Pupils get a taste for international food

Unity Academy’s Design Technology Day gave its primary school pupils the chance to escape their typical maths, English, and science lessons and instead enjoy a taste of France and China, as well as some home comforts.

The event, which the Warbreck Hill Road school holds every term, saw the youngsters take part in various tasks designed to boost their understanding of all things design and technology, as well as different cultures.

Primary vice-principal Beth Latham said: “In today’s fast-paced technology-rich world, we often rely on convenience products to make life easier, but this has led to a lack of knowledge about where food comes from and how it’s made.

“The children preparing, making, and tasting their own food has allowed them to learn about food and its origins in an enjoyable and memorable way.

“It was great to see the delight and pride on their faces, knowing the food they were trying had been made by them.”

One of four workshops saw students cooking up onion soup and homemade bread.

Another two, called Tasting France and Tasting China, had them trying brioche, pain au chocolat, prawn crackers, spring rolls, and noodles.

In the final workshop, pupils focused on Spain, juicing fresh fruit and making paper lanterns to create a fiesta display in the school corridors.

Tyler Butt, in Year 3, said: “I didn’t really have a favourite food, I liked it all. The only thing I didn’t like was the smell of the French coffee beans.

“When I went to France, I tried snails, and loved them too.”

Unity is Blackpool’s only all-through academy, catering for children aged from two to 16.

It became an academy in 2013 and is sponsored by the Fylde Coast Academy Trust (FCAT), which is currently seeking government permission to open another all-through school in South Shore.