www.foodgrowingschools.org

Sowing Ideas. Growing Inspiration. Cultivating Futures.A partnership led by Garden Organic

The Partnership

Food Growing Schools: London is a partnership project led by Garden Organic, the national charity for organic growing. We work with five partners and together we inspire and equip every school in London to grow their own food.

Garden Organic gardenorganic.org.ukGarden Organic is the UK’s leading organic growing charity. We are dedicated to promoting organic gardening in homes, communities and schools, to raise awareness of the many benefits that this brings. With over 20 years’ experience working directly with schools, our work has shown the powerful impact organic food growing can have on learning. Shaping attitudes and behaviours through organic food growing in schools has long-lasting benefits, particularly in the face of rising childhood obesity and climate change. That is why we have been at the forefront of campaigns to transform school food culture, such as Food Growing Schools: London.

The simple — and ambitious — goal of the Food Growing Schools: London partnership is to get every school in London involved in food growing.

Our aim is to bring the many benefits of food growing to children, schools and communities across the city, by bringing the excellent projects and support available all together in one place. From training, events and the opportunity to sell produce at markets, to competitions and free curriculum-based resources, we have everything that is needed to get children and young people involved in food growing.

We want to support school leaders, parents, teachers and volunteers to gain the skills and confidence to get involved, making sure that they have fun with the children they work with along the way.

Garden Organic started the project in 2013, after leading the Food Growing Taskforce in 2012. This government supported initiative brought a diverse group of people, from the private and voluntary sector, schools, environmental organisations and the media, together to look at the benefits of food growing. The final report showed all the challenges that food growing can help address and made recommendations for how it can be integrated into school life.

Since 2013, Food Growing Schools: London has been growing and making exciting progress.

We’ve connected with over half of all London schools, welcomed over 1,000 people to our training and events and together as a partnership, we estimate that 74,000 pupils are already involved in food growing.*

But there is still more work to be done and the ambition to reach every London school continues.

As we enter our fourth year, we’re calling on everyone — from head teachers, school staff and parents to volunteers, councils, organisations and businesses — to help more schools get involved, right across London.

“I’m deeply proud of what we’ve achieved. Since starting in 2013, the number of pupils, parents, community members and businesses involved has grown, and continues to do so. We’ve shown that there are significant benefits for pupils, but we haven’t yet reached every school and we know many continue to want our support.” James Campbell, Chief Executive,

Garden Organic

About us What is Food Growing Schools: London?

*Figures recorded as part of the Food Growing

Schools: London Growathon, April 2017.

We’ve gathered lots of evidence to show that growing food in schools not only supports healthy minds and healthy eating, it teaches a range of skills and contributes to better concentration, behaviour and attainment.

The Partners

Capital Growth capitalgrowth.org/schoolsCapital Growth runs a network for community food growing projects in London. The network includes over 700 schools and together we run events, including annual School Marketplaces at City Hall.

Food For Life foodforlife.org.ukFood for Life is a Soil Association initiative encouraging lasting and sustainable change to the way we all think about food, our communities, environment and health. Their award scheme for schools supports this.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS)schoolgardening.rhs.org.ukThe RHS Campaign for School Gardening inspires and supports schools to provide children with gardening opportunities to enhance their skills and boost their development. The RHS provide teachers with resources and an extensive training programme.

School Food Matters schoolfoodmatters.orgSchool Food Matters’ mission is to ensure that every child enjoys fresh sustainable food at school and understands where their food comes from. To achieve this they work with parents, children and schools to improve school meals and support food education through cooking, growing and visits to farms.

Trees for Citiestreesforcities.org/our-work/edible-playgroundsTrees for Cities is a national charity that has been planting fruit trees in school grounds for over 20 years. Edible Playgrounds grew out of this work with schools, following increased concern nationally about obesity in children and the need for healthy diets.

Pooles Park Primary School pupils watering the garden©Pooles Park Primary School

Environmental crisis; we need to tackle climate change

Poor diets, high obesity rates

33.2% of year six children in England are either overweight or obese

Horticultural skills shortage

children and young people aged 5—16 in Britain have a diagnosable mental health disorder

1 in 10

What are the challenges? Growing food means happy, healthy children that…

Eat more fruit and veg

Know where food comes from

Achieve more and learn new skills

Are more confident

Increased knowledge and changed behavioursIncreased knowledge, skills, confidence as well as improved behaviour and attainment all come as a result of food growing. Pupils also learn about the social, economic and environmental benefits too.

