PUPILS and teachers from Lady Modiford's in Walkhampton are celebrating achieving the prestigious Food for Life Partnership silver award.

Lady Modiford's is working with the Food for Life Partnership to transform its food culture and that of its community by reconnecting students with climate-friendly, healthy food.

In its quest to achieve the Food for Life Partnership silver mark Lady Modiford's serves school meals on plates, not flight trays, serves a range of locally sourced, free range and organic items and no fish from unsustainable sources.

The school has a cooking club, and pupils get to cook with and eat the produce grown in the school area. There is a wormery and the school composts its food waste. Parents and the wider community get involved in food education via food-themed events.

The school has recently welcomed chickens to a new coup and run built by parents and staff after funds had been raised by both the PTA and the children.

Children took part in 'businesses' from the Tenner Tycoon scheme and held two café days selling home cooked food to the public.

Laura Jones, 10, and Tristan Peden, 9, said about their school achieving the Food for Life Partnership Silver Mark: 'We have all worked very hard to gain the silver award and are very proud.

'It was great fun to go to Bristol to collect the award and meet other schools. Our chef makes wonderful meals and we all love her and her meals'

Lady Modiford's is now working towards the Food for Life Partnership Gold Award — the ultimate award that recognises schools, which use practical learning experiences to reconnect young people to the food they eat, following the journey from field to plate.

Gavin Hamilton, headteacher of Lady Modiford's, said: 'We are very fortunate to have an excellent and dedicated kitchen manager Anne Hext-Williams who is an inspiration to the school. She has galvanised parents, staff and the children into getting fully involved.

'The scheme has also had a very positive impact on our curriculum and with our new 25ft poly tunnel, we will soon be enjoying even more fresh, organic and home grown produce to go with our fresh eggs!'