Protesters taste victory in bid to reopen kitchen at primary

Published on Friday 22 May 2009 09:57

PUPILS and parents at a city primary are celebrating after winning their campaign to have their school kitchen reopened.

Stockbridge Primary's kitchen was closed in November 2007 after its cook left, and meals have been transported in from a school in Leith ever since.

But the number of children taking school dinners fell by almost 50 per cent in just seven months as parents branded the meals "revolting" and less nutritious then those prepared on-site.

After they launched a campaign last summer to have their kitchen reinstated, they were given a challenge by the council to increase uptake to an average of 65 meals a day to get their kitchen back – which they successfully did.

Claire Cowell, chair of Stockbridge Primary's parent council, said the experience has given children an ideal opportunity to learn more about the importance of healthy eating and to get excited about school dinners.

She said: "All the children got really engaged in the idea that they could do something to change the council's decisions.

"The kids nagged their parents to let them have school lunches and some days we had 70 or 80 children taking them. The children were constantly asking me what the uptake numbers were."

Uptake at Stockbridge had previously dropped to around 50 meals a day out of 180 pupils as children turned their noses up at the meals on offer at lunchtimes.

Just last week, education leader Marilyne MacLaren admitted the imported meals sent to schools which don't have their own kitchens – 51 primaries out of the city's 96 – are not up to scratch, after carrying out a personal taste test. An Evening News campaign last summer forced a council U-turn on school meal cutbacks after it ditched hot meals in favour of cold packed lunches in nurseries.

The packed lunches consisted of processed cheese, fish paste, flavoured milk, jelly and cakes and deputy council leader Steve Cardownie described the quality of food on offer as "scandalous".

And Councillor MacLaren has now vowed to improve the quality of meals provided to ensure all children get the same quality of food, regardless of whether their school has an on-site kitchen or not. , which may involve producing an alternative menu specific to those schools without their own cooks.

She said: "I'm delighted to be able to bring back in-school cooking at Stockbridge because I think it will lead to an even bigger uptake of meals at the school. It's difficult to continue a service when uptake is low, but Stockbridge have shown us that despite a fall in interest some time back, a good local campaign to encourage children to eat school meals can really make a difference.

"A good meal should be a highlight of the day and we're looking at ways of ensuring that all schools get the best possible food, whether cooked on-site or transported from another school kitchen."

Inverleith councillor Tim McKay, who worked closely with Stockbridge's parent council, welcomed the news.

He said: "The last cook got really involved in teaching the children about good food and healthy eating, so hopefully the new one will do the same."I think it's important because the school meals tend to be nutritious and when they are prepared in their own school the children tend to take school meals more.

"Hopefully the uptake will increase even more now."

"Maybe other schools will also try to boost their numbers."