Wokingham

A group of gifted and talented pupils from Hillside Primary School in Lower Earley donned lab coats and safety glasses when they visited a high-tech food laboratory, Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL) to gain an insight into food manufacturing.

On Friday September 21, 20 Wokingham pupils from year five and six met scientists, technologists and food experts from project sponsors RSSL to work on a food design project which aims to help pupils understand key aspects of food safety and nutrition, and the environmental impact of global food distribution and packaging. During the eight-month long project pupils will also gain other useful experiences, such as learning how to manage project budgets and finances.

During the visit the Wokingham pupils received a talk from Jane Staniforth, head of food business development, before having a tour of the food laboratories where RSSL routinely investigates and analyses food and drink products, and helps companies with new product development.

Each team will have approximately £75 to design their product including the packaging.
Over the coming months, pupils will be working on the project, with the help of volunteers from RSSL who will visit the school every fortnight. They will sponsor all the materials and resources for the project as well as prizes for the winning groups.

Pupils will work in groups of two and three to design a food product as well as producing a video diary and a community video or leaflet which discuss the ‘human footprint’ of designing food products and packaging.

Headteacher, Andrew Griffin said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the pupils at Hillside. RSSL have been fantastic this year, supporting the school through different projects. Their support for food design project will allow the pupils at Hillside to develop a range of new skills and gain a rich understanding of food design, packaging and issues associated with food design and marketing.

“We hope the children develop their own entrepreneurial skills but they must also understand their responsibilities as business people to the consumer and to the community.”

Commenting on the Wokingham initiative, Jane Staniforth of RSSL said: “We wanted to do something really special to mark RSSL’s 20th birthday, and we feel we have done this by creating an exciting and informative food development project that children can literally get their teeth into. Hillside Primary School was a natural partner for this project given that we already know the staff and pupils at the school so well.”

Wokingham Borough Council