The Health for Life programme promotes an ethos and environment which encourages a proactive approach to developing a healthy lifestyle.

The Health for Life in Primary Schools programme is funded by Mondelēz International and delivered by Services For Education. It aims to make a sustained and demonstrable improvement in healthy lifestyles across Birmingham.

The Health for Life in Primary Schools programme supports primary schools in engaging their community in healthy active lifestyles and embeds the work in the school culture and curriculum to promote sustainability. It is intended to increase pupils’ knowledge and skills and effect changes in healthy lifestyle attitudes and behaviour.

We Have an Exciting Announcement! Michelin-Starred Chef, David Taylor, Will Join Us For SFE’s Health For Life Cookathon 2026.

We are really excited to be joined by Michelin-starred chef and Chef Director of Grace and Savour and Kynd at Hampton Manor, David Taylor, for this year’s Cookathon.

David will be creating a brand-new recipe for schoolchildren and staff from Birmingham, the UK or even around the globe, to cook together on 3rd June. Find out more about the event, and our fantastic guest chef, below. 

David Taylor trained under the guidance of Birmingham’s Glynn Purnell before moving to Norway where he was part of the team that won three Michelin stars at Oslo’s Maaemo.

Maaemo instilled in David the discipline of responding to what the land yields, and the art of telling a cultural story through the craftsmanship of food.

David opened his first solo restaurant Grace & Savour at Hampton Manor with his wife Anette Taylor, Restaurant Director, in 2022 to critical acclaim, receiving a Michelin just one year after opening. His second restaurant, Kynd, opened at Hampton Manor in February 2025.

David Taylor

David On What Getting Involved Means to Him:

“Getting children cooking and loving food is one of the most important things we can give our kids. Food creates community, health, relationships and an accessible craft which only means deliciousness for everyone. Health for Life’s work is so important, nothing gets people together like food so getting kids mucky and exploring the wonderful results of what being creative with food can be like is something they can take with them for the rest of their lives.”

What is the Health for Life Cookathon?

Last year, 3521 pupils, at 50 schools in Birmingham and beyond took part in our Cookathon with Poppy Cooks at the helm – we even had budding chefs taking part from as far away as Kenya! This year, help us break that 4,000 participant mark.

We are inviting schools to share in our love of healthy eating by cooking along with esteemed Chef Director David Taylor and fellow schools/settings on 3rd June.

David has created a completely new recipe for Cookathon participants and will record a cooking masterclass in time for the event. David will then join students at a chosen Birmingham school for a live Cookathon demo, while participants do the same at their schools using his fantastic video, spreading the news and sharing the results via social media!

Sign up here to receive the recipe, ingredients list and access to the video when it goes live, along with any updates about the event.

Pink star icon with a mini person icon within it.  Share your successes!

We would love you to share your pictures and stories with us so we can see how you got on, on the day and after the event.

This will also help us create a real, healthy-eating buzz on social media in the education community and beyond!

Please tweet your photos and use #Cookathon2026 so we can see what you’re doing and tag us in @SFE_Tweets & @SFE_SS

   Who can take part?

Any schools can take part, in fact the more the merrier! The recipe and instructions will be made accessible to all.

More information

 Why take part in the Health For Life Cookathon?

We are very proud to have such an amazing community of schools across Birmingham. The Cookathon is an exciting event which offers a chance to celebrate and promote healthy lifestyles, whilst working safely and collaboratively.

 You can also use the Cookathon to: 

  • Create or strengthen links with parents and families (if you invite them in to join in).
  • Offer your pupils a real-life opportunity to embed your DT curriculum in an inspiring way.
  • Inspire your pupils to consider future careers in catering and hospitality, whilst experiencing fun and healthy eating.
  • Promote your school to the rest of your school, group or community.
  • Promote healthy eating to others.

We know the thought and preparation that go into organising school events, so we will make this as easy as possible for all to take part. Please see our FAQs below for some info.

