You may have been following the progress of Jamie Oliver on television working with schools to transform school lunches in the London area. In the small Gloucestershire village of North Cerney we have our very own ‘innovative school’. North Cerney Primary school governors decided last October to opt out of the Local Education Authority Scheme and go it alone.

They approached the Bathurst Arms, the well known public house and restaurant in the village to see if they were interested in working with the school to improve the lunchtime experience for the pupils. On Friday (18/3) we were pleased to announce to the parents that when the children return to school after Easter all school lunches will be prepared in the Bathurst Arms kitchen and brought up to the school on a daily basis.

Part of the reasoning behind this is the desire by staff and parents to make school lunchtimes more in keeping with the family ethos of the school. Headteacher, Bridget Goodrich, says “lunchtime is an opportunity for the children to experience a family meal with healthy ‘home’ cooked food. We want this part of the day to be as meaningful as the rest of the curriculum. James and Hailey at the Bathurst Arms have put together a great menu, we intend to start with good, simple food and develop as the pupils tastes change.

We hope that the enjoyment of freshly prepared, healthy food they develop now will stay with them into secondary school and on into adulthood”

Fiona Symondson, vice chair of governors, has helped to design a new dining area where all the children will be able to enjoy their lunch in a dining environment building on the sense of community that already exists within the school.

The children are excited at the prospect of the change and School Councillor, Francesca Gale, has said ‘I used to have sandwiches but with the lunches coming from the Bathurst Arms I’m going to change - they do great pasta!!”

As well as the new lunches it is also hoped that the children will be able to see for themselves how the food is produced and to actually have a go at preparing lunch.