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Food Teachers Centre
March 2026 Newsletter
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Dear
Welcome to our March newsletter. Our focus this month is how you can ask for the training you need and how to bid for CPD budget and time.
Also news this month:
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How to bid for CPD budget and time
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Food Teacher Day and other CPD/training/ events
Tips for strengthening your training requests
1. Performance management and appraisal
Link your request to Subject Development – colleagues to give specific target / priority areas as this strengthens the case for release for CPD.
a) direct links to teaching and learning targets
b) raising attainment / progress objectives
c) curriculum development targets
d) career progression and/or leadership development
e) Ofsted and quality of education
f) wellbeing and retention
2. It’s timely: National food teaching agenda & curriculum focus
3. Deep dives into real classroom challenges
4. Position it as part of your Departmental improvement plan (not just personal development) and local collaboration
5. Low cost with full value, CPD and beyond
From only £20 (not all need cover costs) with all content recorded, this is high-value CPD compared with most subject-specific training.
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Apply for a Bursary to help you fund your training
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From March 2026 we are delighted to announce a new funding partner. This means that we can bring our community low cost or free training to over 700 teachers who need it this year. We know that budgets are tight in schools, and that non-specialists and new teachers need practical and affordable training (on-line and face to face).
How to apply
In 2026 we are offering:
If you would like to apply for a Bursary, please find out how to sign up here to receive the codes to access the courses listed. This is only open to members of the Food Teachers Centre Communty.
Your application should provide us with information about your CPD or training needs (why you need a Bursary) and after training you should complete a feedback form so that we can communicate the impact of the Bursary.
WITH GRATEFUL THANKS to Nutritional Wellbeing Foundation – an independent UK grantmaker dedicated to improving public health through better nutrition. By funding innovative, evidence-based initiatives, the Foundation works to strengthen nutritional understanding and expand access to healthy food, with a particular focus on young people and health systems. From transforming food culture in secondary schools to influencing national policy, NWF backs practical programmes designed to reduce diet-related ill health and foster healthier environments across the UK.
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Take part in the Progress 8 Consultation
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There may be trouble ahead for food education in schools!
Neither science nor creative! Falling between the cracks!
Open consultation – Key stage 4 performance measures and targeted RISE extension
RESPOND BY 4 May 2026
The Department for Education (DfE) has proposed changes to Progress 8 (the school accountability measure) that aim to widen curriculum breadth. However, the detail shows this could come at the cost of subjects excluded from the DfE’s ‘breadth’ list.
In response to the reformed progress 8 calculation, schools will be pushed to redesign their key stage 4 curriculum. It is a likely consequence that this will limit pupil’s choice to groups of subjects.
The Department for Education (DfE) is seeking views on proposals to change the key stage 4 academic performance measures. Specifically, they are consulting on a revised Progress 8 curriculum model. This means that the existing ‘EBACC’ model will be replaced with a new model.
The diagram below show how English, maths and science will now have their own separate slots, with 2 additional GCSE’s coming from a list of subjects that provide ‘breadth’. The final 2 qualifications in ‘choice’ slots, contain all other subjects and all vocational courses from the Department for Education (DfE) approved list.
Subjects in the ‘CHOICE’ SLOT – a very large range of popular competing subjects, vocational choices, but also additional English and sciences.
For more information see Food Teachers Centre briefing note HERE
New progress 8 measure – for first use with current year 8 students (GCSE in 2029)
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Red Nose Day 20th March
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Friday 20th March is Red Nose Day – Get involved with this year’s theme of “Get funny for money : Dough Theme”.
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Food Teacher day
“One mission. Many classrooms”
Bookings are open
Friday 26th June, 9.30-2pm
only £20
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 Food Teacher Day: One mission, many classrooms
The event celebrates the important work and impact of secondary school food teachers, ensuring that children and young people have inspiring food experiences! It provides an opportunity, at a local level (but delivered nationally), to learn, share and interact together. There will be updates about the national food teaching agenda, consideration for looking beyond what we currently teach, and exploration of food teaching strategies.
The event has three key elements:
The event is being hosted regionally (60+ locations!), so check where is close to you, and will be delivered via online presentations and teacher activities.
Programme
Session 1: Curriculum review impact
 Session 2: Look beyond what you currently teach
 Session 3: Action plan for positive food lessons
 Each section will comprise a series of presentations broadcast nationally, with discussion and activity conducted locally.
1. Chose your closest venue-
Where can you meet your regions food and nutrition teachers?
Live Map View – CLICK HERE or on the map below.
 2. Or book using this list
Be part of this very special day
ONLY £20 – more information CLICK HERE
The Food Teacher Day 2026 is brought to you with financial support from the Nutritional Wellbeing Foundation.
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Live Meetings for Hospitality and Catering
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We’d like to invite you to our upcoming meetings.
These are free to those teachers already signed up for this year’s Top Marks H&C training – you will find details in the course chat forum and in your email. No need to book in advance, just come!
Or if you are not already joined up, you can still do so here, access is unlimited and includes these meetings plus all the ‘on demand content’. Sign up HERE
 Upcoming LIVE MEETINGS
All of this is included within the training, you have unlimited access, and access to a 24-7 chat forum to ask us questions.
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Professional Development brochure and programme
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