Deputy Mayor praises St. Richards Gold Healthy School
St. Richards CE Primary school in Ham has truly set a gold standard for health and wellbeing.
London’s Deputy Mayor for Children and Families, Joanne McCartney, visited the school on 3 April to celebrate their achievement of the Gold Healthy Schools London Award, as well as retaining their Gold Travel for Life TfL award for over 12 years.
The school’s journey toward the Gold Healthy Schools award began in 2022 with a focus on ‘Healthy eating and living in a sustainable planet’. They aimed to increase school meal uptake, improve the quality of packed lunches, reduce food waste through composting and engage pupils in growing their own produce, which made its way to their school dinner salad bar.
During her visit, London’s Deputy Mayor observed various activities that highlighted the school’s commitment to health and wellbeing. She saw a TasteEd session with year 3 and year 4 pupils creating their own Eatwell plates. The tour included a visit to the early years area where the children played around a beautiful cherry blossom tree and passed an Easter display in the school hall, with quirky names of the egg models ‘eggsercise’ or ‘eggstraordinary magician’.
London’s Deputy Mayor for Children & Families, Joanne McCartney, said:
"I congratulate the pupils and staff of St. Richards CE Primary School for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to health and wellbeing, and encouraging the development of lifelong habits. Their dedication to healthy eating and raising awareness of environmental issues is truly inspiring and sets a fantastic example for schools across the capital. As we build a better London for all, it’s wonderful to see young people so engaged in shaping a healthier, more sustainable future."
The enthusiastic year 6 tour-guides were eager to show their visitors, with pride, their wonderful school. The Joanne McCartney was impressed by the school’s health promoting environment with brand new ‘climing frame structure’ funded through the schools’ parent association.
The visit concluded with presentations from year 3 children talking about the BriteBoxes they take home every week to cook a family meal together. Year 5 eco ambassadors explained their responsibilities to monitor the weather station, raising a flag depending on the air pollution in the area. While year 6 pupils spoke about the ‘young marketeers’ project visiting a farm and making either jam or chutney and selling it at the market. They also gave a sample to Mr. McCartney to try.
Mrs. Murthy, The Headteacher highlighted the school’s efforts in running a Food Waste Reduction competition with KS2 children. The initiative emphasised the importance of not wasting planet’s resources and being mindful of only putting on our plates the amount of food we will eat.
Mrs. Murthy explained:
"It is all about providing those opportunities for our children to enthuse them throughout the time they are with us and a big part of this is working with variety of partners who help us to create those health promoting opportunities including Britebox, School Food Matters, Ham United Group, Roehampton University and many more. The school’s commitment to health and looking after our planet truly goes beyond our classrooms."
Learn more about the Healthy Schools London Award Programme from Richmond Council.
Photo credit: James O Jenkins/Greater London Authority
