Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School has been chosen as one of just 10 schools nationally to join a pioneering programme aimed at transforming school food, food education and food culture across England.

​

The Skelmersdale school is among the first cohort of ‘Beacon’ schools selected for the School Food Project, a new five-year initiative designed to help schools meet upcoming national school food standards, while improving students’ experiences of food and nutrition.

 

Funded through a philanthropic partnership, the programme will initially work with schools across the North West and London before expanding nationwide over the next five years.

 

Our Lady Queen of Peace is one of five North West schools selected, alongside Crab Lane Primary School in Moston, Legh Vale Primary School in St Helens, Clare Mount SEN School in Wirral and St George’s Primary School in Wallasey.

 

The School Food Project was launched following the government’s announcement of new school food standards, which are set to become mandatory in primary schools from September 2027. Alongside supporting schools to meet these standards, the initiative aims to improve food culture across entire school communities through catering, food education, pupil engagement and family involvement.

 

Mrs Mary Henshaw, headteacher of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School, welcomed the opportunity to be part of the project.

 

She said: “We are delighted to be working with ‘Chefs in Schools’ so we can make healthy, nutritious and delicious meals an important part of our food culture and create positive experiences around eating.

 

“We would like students to try new foods and experience food that is fresh, seasonal and responsibly sourced, while developing the knowledge, confidence and skills to make healthy choices for life.”

 

The School Food Project is led by a coalition of organisations including Chefs in Schools, the Jamie Oliver Group, Bite Back, School Food Matters and The Food Foundation.

 

Alongside its work with Beacon schools, the project is also providing free resources, guidance and training opportunities for schools across England through an online support hub.