Ten of the UK’s best known chefs including Gary Rhodes, Jamie Oliver, Thomasina Miers and Ainsley Harriott have written to education secretary Michael Gove urging him to keep practical cooking lessons on the curriculum for all secondary school pupils.
The letter expresses concerns that the review of the national curriculum announced by the department for education may result in children leaving school without even the basic skills to prepare healthy meals for themselves or their families.
Arthur Potts Dawson, executive head chef of the People’s Kitchen said: “Being able to cook enables people to live healthy lives. It is straightforward common sense that the government should ensure that every child continues to be taught to cook during their school career. It would be ridiculous to take away cooking lessons when we are in the midst of a massive obesity crisis.”
The campaigners’ letter reads: “Cooking skills empower people and allow them to make informed choices about their diet. It will come as no surprise to you to learn that we believe that all pupils should be given the opportunity to learn cooking skills at school. We are therefore alarmed that your department's curriculum review may lead to secondary schools no longer teaching all pupils to cook at Key Stage 3. Money has already been spent training staff and preparing classrooms so it makes sense to continue. We strongly urge the government to retain the current requirement that all Key Stage 3 pupils receive at least 24 hours of basic cooking lessons.
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