Cooking lessons to be made compulsory in schools

Compulsory cooking lessons for teenagers at schools in England are on the menu today as the government seeks to counter childhood obesity. But headteachers have complained that ministers are once again trying to cram more ingredients into the curriculum pot, and warned that the equipment and trained staff were no longer available.


Ed Balls, the schools secretary, is asking the public to come up with ideas for the classic English dishes and international cuisine that children should learn to cook.

From this September, every 11 to 14-year-old in the 85% of schools currently offering food technology classes will be taught practical cookery.


The remaining 15% of secondaries will be expected to teach the compulsory classes by 2011.


The emphasis will be on making sure pupils can master simple, healthy recipes using fresh ingredients, the Department for Children, Schools and Families said.


John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "Just six months ago, ministers promised heads greater flexibility in the curriculum for 11 to 14-year-olds. More decisions about what to teach would be made at school level, they said.

"Now they have fallen at the first fence, creating another entitlement and more compulsion for this age group. As many of us said at the time, the government should never have downgraded practical cookery 20 years ago, substituting - for example - 'design a picnic' for the skills of making picnic food."


Dunford added: "In the intervening years, schools have been built or refurbished without practical cookery rooms. It will be impossible for about 15% schools to put practical cookery on the timetable until they have the proper facilities. There is also a shortage of cookery teachers, who will take time to recruit."


Balls wants members of the public to suggest healthy, easy to prepare dishes that teenagers will want to eat.


He told the Daily Mirror: "Teaching kids to cook healthy meals is an important way schools can help produce healthy adults. My mum was passionate about all this and bought me my first Delia Smith book."


Pupils will learn to cook a variety of dishes, including a "top 8", officials said.


The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) welcomed the principle of introducing cookery lessons for 11 to 14-year-olds, but expressed concerns about the impact on the curriculum, the funding required and the training needed for staff.


PAT general secretary, Philip Parkin, said: "Children should be taught how to cook and about the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet. These are key life skills.


"However, the government needs to plan and fund this very carefully to make sure that the scheme is a recipe for success and not a half-baked idea that ends up being binned.

Parkin added: "There are practical concerns about what will happen if children fail to bring in the necessary ingredients. It might be more sensible for schools to purchase the ingredients more cheaply in bulk and charge the costs for each child to parents, with the government meeting the costs of those on low incomes, rather than having an unwieldy system of parents buying small amounts to send in, with some being subsidised."

Cookery is currently compulsory in primary schools and the government began an overhaul of school dinners three years ago after TV chef Jamie Oliver campaigned against the poor quality ingredients being served in canteens.