Where should we do the cooking?

Schools vary enormously in the facilities they have – some schools have a classroom just for cooking, other schools will have portable cooking equipment that goes from class to class. It is up to you where it is best to do the cooking – we don’t mind so long as it is safe for the pupils and also that they have fun doing it.

How many children should we involve?

It would be great for as many children as possible to be involved. You could have several classes either cooking at the same time or over the school day – it’s entirely up to you.

And if you are inviting in parents or other people you could have some children write the invitations, act as waiters/waitresses serving the dish.

Do we need a separate risk assessment?

When cooking in schools you do need to do a risk assessment ahead of the event. As part of the risk assessment you would need to check on food allergies of any guests that you might invite.

The 2025 Cookathon took place on Mond,ay 17th March, with celebrity chef Poppy Cooks. The event was absolutely fantastic. Watch the video below to see what it’s all about. You can also find the recipe below too.

DOWNLOAD POPPY'S RECIPE HERE

Sign up here to receive the recipe, ingredients list and access to the video when it goes live, along with any updates about the event.

Our Cookathon 2024

The 2024 Cookathon took place on Tuesday 28th February 2024, with celebrity chef Poppy Cooks at the helm. You can still use our video, below.

Our Cookathon 2020

The 2020 Cookathon took place on Tuesday 11th February 2020, with Birmingham’s own Michelin Star Chef Glynn Purnell at the helm. You can still use our video below.

Download Glynn Purnell’s Winter Vegetable Soup recipe here

Our Cookathon – 2018

On 23rd October, our Health For Life schools took part in a cookathon to promote healthy living. The cooking is demonstrated by award winning chef Marcus Bean. You can watch the video and download the recipes, below.

Download our Root Vegetable Recipe here

And the Homemade Bread Recipe here.

For more information contact us here or call us on 0121 366 9950.

Cookathon Competition 2024

*THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED*

This year, we are introducing an exciting new competition to our Cookathon event, giving your school the chance to win a Yaheetech Portable Fire Pit to use in any outdoor setting or lesson!

How to Enter:

  • Make sure you’re following @SFE_Tweets & @MDLZ on X (formerly known as twitter)
  • Post and tag us in pictures of your school getting involved in this year’s Cookathon, using the hashtag #Cookathon2024

Closing date for entry will be midnight 1st March 2024.

1- The promoter is: Services For Education Ltd (company no. 07739831) whose registered office is at Services For Education, Unit 3 Holt Court, Holt Street, Birmingham, B7 4AX

2- The competition is open to residents of the United Kingdom aged 18 years or over except employees of Services For Education and their close relatives and anyone otherwise connected with the organisation or judging of the competition.

3- There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.

4- By entering this competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.

5- Route to entry for the competition and details of how to enter are via https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/health-for-life/ and the competition will take place on Twitter.

6- Only one entry will be accepted per person. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified.

7- Closing date for entry will be midnight 1st March 2024. After this date then no further entries to the competition will be permitted.

8- No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.

9- The rules of the competition and how to enter are as follows:

  • Make sure you’re following @SFE_Tweets & @MDLZ on X (formerly known as twitter)
  • Post and tag us in pictures of your school getting involved in this year’s Cookathon, using the hashtag #Cookathon2024

10- The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God, or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.

11- The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this competition.

12- The prize is as follows:

The prize is as stated – one Yaheetech Portable Fire Pit – and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.

13- Winners will be chosen at random:

Entrants will be recorded manually and allocated a random number and the winner will be selected at random via Number Picker Wheel by 4pm on Monday 4th March.

14- The winner will be notified by email and/or DM on Twitter within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 14 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner.

15- The promoter will be in touch within 7 days of the winner being announced to arrange delivery of the prize to the winning educational setting.

16- The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

17- The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.

18- The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material, as well as their entry. Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent.

