Alan Johnson criticised for u-turn on compulsory cookery lessons.

More than 50 organisations – including the British Medical Association, The National Union of Teachers and the National Family and Parenting Institute – have written to Alan Johnson MP to express their disappointment at the Department for Education's u-turn on its commitment to make practical cookery skills a compulsory part of the school curriculum.

Documents obtained by the Children's Food Campaign show that the Department for Education changed the Qualification and Curriculum Authority's original proposal for food skills to be a compulsory part of the curriculum, turning it into an option that children will not have to study.

Richard Watts, Coordinator of the Children's Food Campaign, which coordinated the joint letter, said: “The Government seems to be in the process of reneging on its commitment to ensure every child leaves school able to cook a basic meal [see note 2].  This letter signed by over 50 organisations – ranging from children's organisations to teaching unions to health campaigners – shows the depth of unhappiness about this u-turn.”

He continued: “Over the last 15 or so years many school have lost their kitchen-classrooms and their food teachers.  If food remains only an option in the curriculum, schools without the facilities to teach cookery will be highly likely to guide children away from taking this option.  Making cookery compulsory is the only way to ensure that all children learn this basic life skill and that all schools have the facilities to teach it.”

The Ofsted Food Technology in Secondary Schools report, published in March this year, concluded “achievement [by pupils] across all aspects of food technology was rarely better than satisfactory.”  As the joint letter says: “It is a national scandal that so many young people leave our schools unable to prepare a simple meal.”

It continues:  “Poor diet is a key cause of the current obesity epidemic.  And, quite simply, those without basic cooking skills are very likely to be condemned to a shorter life because they will be left with little alternative but to buy expensive, processed food - high in fats, sugar and salt - and pass this pattern of behaviour on to their children.“

Others to have signed the letter include:

• Mary Bousted, General Secretary, Association of Teachers and Lecturers
  
• Peter Hollins, Director General, British Heart Foundation
  
• Prof. Vivienne Nathanson, Director of Professional Activities, British Medical Association
  
• Joe Harvey, Caroline Walker Trust and Health Education Trust
  
• Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive, Diabetes UK
  
• Ayesha Owusu-Barnaby, Head of Campaigns & Public Affairs , Macmillan Cancer Support
  
• Mary MacLeod, Chief Executive, National Family and Parenting Institute
  
• Fay Mansell, Chair, National Federation of Women's Institutes
  
• Paul Lincoln, Chief Executive, National Heart Forum
  
• Dr Colin Waine, Chair, National Obesity Forum
  
• Steve Sinnott , General Secretary , National Union of Teachers
  
• Richard McKie, Health Lead , National Youth Agency
  
• Dr Barry Jones, Chair of Nutrition Committee, Royal College of Physicians

 

Ends

The letter and full list of signatories is attached.  Copies of the documents we have obtained can be supplied on request.

All media enquiries should be directed to: Richard Watts: Tel: 0203 5596 777 (work);  07710 782719 (mobile); email: richard@sustainweb.org

 

Notes to Editors:

1. The Children's Food Campaign wants to improve children's health and well-being through better food - and food teaching - in schools, and protecting children from junk food marketing.  We are supported by over 300 organisations, almost 300 MPs and 12,000 members of the public.  We were behind the ground-breaking Children's Food Bill introduced into Parliament last year.

2. Figures published this week show that Britain is the most obese country in Europe.  Other key facts include:

• One in three children is now obese or overweight. (Nat'l Audit Office, 2006)
  
• Obesity in under-11s has risen by over 40% in ten years. (As above)
  
• The Chief Medical Officer has compared the crisis in children's diets to a health 'time bomb' which must be defused. (CMO's annual report 2002)
  
• The former Chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned that for the first time in more than a century, life expectancy may fall, with the real prospect that parents may outlive their children. (The Observer, 9/11/03)

3. Ruth Kelly announced on 3 October 2005 that ”I welcome the School Meals Review Panel recommendations that all children should be taught food preparation and practical cooking skills in school in the context of healthy eating. Practical food education is important for all children.” (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2005_0108)

4. Similarly, Alan Johnson said on 4 September 2006 that “Tackling obesity and encouraging a healthy lifestyle is not just about the food that children eat at school, we must also teach them the skills they need to cook so that they continue to eat healthily in later life.” (http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0121)

5. Ofsted's report on Food Technology in Secondary Schools, published on 14 March 2006 can be found at: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/publications/index.cfm?fuseaction=pubs.displayfile&id=4166&type=pdf