Newport pupils take part in Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution

Year 1 pupils at Newport Primary School took part in an online cookery lesson as part of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. (Image: Archant)

Headteacher John Howett said: “During the programme, Jamie stated: ‘I believe that it is every child’s human right to access food education at school; to grow, to cook, to eat healthier food to live a healthier, longer life.’

“At Newport Primary School we agree with him absolutely and that is why we have worked so hard to develop our kitchen garden, food technology and healthy lifestyle aspects of the curriculum.”

The Year 1 pupils were ably assisted by a band of parents.

Food Revolution is about celebrating the importance of cooking good food from scratch and raising awareness of how it impacts health and happiness. Newport Primary School is an accredited ‘Healthy School’ which “wholeheartedly endorses” this philosophy, according to Mr Howett, and is currently working hard to achieve Enhanced Healthy School Status with a focus on healthy food and lifestyles.

He added: “The organisers, alongside Newport Primary School, believe that everyone should know about food and it starts with getting children educated about food, making cooking fun and inspiring a love of food that will last a lifetime.”

Food Revolution Day is a campaign by the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation in the UK and USA, and The Good Foundation in Australia. Children and educators in 117 countries took part in the lesson over a 24-hour period.

Year 1 took part alongside their involvement in Waitrose’s Grow and Sell project. They have planted a number of food plants which will be nurtured and then sold as part of a cross-curricular project, an initiative that parent volunteers are also involved with.