Stanwell Fields Primary School's Kitchen Praised as Blueprint for National School Meals
Ex-Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith visited Stanwell Fields CE Primary to praise their commitment to nutritious, adventurous school lunches.
A Kitchen Worthy of a Blueprint
Stanwell Fields CE Primary in Staines has received glowing praise from an unlikely visitor. Ex-Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith made a surprise appearance at the school's dining hall, rolling up her sleeves to help cook and serve lunch alongside Head Chef Clare Collier and her catering team.
The visit, which saw Dame Prue also tackling the pot wash, was designed to shine a spotlight on the exceptional work happening in the school kitchen. After experiencing the atmosphere firsthand, Dame Prue was full of admiration.
"The professionalism was everything," she said. "If only we could clone them and put them all over the country." She was particularly impressed by the team's refusal to compromise on quality simply because they're cooking for children. "They're not dumbing down menus," Dame Prue explained, noting how olives feature on the menu and children are encouraged to try new tastes.
A Family Affair
What makes Stanwell Fields' kitchen particularly special is that it's genuinely a family operation. Head Chef Clare works alongside her father, who serves as kitchen assistant, whilst her mother helps run the breakfast and after-school clubs. The commitment runs deep, with even a relative joining on work experience.
Real Impact on Children's Health
The work of the kitchen team has ripple effects throughout the entire school community. Emma Wiltshire, Executive Head Chef for the LDBS Academy Trust which oversees the school, emphasises the importance of this approach: "In a community like Stanwell where children don't necessarily have exposure to a broad palate at home, really giving them that opportunity at school is so important."
Dame Prue is a patron of Chefs in Schools, a charity dedicated to improving school food. She wants to see more schools embrace the Stanwell Fields model, particularly as significant changes to school meals come into effect from September.
Timing for Change
Dame Prue's visit comes at a pivotal moment. The Government is expanding free school meals eligibility and introducing stricter nutritional guidelines. Foods high in fat, salt and sugar will be limited, deep-fried foods removed, and items like pizza and sausage rolls won't be available every day.
Chefs in Schools' Chief Innovation Officer Nicole Pisani believes dining rooms like Stanwell Fields are crucial in addressing child health challenges. "Our children are facing a massive health crisis," she says. "But the dining hall is where we can step in."
Ms Pisani emphasises the broader value of good school meals: "Food is where we make real connections. It's where healthy development takes place, where we sit together, share stories, and learn to love good ingredients."
As schools navigate the upcoming changes, Stanwell Fields CE Primary stands as a beacon of what's possible when kitchen teams are treated as skilled professionals and given the resources to create meals that children genuinely enjoy.