HEAD chef at More House School Matt Potts has won Independent School Caterer of the Year at the prestigious, nationwide EDUcatering Excellence Awards.

Matt has spent the last 12 months pioneering a sugar reduction programme aptly named, Half Measures.

Half Measures has seen Matt reduce sugar content in all school desserts by a significant 50 per cent, and the overall sugar content used at the school by 20 kilos per week.

The money saved has been pumped back into the school and used to purchase fresh produce, such as fresh leafy green vegetables that are included in popular sauces, and ingredients to replace sugary cereals, with homemade healthy alternatives.

Other positive changes Matt has made at his school include the introduction of a Cooking For Life programme for sixth formers, designed to equip pupils with lifelong food knowledge and cookery skills.

He also ensures all of the meat, fish and fruit and vegetables used at More House are sourced from within a 10-mile radius, and spends a lot of time educating pupils and staff about food provenance.

More House headmaster Jonathan Hetherington, said: “The pupils, parents, staff and governors of More House School, Frensham, are delighted that the initiative and creativity of head chef, Matthew Potts, has been recognised by this award.

“The students, all of whom must overcome barriers to their education caused by Specific Learning Difficulties in order to achieve success at GCSE and A-level, have benefited enormously from Matthew’s visionary ‘Half Measures’ scheme, which halves the sugar content in pupils’ diets, as well as from the many other exciting initiatives delivered by the inspiring catering team at More House School.

“Matthew has been excellently supported by the school’s catering manager, Simon John, and by independent schools caterer, Holroyd Howe, with whom Matthew has received and delivered training.”

Matt was up against strong competition at the EDUcatering Awards, and is delighted to have won such a prestigious award.

He said: “Consistently improving the health and wellbeing of pupils is my number one goal, and to be honoured by the EDUcatering Awards for my efforts so far is incredibly rewarding.

“This award must be shared with everybody at both More House School and Holroyd Howe who has worked with me to bring about the positive changes we’ve made over the last 12 months.

“I am extremely proud of this achievement and look forward to continuing to develop new ways to tackle unhealthy attitudes towards food.”