Pheasant on the school menu is a Game Changer

A project to teach 60,000 students to cook game by 2020 has been inundated with requests for sessions with schools since its launch.

BASC’S Taste of Game and the Food Teachers Centre launched the “Game Changer” initiative in June and it has already engaged with over 200 schools.

More than 150 teachers have requested training on how to prepare pheasant and 140 schools have asked for a masterclass. So far, 126 schools have requested a supply of pheasants to help with lessons.

Annette Woolcock from Taste of Game said: “We are so excited about this project; the engagement and enthusiasm from the schools has been incredible.

“It is lovely that a new generation will understand game and know how to cook it. I would also like to say a huge thank you to the game dealers and shoots that are donating pheasants to their local schools.”

Last month, a student masterclass was held in Exeter as part of British Food Fortnight. This included a demonstration in preparing pheasant and making pheasant breast bruschetta to 20 year-10 students. This was followed by practical cooking sessions for 100 students throughout the day.

Louise Davies from the Food Teachers Centre said: “Food teachers are very excited to be offered practical training and student masterclasses. It fits perfectly with the new exam courses, where students have to demonstrate high-level skills, such as preparing meat, and where they are expected to understand how animals are reared and prepared.”

The initiative has already engaged with more than 200 schools