New kitchens on the menu for schools

OLDHAM’S primary school kitchens are to get a £245,000 overhaul.

The Government grant comes as new figures show that at least one in five primary schools nationally does not have a kitchen at all, while three out of 10 do not have full kitchens.

A total of 2,836 primaries serve meals on wheels from other schools, while 679 dish up cold food only.

But Oldham Council has confirmed that all of its primary and secondary schools have kitchens.

The survey of local authorities by the Conservatives backs claims by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver that the standards of school kitchens are hampering attempts to improve nutrition.

The news broke as new minimum standards for school meals were introduced in secondary schools.

Councillor Kay Knox, Oldham Council’s Cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “Although we have kitchens on-site in every one of our primary and secondary schools, the grant allows us to spend an additional £245,000 on improving and extending kitchens in a number of our primary schools.

“We are committed to promoting better health and as part of that we are working hard to increase the numbers of schools who have attained Healthy Schools Status. In conjunction with initiatives to increase the numbers of children taking part in high-quality PE and sport, this is also part of our borough-wide drive to tackle obesity.”