Bristol Healthy Schools Award winners announced

The winners of this year’s Bristol Healthy School Awards were announced at a special gala dinner on Saturday 9 May.

Hundreds of pupils from schools across the city applied to this year’s awards, with hopefuls competing to become the Young Chef, Baker or Gardener of the year.

Primary and secondary judging categories were included and winners were chosen by a panel of judges from the BBC, Bristol Healthy Schools and Food Connections.

The awards are now in their second year and run in partnership with Bristol Food Connections. They’re designed to showcase getting children cooking and highlighting the nutritious food grown in local schools and the surrounding areas.

Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, said: “In 2013 I launched the Mayor’s Award for schools to recognise outstanding work in Bristol promoting the health and wellbeing of young people. The Healthy School Awards are a great example of this work in practice and it’s a powerful way to get young people engaging with cooking nutrition and healthy eating.

“I want to see Bristol’s schools become centres of public health and I hope that teaching children about food will play a key role in reducing childhood obesity.”

Lorna Knapman, Festival Director for Bristol Food Connections, said: “The standard of entries this year was extremely high and it’s fantastic to see so many children getting involved with the competition.

“Good food gives us the foundations we need in life and has the power to bring communities together. The ambition of Bristol Food Connections is to encourage people of all ages and abilities to get involved so we can all lead healthier lives filled with nutritious food.”

The winners

Young Baker

• Primary: Bibi Smith, age 11, Southville Primary
• Secondary: Anja Babic, age 12, Redland High for Girls
• Highly commended: Scarlett Beeston, age 12, Cotham School

Young Chef

• Primary: Oliver Guilfoyle, age 10, Southville Primary
• Secondary: Tenaya Williams-Carsill, age 14, Orchard School

Young Gardener

• Primary: Amy Gladding, age 7, Redmaids Junior School
• Secondary: Michael Britton, age 15, Bristol Metropolitan Academy

Rachel Cooke, Bristol City Council’s Food in Schools Dietitian for Bristol Healthy Schools, added: “These awards are just one way that makes food fun and educational and show how schools can take a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. We’re raising awareness about healthy eating, but also sustainable food growing and green issues, which is fitting during Bristol’s European Green Capital year.

“The awards form part of a bigger programme of work undertaken by the Bristol Healthy Schools team. We’re working with schools to help them make meaningful, long lasting changes to support children and young people to grow into healthy, happy adults.”