AN academy trust has found a new recipe for learning success after taking its catering in-house.

And one of the first things on the menu for the Carmel Education Trust was improving kitchens at one of its primary schools.

The multi-academy trust comprises comprises Carmel College, Darlington, St Michael’s Academy, Billingham, Holy Family RC Primary School and St Augustine’s RC Primary School, Darlington and St Gregory’s Catholic Academy and St Bede’s Catholic Academy and Our Lady and St Bede’s Catholic Academy, Stockton.

Until now school lunches have been provided by two local authorities and a private contractor.

But to standardise quality, choice and nutritional value across the trust catering has been taken in-house and is now managed by Colin Robson.

“All the meals are made from fresh ingredients with the emphasis on producing a wide range of tasty, appealing, healthy and nutritious food,” he said.

A major investment over the summer holidays saw the kitchens at St Augustine’s more than double in size.

Head of school Martina McCollom said: “We have an excellent cook and she and her staff now have the space they need in which to work.

“We are collecting pupils’ views on the food and menus will be reviewed regularly.

“Parents are sent the menus in advance so pupils can choose whether to eat hot food or their own packed lunches. I’m happy to report a very high take up of school lunches.”

She said school lunches were an important part of development and they had dropped airplane-style food trays for proper plates and bowls. “We want to make lunchtime a positive experience,” she added.

Trust chief executive Maura Regan added: “A good lunch is essential to positive learning. It energises the students allowing them to engage fully in their lessons, whether that is physically in sport or academically.

“There are further benefits socially to be gleaned from students sitting down at lunchtime with their friends and colleagues and we will now have much more control over the quality of the food.”