Evaluation of the Food Education Programme (2012-2015)

Conclusions

119. On the whole, the programme has been a success during the period it has run, with individual projects meeting and sometimes exceeding their targets.

120. In terms of delivery, the programme appeared to work well with no significant issues raised in terms of infrastructure, management or budget.

121. Good progress was also made, albeit to different degrees (by the different projects), against each of the programme outcomes.

122. Even though it was not possible to assess long term impact or behaviour change, data collected suggests that the programme has allowed pupils and teachers to make progress in the desired direction.

123. Over the time it has been running, the FEP has created a solid platform for the continuous inclusion of food as a topic for interdisciplinary learning in schools. The wide range of resources created, the extend of usage of these materials and the positive feedback provided by teachers who attended CPD or other learning events, demonstrates a clear appetite for continuous learning and availability of resources to support food education.

124. Teachers have played a vital role in the successful implementation of the programme, demonstrated via the increased number of teachers attending CPD or other events as well as through the significant use of the various teaching resources that have been made available to them.

125. However, there was also evidence of some resistance among some schools/teachers to engage with the programme. This was due to lack of resources and limited understanding and confidence among teachers on how to use food as a topic for learning. For project coordinators, overcoming this resistance remains an area of focus and review.

126. While some good progress has been achieved, there is still scope for further expansion with just over half of Scotland's primary and secondary schools having been involved in the programme so far.

127. With the level of industry in-kind investment in the programme increasing over time, there might be scope for greater independence of some of the projects, and therefore less reliance on Scottish Government funding.