Ten local primary schools take home catering gold

Alice Ingham RC Primary School, Rochdale

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Ten local primary schools have proved they have the recipe for success by successfully gaining the Greater Manchester Healthier Catering Gold Excellence award for demonstrating their commitment to healthier meals.

• Alice Ingham RC Primary School, Rochdale
• Hopwood Community Primary School, Heywood
• Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Rochdale
• Little Heaton CE Primary School, Middleton
• Spotland Primary School, Rochdale
• St Margaret's CE Primary School, Heywood
• St Mary’s RC Primary School, Middleton
• St Michael's CE Primary School, Middleton
• Woodland Community Primary School, Heywood
• Newhey Community Primary School, Rochdale

The scheme rewards any catering businesses, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways, that demonstrate a commitment to reducing the level of saturated fat, sugar and salt in their food and drink and encourages caterers and chefs to offer their customers healthier choices whenever they eat out.

To achieve the award, each school must first have been awarded a level five in the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme – defined as having a ‘very good’ hygiene standard in the school kitchen. Following this, an inspection is carried out by Rochdale Borough Council which looks at how food is handled, prepared, cooked, reheated, cooled and stored.

The inspection also considers the condition and structure of the kitchen and how the kitchen manages and records what it does to make food safe.

To achieve the Gold Excellence award, the kitchens must have shown a commitment to recycling as well as providing clear allergen information to all customers.

Councillor Janet Emsley, Rochdale Borough Council cabinet member for culture, health and wellbeing, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the hard work all these schools have put in to achieve this award.

"Hundreds of the borough’s children will benefit from improved concentration, helping them succeed in their work as well as feeling healthier and happier throughout the day.”

The school kitchens who achieved the award are managed and maintained by Facilities Management at Rochdale Borough Council.