The Children's Food Campaign is working hard to keep cooking lessons on the school curriculum. Please ask your MP to support our campaign.
After years of campaigning for food education, the Government finally announced in 2008 that every pupil would receive at least 24 hours of hands-on cookery classes during the first three years of secondary school. This would help to ensure that every child left school able to prepare basic healthy meals for themselves and their families.
The coalition Government is now conducting a review of the National Curriculum. We are concerned that in a drive to “slim down” the curriculum, this small but valuable provision to ensure that children are taught the skills they need to live healthy lives may be lost. Without basic cooking skills, people are forced to rely on processed ready meals or fast food which is often unhealthy.
Now MP Zac Goldsmith has tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to keep cooking lessons on the school curriculum. It has already secured support from MPs from many different parties, but needs more support to make sure the Government is sent a strong message that this is an important issue.
Please ask your MP to sign this EDM now - our new online action makes this quick and easy.
Thanks to everyone who responded to the Department of Education's consultation - hundreds of people sent a response using our online action, sending a strong message about the importance of practical cooking lessons at school. You can read our response here. The consultation has now closed, but you can continue to support the campaign by emailing your MP using our online action.
Our campaign to keep kids cooking has attracted widespread support, including that from celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver, Raymond Blanc, Ainsley Harriott and Gary Rhodes, and top medical organisations such as the British Medical Association.
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