly produced lunches would be better for the children, while the school would be able to retain more control over the food.

Mrs Goodrich added: "Lunchtime is an opportunity for the children to experience a family meal with healthy 'home' cooked food.

"We want this part of the day to be as meaningful as the rest of the curriculum and we hope the enjoyment of eating freshly prepared, healthy food will stay with them into secondary school and on into adulthood."

Meanwhile, the Bathurst Arms, the 17th century pub at the heart of North Cerney, has been busy planning cost-effective and healthy meals for the pupils.

And head chef David Spencer, who has been at the pub for 18 months, very much sees the new contract within the context of Jamie Oliver's mini-revolution.

He said: "We are keen to keep away from the saturated fats and include fruits and vegetables onto the lunchtime menus.

"It's easy to find something that's frozen and reproduce that, but to produce something fresh within the budget is a real challenge.

"Lunches are a community thing as well, with everyone sitting down together. If we can get back to children having a good meal it all helps."