EDUCATION-FEB10-PG06-11:Page 6 03/02/2010 10:16 Page 10
News
Prue Leith opens new School FEAST
centre at Doncaster College
C
elebrity chef Prue Leith opened the new
state-of-the-art culinary facilities at
Doncaster College yesterday which will
provide the latest in the national School
FEAST training provision for the school food
workforce.
The college is one of 29 specialist centres and
partnerships comprising School FEAST (Food Skills
and Excellence Training), the national training
network. It became a regional training centre for
the School FEAST network in November 2008
after a successful bid with partners, Doncaster
School Meals Service and NHS Doncaster. As a
result, a brand new state-of-the-art training
facility has been built at the college.
The new centre will provide training and
continuous education for cooks, kitchen
assistants, lunch-time supervisors, school business
managers, school governors, senior leadership
staff, pupils and their parents. Across the
network, School FEAST offers a core list of
training and qualifications. Added to this core
Names from left to right; John Taylor Doncaster College Interim Principal, Gill Parkes Academy Director
offer are many localised, bespoke training
Commercial Enterprise Doncaster College, Prue Leith, and 2 students.
courses. At Doncaster, this includes Food and
Drink Service, Customer Service, Hospitality The School FEAST network was established in and nutrition-based standards.
Supervision and Leadership level 3, Chef Diploma October 2006 by the School Food Trust and is Gill Parkes, Academy Director, Academy of
level 1, and Professional Cookery. critical to ensuring school cooks have the skills Commercial Enterprise, said: “The new School
Prue Leith said; “The School FEAST Network they need to transform the quality and provision FEAST kitchen facilities at the college will allow us
signals a training revolution for school cooks and of school food. to live up to our name and become a ‘Hub of
other school staff. I’m delighted to help launch Doncaster’s School FEAST purpose-built Activity’ for the raising of standards and the up-
Doncaster’s School FEAST facilities, which will kitchens will provide a readily accessible supply of skilling of the local school meals workforce. It will
now play a key role in nurturing the school cooks high quality training and ensure the school food enable us to reach a wider audience of school
of the future, training scores of staff across workforce is motivated and encouraged to take leadership groups, school children, families and
hundreds of schools in the region. This will help up the training needed. This is especially critical local community groups."
ensure more children and young people eat a since the introduction in September for all schools
healthy school lunch every day.” to follow new government guidelines for food uwww.schoolfeast.co.uk
Retirement planning crucial for teachers over 50
G
overnment plans to cap state make up a large proportion of the general “The biggest impact on retirement is on their
contributions to teachers’ pensions teacher population. lifestyle. After working hard throughout their
have made retirement planning more Advice on planning for life after the careers, teachers have earned the chance to
important than ever before. classroom is available from a number of sources enjoy retirement comfortably.”
For the proposals announced in December in but some experts are concerned that many “Some, however, risk a nasty surprise when
the pre-Budget report raise the prospect that teachers do not take the subject as seriously as they leave work because they haven’t given
the benefits former teachers receive from their it merits. enough thought as to how to make their lump
pensions will be reduced in the longer term. One of them is Gary Robertshaw, Course sums and pensions benefits work hard for them.”
While the scale of the cut in employer Manager at the Teachers’ Retirement Agency, The Teachers’ Retirement Agency will run 29
contributions is yet to be announced, teachers’ which provides courses on retirement planning one day seminars nationally this Spring - from
pensions are thought the most likely to be the designed and delivered specifically for teachers Newcastle upon Tyne down to Plymouth.
first in the public sector to be revalued. looking ahead to life after work. “We would advise teachers over 50 to take
The profession is therefore likely to feel the Gary says: “It’s important that teachers the opportunity to learn how they can be better
impact of the new arrangements before other recognise the need to take responsibility for off in retirement. The support we can provide
public sector employees. their retirement planning.” not only helps teachers to make more of their
The impact of the proposed changes means “We have been running seminars to help money in retirement but also offers them
that a thorough examination of future finances teachers plan for retirement for over 15 years greater peace of mind as they approach the end
has become even more important if teachers are and we know that many teachers just aren’t as of their careers.” Gary says.
to make the most of their retirement. well prepared as they could be for what lies
This is especially true for those over 50, who ahead.” uwww.teachersretirementagency.co.uk
10
www.education-today.co.uk February 2010
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44