May 30, 2014 10.34 am This story is over 118 months old

Healthy lifestyle education praised at Lincoln school

Healthy school: A leading national health expert has praised a Lincoln school for the ‘enlightened’ way it is teaching pupils about good diet and exercise.
Chief Executive of Public Health England, Duncan Selbie paid a visit to Washingborough Academy.

A leading national health expert has praised a Lincoln school for the ‘enlightened’ way it is teaching pupils about the importance of good diet and exercise.

Washingborough Academy was praised for promoting a healthy lifestyle by the Chief Executive of Public Health England, Duncan Selbie, after he visited the primary school.

Washingborough Academy was the first school in the UK to sign up to the Jamie Oliver Foundation’s Kitchen Garden Club project.

Among efforts for health learning, the school, which has 290 children, grows its own vegetables in the school grounds and has planted an orchard of Lincolnshire variety apple trees.

It is also one of only nine schools in England to receive a gold award from Sustrans for its efforts to encourage children to bike to school.

In addition, the academy is a member of the Food For Life Partnership, a Soil Association-led network of schools and communities across England committed to transforming food culture.

The charity aims to reach out through schools to give communities access to seasonal, local and organic food, and to the skills they need to cook and grow fresh food.

Mr Selbie visited the school to see how it was leading the way in encouraging children to eat healthy food and exercise.

After his visit, he said: “The values you are inspiring in your children shone through and is a quintessential example of how a visionary leader can transform lives.

“From the infants to the Year 6 children the importance of a good diet and exercise was being taught by enlightened and fun teaching.”

School head teacher Jason O’Rourke said: “We are delighted to get such glowing praise from such an important figure in the national health arena.

“The staff, parents and pupils are absolutely committed to creating a school where health and happiness are at the heart of our community and it’s exciting for us to see that hard work getting national recognition.”