A SCHOOL has received national recognition for the quality of its food.

St Aidan's School in Harrogate is one of the first schools in the country to be named by the Health Education Trust as Best in Class for school dinners.

The award means that the school's catering practices have been recognised to be making a positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of the pupils. Best in Class is a new scheme designed to acknowledge good quality school catering. The details of the scheme are published online.

St Aidan's has recently built a new kitchen and dining area and has employed a new school chef.

Chips are only available once a week and are only served as part of a full meal.

Food is also freshly prepared from products sourced locally.

The changes have seen a huge difference in eating patterns among pupils.

Four years ago, less than 300 children were eating school dinners, and now St Aidan's is serving more than 1,700 school dinners to both children and teachers.