Background - From Launch to Present

Originally conceived in 1990, a nationwide day of taste on 18th October 1993 officially launched Chefs Adopt A School. Since then the project has grown to include 5 year olds and GCSE-level students, as well as the 8-11 year old group for which it was originally designed.

The Academy measures its success by the letters of appreciation from children and their teachers - children actively demonstrate that they have been thoroughly absorbed by the exercises - wanting more! - while teachers express strong support, often frustrated by the lack of food-related activities in today’s school curriculum.

The project's continuing success depends largely upon the support of our industry, the schools and the media, to promote this opportunity to address and ultimately change Great Britain's reputation for culinary apathy through its school children and our top chefs. It is all about children, changing attitudes, and a formal policy for the future of healthy eating.

Those in the industry currently working in partnership with Chefs Adopt A School include: The Savoy Educational Trust, The Worshipful Company of Cooks, Meyer Prestige and Hilton in the Community, all of whom continue to share a commitment to excellence, quality and mutual goals.

Studies have established the links between behaviour, obesity and a ‘processed’ diet full of additives. The government believes that combining a healthy diet with physical activity and sport helps us to develop a healthy lifestyle that will protect us in adulthood.

The Curry Report (2002) concluded that “the bottom line is that food skills and nutritional knowledge are vital if we are to stem the trends which are undermining the health of our nation.

We are also proud of the recognition accorded to us by our peers in the industry, which include:

• BEING CONSULTED BY QUALIFICATIONS & CURRICULUM AUTHORITY (QCA)
  (AAS is a model for QCA’s re-introduction of food studies to the National Curriculum.)
  
  
• BBC GOOD FOOD AWARDS NOMINEE (Education)
  (Nominated by an anonymous, happy school.)
  
  
• SHORTLISTED FOR BBC RADIO 4 FOOD PROGRAMME AWARDS
  (Best Campaigner or Educator).
  
  
• SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPRINGBOARD AWARDS
  (Education)
  
  
• PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GRAB 5 PROJECT
  (Promoting ‘5 fruit and vegetables a day’ to schools.)
  
  

“The (Adopt A School) Trust seeks to teach the importance of nutrition, hygiene, health and cooking as a life skill. Food is a holistic educational experience…a most important and yet neglected part of the education.” RWF Poole, writing on Adopt A School in the Daily Telegraph

“THANK YOU! Thursday was great. It was the best day of my life. My best bit was eating vanilla jelly. I also learnt where my taste buds are…please please come again!” Steven Palmer, All Saints Primary School, Maidenhead

“Thank you for your fun and exciting afternoon. The food was so delicious that my tast buds are still tingling now…I was wondering how you get into cooking because I want to become a chef when I am older, so please reply to me and tell me the answer…” Luke Bennet, St Giles School

“I have learnt how to cook pancakes and before I didn’t know how to cook anything. I love learning!” Victory, Sudbourne School, London