Kitchen staff, teachers and students at Top Valley School have definitely got something to celebrate.  The secondary school has won the Evening Post’s Healthy School Dinners campaign.  The school won the award for not only improving the food and increasing uptake but also improving the food environment which is a very important issue to secondary school students. 

Last year the school reduced its ‘unhealthy’ counter in size which included chips and burgers.  This meant the children had to queue for longer and cut into their other lunchtime activities.  This resulted in the students opting for the extended healthy counter where they can buy salads, pasta, jacket potatoes and sandwiches.  Uptake of school meals is now up to 600 at a school with 845 pupils.  From this year chips will only be served on a Friday and the popularity of salads is increasing.

Peter Brown, head teacher at Top Valley School said: “What is particularly pleasing is that we have worked with and consulted students throughout the project so that they have made the choices for themselves.”

Top Valley wasn’t the only school in Nottingham City to be celebrating this award as Berridge Junior School, Hyson Green was one of the runners up.  The inner city school was commended for catering for pupils from diverse ethnic backgrounds and promoting its popular salad bar.  The school won £250 and a water cooler from the competitions sponsors, Severn Trent.  

Jacquie Blake, operations manager, said: "It is so pleasing to see schools in Nottingham City to be rewarded for their hard work in encouraging students to eat a healthy school meal.  Our congratulations go out to everyone who was involved at the winning schools.”