Rushey Mead Academy Update 2016

Rushey Mead Academy is aiming to become a more eco-friendly school and provide healthier nutrition options for staff and students.The academy has several initiatives in place in order to try to achieve these aims, including a SNAG (School Nutrition Action Group). The group is drawn from support staff, teaching staff, pupils, City Catering staff, parents and governors. The aim is to manage the review of the whole school food provision and drive forward improvements and initiatives to promote healthier eating throughout the academy. The SNAG wishes to try to change behaviours and opinions with regards to subjects such as organic produce, the importance of animal welfare and food provenance.The academy has a group called Green Force whereby the group perform energy audits, recycling initiatives, litter picks and ‘switch offs’ with an aim to help to reduce the academy’s carbon footprint and save money.The academy would like to improve the ‘Eco area’ at the school by improving the allotments to allow more efficient and effective growing of vegetables, planting flowers, building a plastic bottle greenhouse, having bee hives on site and perhaps even chickens. Any honey or vegetables produced will be used in the school kitchens. By improving the ‘Eco area’ the academy will be able to become a hub for other schools to visit, to understand the importance of food provenance and biodiversity. The academy would like to be able to open up this area to the community and offer gardening clubs.