19- This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, or any other Social Network. You are providing your information to Services For Education and not to any other party. The information provided will be used in conjunction with the following Privacy Policy found at https://www.servicesforeducation.co.uk/privacy-notice/

20- The winner’s name will be available 28 days after the closing date by emailing the following address: HealthForLife@servicesforeducation.co.uk

Are you eligible to take part in the 2026 Health for Life Programme?

Every year, we invite a select number of schools to apply to take part in our Health for Life Programme and gain £3,500 in funding, but there are only twelve places available! 

Use the search box below to find out if your school is eligible to take part in the next cohort, and if you are interested in applying, sign up to our Briefing on Thursday, 18th June. If you can’t make this date, but would like to apply, please email us here. 

 
Use the tabs to find out more about the Health for Life Programme, including how the process works and videos showing what previous participant schools have achieved.

Health for Life in Primary Schools promotes a change process based on 4 steps which aim to achieve results across the 4 strands of the programme.

The programme may be divided into four steps, each of which follows logically from the last. These are illustrated in the model below:

The programme is as much about changing attitudes and perceptions as it is about physical change. It is important to ensure that all aspects of change are considered and planned for in order to ensure short-term benefits are turned into long-term rewards.

Involving the children and other members of the school community will help them to feel ownership of their project, another key to success.

  • Get Thinking. This is the chance to review your current practice and involve children and staff in considering what is available in school for growing, learning about food, cooking and increasing physical activity.
  • Get Planning. Using the information gathered from the previous step and, with the support of your adviser, you will develop an Action Plan which outlines what you want to achieve and how you intend to do it.
  • Get Doing. This is the heart of the programme where you put your plan into practice and the activities for each of the 4 strands come together.
  • Get Reviewing. The final step involves monitoring and reporting progress, assessing achievements and celebrating success. Learning from this stage will also, of course, help you see how to move forward, sustaining and developing activities in the future.

Whilst following the 4 steps is key to meeting the targets we have tried to avoid setting out a rigid structure. Schools, teachers and pupils are all different so it is up to each school to decide how best to implement the programme.

HFL Timeline:

With support from your SFE  Adviser, you will:

  • Find your starting place as a school, highlight what you do already and start making a plan
  • Complete simple online baseline surveys with pupils
  • Carry out a gentle, reflective school audit
  • Develop practical, inspiring ideas for positive change
  • Choose a staff member to enjoy three funded training days
  • Create a clear, manageable Action Plan with achievable steps
  • Submit your Action Plan by early December to unlock the first part of the grant

With continued support, you will:

  • Begin bringing your Action Plan to life
  • Involve the whole school community in positive and manageable change
  • Approach all strands in ways that feel engaging and motivating
  • Collect evidence of progress along the way

You will:

  • Keep building on the great work in your Action Plan
  • Join the uplifting Celebration Event in June
  • Take part in our whole-school Cookathon
  • Take part in the BBC Gardeners’ World wheelbarrow event
  • Continue engaging the whole school in enjoyable, meaningful activities
  • Gather ongoing evidence of the difference you’re making

With continued support, you will:

  • Start tying up and completing tasks on your Action Plan
  • Keep the whole school involved in positive, practical change
  • Repeat pupil surveys and the school audit to see your progress
  • Pull together evidence for your final to showcase your achievements

You will:

  • Celebrate your school’s achievements and receive your plaque at the Awards Ceremony

Celebration Event

Our mid-year Celebration event, held in late July/early July is a chance for our current HFL schools to come together and showcase the amazing things they have been doing in their schools. This event, held at the Heritage Suit within Mondelez HQ is full of laughter, learning and fun.

Children and staff from our schools share activities around the key themes of HFL- Healthy Eating and Cooking, Growing Food and Physical Activity. We’ve seen all manner of things from seed bombs and composting, salsa and mocktails to healthy pot noodles, rugby and even Drumba!

This event is one of the highlights of the HFL calendar and really brings demonstrates the difference the programme can make and the dedication of our schools!  

