Three cooks from South Tyneside schools who have served for 90 years between them have hung up their aprons for the last time.
Pam Reed from St Bede’s School in Jarrow retired after 33 years’ service while Linda Patterson retired from Fellgate Primary School after 29 years’ service and Susan Kirkcaldy left the kitchen of Whitburn Primary School after 28 years.
“I’ve seen school dinners change a lot during my time as a school cook,” said Pam.
“They are definitely more popular now than they used to be – and certainly a lot healthier. It’s lovely to think that we are guiding youngsters to making the right, healthy choices which will stand them in good stead for the future.”
The shift towards healthier meals has led to a significant rise in the number of young people taking school meals. Three years ago 69 per cent of youngsters at primary school in South Tyneside took a school lunch compared to more than 78 per cent this year. Similarly, the number of young people taking a school lunch in secondary schools has soared from 48 percent in 2013 – 2014 to 59 per cent now.
Councillor Joan Atkinson, Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families, said:
“It is thanks to the culinary and creative skills of our kitchen staff that we have been able to encourage more young people than ever before to enjoy a school lunch.
“The provision of a nutritious, tasty meal at lunch time boosts the ability of our young people to concentrate which can have a positive effect on attainment levels as well as encouraging them to eat healthily in later life.”