Members of our Sport and Healthy Lifestyles Ambassador Group have taken on a Ready, Steady, Cook challenge to design and prepare a healthy, balanced meal in just 60 minutes.

As student ambassadors, members of the group, who are all in Years 8 and 9, work closely with Mrs Lamb, Director of Learning for Food, and Mrs O’Connor, Director of Learning for PE, on a range of projects designed to encourage our school community to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle.

For the Ready, Steady, Cook challenge, students were provided with a selection of kitchen staples such as rice, pasta, chicken, minced beef, vegetables, herbs and spices. They were then given complete freedom to prepare a dish of their choice, with finished plates including Vegetable Fusilli, Chicken and Red Pepper Stir Fry and Pasta Bolognese. Students also organise a range of food events in school, such as a taster session with samples of different smoothies designed to encourage young people to find creative ways to increase their daily intake of fruit.

In terms of getting active, the group have been developing ideas for a programme of new activities to promote engagement and participation in physical activity. This will include more unusual sports such as Dodgeball, which will be launched this year, and a potential trip to the Ninja Warrior Adventure Park in Teesside, a physical assault course challenge inspired by ITV’s hit tv show. This will give participants the opportunity to build strength, stamina and resilience.