Awards Event

Our Annual Awards Event, held in February, is the ‘Oscars’ of Health for Life and is the chance for all of our completing schools to be recognised and celebrated for their incredible efforts towards the HFL. This event, held in the stunning Cadbury Concert Hall is the perfect way to close out the programme and show off all the incredible hard work from our schools.

We are lucky to get the share the event not only with staff and children from schools, but also members of the Services For Education team, staff from Mondelez International and even very special guests such as the Lord Mayor of Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

Each school is presented with a beautiful plaque to recognise their achievement, which can be displayed in their school for years to come! 

During the Autumn and Spring terms, your school will be invited to take part in four uplifting and practical courses, with at least one staff member attending from your team.

The courses will focus on:

  • Growing food
  • Physical activity
  • Healthy eating and cooking skills

These days are designed to be inspiring and enjoyable. You’ll have the chance to explore a variety of activities and meet organisations, charities and companies who can offer ideas and support to help Health for Life flourish in your school.

In previous years, guests have included brilliant partners such as Aston Villa, Birmingham Adult Education Service, The Conservation Volunteers, Skip2Bfit and many more. These sessions are invaluable for discovering practical ways to weave HFL into your school life, your curriculum, and your wider community, making the journey both achievable and exciting.

Quotes from delegates:

“There was a wealth of ideas, tips and tricks. I’ve come away with a headful of ideas to engage parents, staff, pupils and the community!” Staff member – All Saint’s Primary

“The practical aspect of the training is the jewel in the crown. It was planned with great thought as to how it can be transferred in a manageable way back to school” Deputy Headteacher – Corpus Christi Primary School

“I have gained confidence in my own abilities in cooking and in my ability to teach skills and techniques in a safe and appropriate way. In addition, the food was amazing!” Headteacher – Red Boots Primary

Let’s Cook Training:

The expert team from Let’s Cook work directly with school staff, delivering a fun, informative and interactive workshop designed to build knowledge, confidence and long‑lasting healthy habits. This hands‑on approach supports the Health for Life project by bringing the programme to life in your school and helping participants understand why healthy choices matter and how to make them part of daily routines.

Accreditations and Partnerships:

The programme supports the NHS Better Health- Healthier Families initiative and offers a wide range of enjoyable opportunities that help families move towards healthier, more active lifestyles. It works in partnership with fantastic organisations including Birmingham Adult Education Service, Spark Active, Aston Villa, The Conservation Volunteers, and many more.

These partnerships bring rich expertise, hands on activities, and inspiring experiences that help embed healthy habits across the whole community.

The programme is generously funded by Mondelēz International and is delivered in Primary schools by Services for Education, and the wider community programme is delivered by The Conservation Volunteers.

Andy Holmes – Headteacher – Hollyfield Primary School

“Health for Life has raised awareness across the school community about making healthy choices. All of our pupils have been involved in growing fruit and vegetables and the programme has totally transformed our DT curriculum with children cooking more in school and engaging parents with take home pots.

We are offering a broader range of physical activities, particularly at lunchtimes with the support of our young leaders. Brain and movement breaks in class have also greatly improved children’s mental health and emotional regulation.”

Sharmin Robinson – Starbank School

“What a fantastic programme HFL has been- we, as a school, have embraced everything about it and our children, staff and families are all come on board joyfully and with gusto.

All four areas of HFL are embedded positively within school life and it’s exciting to know that more can be added to enhance our curriculum further. Thank you for your support! We are invested!”

Donna Pawley – Assistant Head – Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School

“Health for Life has been brilliant in that it has enabled us to new cooking equipment. The cooking lessons have been fabulous and to see the joy on the children’s faces has been wonderful. Our garden has also been a huge success and the enthusiasm of the children is infectious! They have loved growing and cooking food!”

The main documents that you will need through the course of the Health for Life programme can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.

Primary Schools:

Page Last Modified:  06/05/2026 12:27