A GROUP of schools in Darlington is the first in the region to receive Soil Association recognition for its catering.

Longfield Academy Trust has been awarded the Soil Association Food for Life silver catering mark, an independent endorsement of the quality of food on offer to students.

It ensures that at least 75 per cent of all food is freshly prepared on site, all meat is sourced from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards and at least five per cent of all purchases are organic ingredients.

Julie Hill, catering director of the Longfield Academy Trust, said that she is very happy with this judgement and described it as a testament to the work and commitment of all the catering teams across the three schools.

The trust runs Longfield Academy of Sport, Darlington School of Mathematics and Science and The Rydal Academy all based within Darlington.

At The Rydal Academy, the above standards were all met to achieve the silver catering mark plus all pupils are served their meals which creates a unique school lunch service environment.

The trust also provides catering management to other schools, within the region.

For information about this service, call 01325-351377 or e-mail hill@dsms.org