School cooks across Derbyshire scoop top awards

Derbyshire County Council held its eighth annual Primary Catering Quality Assurance Awards and seventh annual Secondary Catering Awards to recognise top quality service provided to schools by the authority's catering teams. Teams were assessed on their performance and as part of the process school cooks were nominated by pupils, teachers or members of the authority's catering service management team and then judged in action at their schools. They were assessed on the quality of food, service, food presentation, customer care, hygiene, health and safety and kitchen management skills. Councillor Mike Longden, Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for education, said: "It's important to us that pupils and teaching staff have top quality lunches to help them stay healthy and full of energy for the afternoon of lessons." In the primary school cooking section there were 14 gold award winners, 33 silver award winners, 22 bronze award winners and a further 91 certificates of achievements awarded to school cooking kitchens and dining centres. In addition to these awards, 45 Customer Service awards and five Most Improved Unit award were also presented. In the primary school dining section there were 11 gold award winners, 15 silver award winners, 11 bronze award winners, 50 certificates of achievement and one customer service certificate. Lifetime achievers went to Shirley Chapman - Alfreton Grange Arts College, Sheila McCulloch - Glossopdale Community College and June Guest - Aldercar Community Language College. Meanwhile highest uptake of the year went to Hasland Hall Community School, Students Catering Team of the Year and St. Thomas More Catholic School (Science College). The full list of winners can be found by logging onto www.derbyshire.gov.uk