The Source

Washingborough Academy incorporates food education lessons into the children’s timetable, and the British Food Fortnight was a time to highlight how the school supports local producers all year round. 

Food Fortnight menu

Roast leg of pork, supplied by from Redhill farm in Gainsborough 

Gammon and other meat supplied by the local butchers Andersons in Hainton. 

The majority of vegetables used were grown in the school’s kitchen garden, where the children get involved with the growing and collecting process. Heirloom varieties are grown from seeds handed down from the previous plant - this way, children can get involved with seed saving and growing a wide variety of vegetables at the school. Any additional vegetables used were still sourced locally within Lincolnshire. 

What was the focus during the fortnight? 

The fortnight was a chance to highlight and promote local produce, in addition to the children’s food education lessons which are already part of their timetable. Pupils are able to grow vegetables that you wouldn’t see in your average supermarket which gives them a first handed experience of what it is like to produce high quality, fresh food, in your own garden. This gives them a sense of why sourcing local food from other growers is important. 

Tips for other schools to engage children in local food production 

PPA (planning preparation and assessment) time for teachers away from their classroom is necessary, and other professionals should be brought in who can educate the children on something different, such as a local farmer or producer. This will start to get the children interested and engaged in something away from their usual lesson routine.