On Monday 25 November 2013, the Deputy Mayor, Victoria Borwick presented the first Kingston school with their Healthy Schools London Bronze Award. Hosted by the Leader of Kingston Council, Liz Green, Kingston Healthy Schools held a launch event to encourage schools across the Borough to get involved in the Healthy Schools London programme.

Children at Burlington Junior School looked after chickens, collecting the eggs for cooking lessons, and grew fruit and vegetables in an allotment for the school kitchen. Now the school has received a Healthy Schools London Bronze Award.

Victoria Borwick, Deputy Mayor of London, presented the school with its award in a ceremony at Kingston’s Guildhall, and helped to launch the local Healthy Schools Kingston programme.

Kingston’s scheme brings together all of the work going on in schools and the council to improve the health and wellbeing of the borough’s children. More than 20 schools have already signed up to take part. Schools can earn cash for achieving awards (up to £300 for primary schools and up to £700 for secondary schools) as an incentive to continue to work towards improving the health and wellbeing of their pupils.

Pip Utting, Burlington’s Head Teacher, said: “The school is delighted to be presented with the Healthy Schools London Bronze Award. Particular thanks go to our Healthy Schools leader Anneka Bond who worked very hard to secure this prestigious award".

“The children have enjoyed taking part in a variety of projects to help them learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles. We’re looking forward to working towards the Silver Award.”

Kingston Council has improved school kitchens and dining facilities since 2011 so that every primary and special school can cook fresh food on site. Just four schools are waiting for kitchens to be upgraded, with the work planned for next summer. Specialist staff have been recruited to work in secondary schools supporting young people on health-related issues including exam stress and body image.