“We want young people to be able to make educated and healthy choices around food, and we’re putting the foundations in for that. They tune into the natural world and the seasons. Our work has helped children to live on this planet with a lighter touch.” Tom Moggach, Teacher and Outdoor Learning and Food Education Lead

We know that food growing reaps many rewards for the children, schools and communities involved. We have also seen how it supports the work of local councils and have worked with Public Health, Education, Environment, Healthy Schools and Catering teams to support their objectives.

Support children and young people’s health and well-being

To protect and enhance our natural environment

To help children and young people build their knowledge, skills and confidence

Government Policy and food growingThere are several policy requirements for transforming school food culture that support school food growing. Continued pressures on school funding present some real challenges as well as opportunities to initiate food growing in schools.

Why grow food in schools?

To examine the powerful impact that food growing can have for schools, their pupils and communities, we use a survey. We gather the facts directly from schools, finding out whether they are growing food or not, what challenges they face and what support they need.

The results*

More schools and pupils are growing foodSince 2013, the number of schools growing food that completed our survey has risen from 72% to 87%.

Growing impact

* Source: Figures based on evaluation surveys with lead school

teachers in Sept 2013 (n=504) and Jan 2017 (n=313).

1 in 4schools now link food growing to curriculum

activities

2013 72% schools involved

2016 87% schools involved

Food Growing Schools: London is well regarded and wide reachingWe’re reaching an ever growing number of schools each year and over 1,000 people have attended our training to date. What’s more, the number of parents, volunteers, local organisations and businesses involved is growing, supporting school efforts and strengthening their community.

“Developing and using children’s life skills in the community and with local businesses is integral to creating successful citizens. Strong school—community—business relationships lead to mutual support and trust.” Chris Ashley-Jones, Headteacher

Food growing is more embedded in more schoolsOne in four schools currently link food growing to subjects across the curriculum and into lessons.

1000s of volunteers

Dormer Wells High School pupils ready to start planting

Relevant PolicyFind the latest at foodgrowingschools.org/why_grow/policy including:

Changes to national curriculum (2014) Practical cooking and food education now compulsory for pupils up to the end of KS3.

New Ofsted framework (2015) Schools now required to demonstrate how they promote healthy lifestyles

Childhood Obesity Plan (2016) DfE is developing a new healthy rating scheme to show how schools help tackle obesity

Soft drinks industry levy Funds put back into schools to boost healthy food and physical activity

London Food Strategy The Mayor will publish a new London Food Strategy in early 2018 which will seek to address what we can all do to tackle the challenges facing London’s food system and how good food can improve our health, our environment and foster good growth

foodgrowingschools.org

1000 school staff and volunteers have

attended food growing training

Over

79% of respondents were more aware of nature, healthy eating & sustainability

G R EEN W I C HB E X L E Y

B A R K I N G & DAG EN H A M

H AV ER I N G

www.foodgrowingschools.org

93% of respondents had enhanced

knowledge & skills

1 in 4 schools now link food growing to curriculum

activities

28%of schools made links with

voluntary organisations

25%of schools

linked with local businesses

Over 75% of London boroughs now promote

food growing in schools

87% of schools are

involved in food growing

More schools & pupils involved

Improved skills, knowledge &

behaviour

Increased community involvement

Food growing used as

teaching tool

54% of pupils had

improved behaviour or attainment

*Based upon responses from 298 school leads to question “As a result of food growing activities in your school in the last two years, which of the following happened in your school?” (five point scale from ‘strongly disagree to ‘strongly agree’).

Croydon & Lambeth. Awarded £1.2m by the

Mayor of London & Department for Education

to work in schools, businesses & the

community

Supporting 2 Food Flagship

Boroughs

CROYDON

LAMBETH

Growing Impact…

Case studies

QE II Jubilee School pupils enjoy a taste of homegrown veg

Table display at Schools Marketplace event at City Hall

Charlton Manor Primary School pupils water seedlings and get stuck in raking the soil

The Tri-Borough: leading the way

The Tri-borough is one of many London Boroughs that have signed up to support Food Growing Schools: London. It is made up of the City of Westminster, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The council has put food growing in schools on its agenda by making it a key part of its Healthy Schools programme. With the help of their council’s local coordinator, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee School (QEII), a special school in Westminster has started running food growing workshops and built a garden area accessible for all pupils – with support from Groundwork too. The council is also working with the school towards gaining its Silver Healthy Schools Award.

“David (Healthy Schools Coordinator at Tri-borough) has been an on-going support on every level.” Sarah Chowdhri, PSHE Coordinator and Healthy Schools lead at QEII

Growing Entrepreneurs

An exciting part of the Food Growing Schools: London programme has been seeing pupils experience being entrepreneurs at Marketplace events. From deciding what to grow and caring for their garden, to marketing and selling their produce and homemade products on the day, they get involved in all aspects of growing their own business

– a theme that Food Growing Schools: London has promoted every year. It’s a great way to get secondary pupils enthusiastic about food growing, but pupils of any age can enjoy developing maths, business, literacy, creative and communication skills through the experience.

