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Blackpool’s schoolchildren are enjoying new and improved meals cooked by uniquely trained chefs.
Teams from across the resort have been the first in the North West to take part in the School Chef Educator Programme.
The hands-on, professional training was designed to enhance the skills of school kitchen teams, helping them to pack more vegetables into meals, encourage pupils to try new foods, and reduce food waste. Their learnings will benefit thousands of pupils across 17 primary and secondary schools.
Around 6,000 freshly made meals are served across these schools every day. Children are now enjoying dishes including superfood salads, mushroom bao buns and beetroot brownies, as well as freshly prepared sauces in meals like sweet potato and cauliflower.
Blackpool Council Catering Services celebrated its upskilled chefs with a vibrant ‘School Meal Takeover’ event – held at Abingdon Street Market in the town centre on February 18.
The recently refurbished food hall played host to talks from industry experts and allowed guests to sample a selection of mouthwatering meals created by the council’s teams.
Cllr Jo Farrell, cabinet member for communities and wellbeing, said:
“Children need a variety of things to be able to thrive in school, including good food to fuel their learning. We’ve invested in their wellbeing and the professional development of our wonderful school kitchen teams through this training. Our schools catering service already do an excellent job of keeping pupils and teachers well fed and all those who completed the training really embraced the opportunity to increase their skillsets. We were all excited to try samples of their new menus at the School Meal Takeover event.”
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The training was delivered by Chefs In Schools. Backed by celebrity chefs including Jamie Oliver, Prue Leith and Yotam Ottolenghi, the national charity helps children to access better school food and campaigns to improve school food policy.
The 10-week programme helps participants refine their techniques and expand their repertoire. Led by professional chefs with real school food experience, it upskills and empowers participants through hands-on training blended with digital learning.
"Blackpool showed real vision in prioritising this," says Naomi Duncan, CEO of Chefs in Schools. "You can't transform school food without investing in the people who prepare it. Blackpool understood that, and now they're leading the way for the North West."
The graduation event brought together everything Blackpool has achieved, celebrating the School Chef Educator graduates as well as wider Blackpool Council Catering team members, 12 of whom have achieved NVQs in catering.
The council chose to invest in professional development for the people who feed Blackpool’s children every day – supporting them to refine their skills and expand their techniques, so they can not only create nutritious and delicious food but have the confidence to encourage their pupils to give it a go.
The continued emphasis on locally sourced ingredients mean school spend stays in Lancashire’s food economy, supporting local suppliers while ensuring children get fresh, quality food. Blackpool’s schools' source 89% of vegetables and herbs and all dairy products from Lancashire-based suppliers.
The newly qualified chef educators will continue developing their skills while mentoring colleagues across Blackpool's Catering Services' 17 school kitchens, embedding continuous improvement and creating lasting change for thousands of children.