Superstar Cooks Get Active with Diversity’s Ashley Banjo

Superstar Cooks Get Active with Diversity’s Ashley Banjo

11 March 2015

This week, Sainsbury’s hosted an exclusive dance session with Diversity star Ashley Banjo, for the two winning schools of its Active Kids Superstar Cooks competition - Abbey Manor College from London and St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School from Wiltshire.

Launched in September 2014, the competition challenged school children to create the ultimate healthy recipe designed to be enjoyed by Ashley Banjo and the Diversity dancers.    

Sixteen budding chefs from six schools were invited to the London based final in January to cook their dishes from scratch for a panel of judges which included Ashley Banjo. Three pupils aged 9-11 from St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, and two 14 year-olds from Abbey Manor College, beat off stiff competition and hundreds of other recipes from all over the country to win in the Primary and Secondary school categories.   

The winning schools were rewarded with £10,000 to spend on Active Kids equipment, cooking facilities and ingredients for their school as well as an exclusive dance session for 30 pupils, with Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, which took place at Diversity’s Dancework studio in Rainham, Essex on Tuesday 10th March.

Ashley Banjo, Diversity star and Active Kids Superstar Cooks Ambassador, commented: “It’s been amazing to see so many young children embracing being active in a fun and energising way. Eating healthily has meant that I could take my love of dancing to the next level so it’s great that I’ve been able to share my own experience with young children through this competition.”

Abbey Manor 520

Abbey Manor College dancing with Ashley Banjo.

Sally Reeve, Food Studies Teacher at Abbey Manor College commented: “The pupils worked incredibly hard to create a nutritionally balanced recipe for the competition and it’s brilliant to see them reap their rewards. Ashley’s class has given them valuable dance skills that they can take away and continue to build on to stay active in their everyday lives.”

Tara Hewitt, Head of Active Kids at Sainsbury’s, said: “By working with schools and with role models like Ashley, we are helping young children develop the skills that will help them enjoy good food and be active throughout their lives.”

Further background

In September 2014, practical cookery became compulsory for children up to Year 9 in primary and secondary schools. Sainsbury’s Active Kids Superstar Cooks was launched to coincide with the introduction of the new compulsory cooking and nutrition aspects of the National Curriculum in England. Supported by free curriculum-linked lesson plans and recipe ideas, the competition aimed to help to get children aged five to 16 cooking in the kitchen.

Winners’ details:

  • Primary category: St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Corsham, Wiltshire, wowed judges with its Bonfire Night Bangers’ n’ Beans dish. Pupils’ names and ages are as follows: Joseph Rudland, aged 11, Lilli Gibbings, aged 10, and Aisling Massaccessi, aged 9.
  • Secondary category: Abbey Manor College in Lewisham, London, secured the Secondary category winner’s spot with Marinated Lamb on Seeded Flatbread with Ratatouille and Caramelised Onion Hummus. Pupils’ names and ages are as follows: Kevin Bongo-Bompeti and Kweku Bangura, both aged 14

The new 2015 Active Kids voucher collection launches on 28th January until 5th May. Vouchers can collected at all Sainsbury’s stores, petrol stations and when ordering groceries online. Active Kids vouchers can be redeemed for a range of cookery and sports equipment. For more information, visit the Active Kids Website.