Charlton Manor School in Greenwich, South London, developed Delivering the National Curriculum through Food, an innovative curriculum that places food and healthy eating at the heart of the learning experience.  Tim Baker, Head Teacher, was first inspired to pursue the initiative following the school's involvement in the Jamie Oliver Feed Me Better campaign.  The campaign was launched following a four-episode documentary series, featuring Jamie Oliver as he attempted to overhaul the school menu at the neighbouring Kidbrooke School (also located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich).  

Tim Baker recognises that cultivating knowledge about food is a vital element of education and development for young people.  The school empowers its pupils through knowledge and first-hand experience of food production.  Not only do children grow their own food in the onsite school garden (The Secret Garden), they also learn how to cook the food they produce in the school's impressive Teaching Kitchen, complete with height adapted sinks and counters for young people.

Tim Baker and his dedicated team at Charlton Manor are hoping to effect a cultural change, whereby knowledge and shared learning supports pupils and parents to adopt a healthy lifestyle.  

The Secret Garden
In 2005, pupils worked with landscape architects to transform a derelict, overgrown space into The Secret Garden, a fully-functional working garden. The garden supports both food production and wildlife.  It includes features such as a heated greenhouse, teaching and seating areas, raised beds, fruit, herb and vegetable growing areas, and, along with bees and chickens, a wildlife pond area.  

Children living in cities don't always have access to a garden at home, so The Secret Garden offers pupils an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of growing food, and in doing so gain an understanding of where food comes from.

The Secret Garden initiative has brought opportunities for Charlton Manor pupils to share their knowledge and experience.  In 2014, pupils travelled to Mittelschule Schelitz in Bavaria, Germany to assist in the planning and development of a new garden at the school.  They are also working on a new community garden project at Woodlands Farm with horticulturalist Chris Collins.  

The Secret Garden has been so successful, it has been awarded Gold for Best School Garden at the Ruxley in Bloom awards three years in a row.  
Charlton Manor story offer a wealth of valuable information for shared learning with schools everywhere. For more information go to www.charltonmanorprimary.co.uk

Charlton Manor School and the Local Community
Charlton Manor regularly host a Farmers Market on the school grounds, where they sell fresh produce alongside local producers.  

The most recent event was held on Saturday 13th October 2018, where Hilary Piggot, Community Gardner at Charlton Manor, was offering a wide selection of seasonal produce which has all been grown by pupils in The Secret Garden.  Also available were jars of the school's own homemade tomato ketchup, a delicious blend of their natural homegrown ingredients, including tomatoes, onions, and rhubarb.  The Farmers Market offers local producers a fantastic opportunity to showcase their products to families in the local area.

Since 2017, the Charlton Manor School Community Garden has been available to other local schools and organisations.  

Visit https://charltonmanorprimary.co.uk/showcase/community-garden for for details.

Post Contributor:

Caitriona Fitzsimons Digital Reporter