“I’m really pleased to have hosted the Schools Marketplace in City Hall. I want to help Londoners to have access to better food, and lead healthier lifestyles, so it’s great to see these young people growing their own grub and developing entrepreneurial skills.” Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan

Food growing: part of school life

Charlton Manor Primary is a large inner city school with around 400 pupils from a wide variety of backgrounds in Greenwich. Since starting as Headteacher, Tim Baker has made it his mission to embed food growing into school life and incorporate it across all subjects.

Pupils came up with ideas to transform an overgrown area in the school, which was brought to life by a landscape architect. The resulting ‘Secret Garden’ includes a seating area, space to grow, a weather station, compost area, chickens, wildlife and a pond.

They have a teaching kitchen and a full time gardener who works together with the chef and teachers to plan lessons that revolve around growing food.

Charlton Manor show just what’s possible when it comes to food growing, but it all starts with little steps. Food Growing Schools: London can support you to get your garden growing, whatever the size of your school and space.

“The garden and kitchen have not only provided the children with the ability to make sense of the curriculum in all areas but given them something to feel really proud about and move them towards leading a healthier life.” Tim Baker, Headteacher

foodgrowingschools.org

Ready. Set. Grow!

Termly Activities

Grow Your Own Business Grow Your Own Picnic

Spring into Growing & more

Get involved: simple steps

SchoolsReap the benefits of food growing, whatever your level of experience or available space!

Help us to help you: complete our survey. Visit foodgrowingschools.org to complete the survey

Access support, freebies, competitions and resources

We can arrange food growing training opportunities and sign post to other support from our partner organisations, keep you up-to-date with the latest offers and funding and connect you with a network of teachers, parents and volunteers.

CouncilsFood growing in schools supports Public Health, Catering, Education, Economy and Environment policies and you can help us have the most impact in your borough.

Identify designated contacts to promote food growing

Use the Food Growing Schools: London communications toolkit to promote the project

Contact the team, get free support and find out how many schools in your borough are growing food

Help reach the Good Food for London target of 75% of schools in every borough signed up to Food Growing Schools: London

We can provide borough statistics from our research, connect you with our partners and local organisations and share inspiring school stories to show off borough achievements.

Parents and VolunteersSupporting food growing in schools can be hugely rewarding! Use your skills, learn new things and work with schools to help their growing efforts flourish.

Contact us to register your interest in school food growing

Promote Food Growing Schools: London activity to schools

Work with Food Growing Schools: London and schools directly

We can help you develop your skills through our free training events and resources.

Organisations and local businessesWe want to help build connections between schools and community groups and organisations, housing associations, farms, allotments, and local businesses.

Contact us to sign up to our Directory and register the support you offer schools

Identify local schools, support with your time, resources & share local information

Encourage schools to complete the survey

Contact us foodgrowingschools.org

6 FGSL Partner Organisations

Access to expert FGSL partner activities

& programs

Free Resources

Term planners

Growing cards

Seeds

& more

Get StartedHelp us help you:

Complete our schools survey

by visiting

foodgrowingschools.org

Online Community

Promote & share ideas, successes,

events, training,

tips & tricks

Competitions Win exclusive school food growing prizes, resources

& training

Training & Events

From horticulture skills to curriculum

ideas

Over 75% of London boroughs now promote

food growing in schools

foodgrowingschools.org

www.foodgrowingschools.org

Evaluation teamProf Mat Jones, Emma Weikamp (both UWE Bristol) and Hannah Pitt (Cardiff University)Public Health and Wellbeing Research Group, UWE, Frenchay Campus, Bristol, BS16 1QY

All statistics in this brochure are based on evaluation surveys with lead school teachers in Sept 2013 (n=504) and Jan 2017 (n=313).

The University of the West of England (UWE)’s Public Health and Wellbeing Research Group has led the independent evaluation of FGSL during this period.

Food Growing Schools: Londonfgslondon@gardenorganic.org.uk T: 024 7621 7747

@FoodGrowSchools @FoodGrowingSchools FoodGrowSchools

foodgrowingschools.org

Food Growing Schools: London is a partnership initiative led by Garden Organic. Garden Organic, the working name of the Henry Doubleday Research Association, is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 298104) and Scotland (SC046767).

The Big Lottery was the main funding partner for the programme from late 2013 until early 2017. Additional funding and support provided by the Greater London Authority (GLA).