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By Barbara Rathmill and Roy Ballam
Food education equips young people with vital skills for life, such as cooking and consumer awareness, nurtures an understanding of nutrition and food science, and inspires future careers in hospitality, catering, and health.
Yet for many food teachers, the role can feel isolating. In a typical secondary school, there may be only one specialist teacher responsible for an entire subject area.
This is where the Food Teachers Centre steps in - a professional lifeline, connecting colleagues across the UK and providing the support, resources, and advocacy that food education urgently needs.
Founded in 2013, the Food Teachers Centre has grown into a thriving community of over 9,900 food teachers, trainees, and educators. Its mission is simple but powerful:
to raise standards in food education
ensure every teacher has access to the training, resources, and peer support they need.
Crucially, membership of the community is free, and the organisation is led by volunteers - experienced educators who understand first-hand the challenges of the classroom.
At the heart of the Centre is its online community, a group where teachers share ideas, swap resources, and problem-solve together. Whether you’re grappling with GCSE NEAs, looking for ways to reduce food waste in lessons, or searching for a fresh practical idea, chances are another teacher has already been there and is ready to help. Teachers often describe the network as their ‘staffroom of colleagues’, a space that dissolves the isolation of being a lone subject specialist.
But the Centre is far more than a discussion forum. Each year it organises online, regional and national training events, reaching thousands of teachers. These events bring expert speakers, hands-on workshops, and opportunities to explore the latest curriculum changes.
These include:
Foundations in Food KS3
Food Science Tutorials
Food safety in classrooms
Mastering Higher Level Food Skills
Food Assessment Standardised Tasks – and so much more.
Food teachers say they gain:
more confidence in managing NEA / exams
practical teaching ideas
peer support & reduced isolation
up-to-date guidance
better resources & training.
You can access all our training via our CPD hub: https://food-teachers-centre.cademy.io/
The Centre also plays an active role in representing food education at a national level, advocating food education, working with government departments, NGOs, and others to make sure the voices of food teachers are heard.
The impact is clear. Surveys show that teachers who engage with the Food Teachers Centre report greater confidence, stronger exam results, and a richer bank of teaching strategies. Just as importantly, they speak of feeling part of a movement - connected to colleagues who share their passion for giving young people the very best food education.
For any teacher of food, whether new to the profession or with decades of experience, joining the Food Teachers Centre is a step towards connection, inspiration, and empowerment. It costs nothing, but the benefits are invaluable.
So, if you haven’t already, consider joining this vibrant community. Share your ideas, learn from others, and be part of the national conversation shaping the future of food education. Because when food teachers come together, everyone benefits, especially the young people we teach.
If you need some help with any aspect of food education and think that we may be able to help you, please feel free to contact info@foodteacherscentre.co.uk
For more information visit our website Online Training – The Food Teachers Centre You can also sign up for the Newsletter.
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