Takeaway lessons at the village school

A SMALL village school has cooked up a unique way of ensuring its survival by starting a takeaway service.

LUNCH DATE Takeaways are prepared LUNCH DATE: Takeaways are prepared

Pensioners and other hungry locals can order a two-course lunch from the school’s kitchen for the bargain price of £3.50.

Customers get the same menu as pupils, whose choices including sausage and mash, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and roasts. Italian meatballs and pizza are also popular.

FOLLOW THE EXPRESS ON TWITTER!

Sue Evans, head teacher of St Bartholomew’s primary school in Longnor, Staffordshire, for the past 15 years, said: “We are particularly looking at helping elderly people, but the takeaway meals could be for anyone.

“The price of £3.50 for a main meal and a pudding is probably less than it would cost to source the ingredients and cook it at home.

“We can’t take last-minute orders because the cook has to know what she is catering for, but most people are happy to plan ahead.”

As well as serving up food, the school, which has only 30 pupils, is the collection point for prescriptions when the local GP’s surgery is closed and works with the Community Learning Partnership which helps fund after-school clubs, playgroups and local groups that meet in the school.

A report published by the Commissioner for Rural Communities has highlighted how this kind of innovative work could hold the key to helping rural schools survive and Mrs Evans says she is always looking for other ideas to add to the school portfolio.

“We are never safe from closure, but we make sure we are embedded in the local community and are at its heart.” School cook Vickie Marson said: “It’s no trouble to do extra meals. We have 15 to 20 children having meals every day.”

Customer Christine Murray, 64, of Longnor, said: “All the food is very fresh. It’s a good idea.

“If there was no school, you wouldn’t have a community.”

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?