
On the 14th March 2024, Year 8 students, spent one of three annual Drop Days exploring the impact of food poverty.
On Drop Days the timetabled curriculum is suspended for the purpose of allowing staff and students dedicated time to delve more deeply into topics (such as those outlined in the RSE and PSHE curricula) which enhance understanding of life beyond the classroom and develop students in the fulfilment of their roles as informed, compassionate citizens.
Food poverty regrettably is impacting considerably upon the lives of many of families. We are by no means the exception and, like many schools nationally we are doing all that we can feasibly do to support those in need.
By way of a community response, Year 8, guided by their Head of Year, Ms Ahmed (an experienced Social Sciences teacher) worked to initiate a project aimed at raising awareness of food poverty whilst simultaneously seeking to reduce its impact within our school community. The students set about planning with the intention of establishing a sustainable link with our local food bank, the Hackney Foodbank. Their commitment has been absolute: they would raise the profile of the importance of charitable donation and collect food regularly to support the needs of those less fortunate within our school and local community.

Over the course of the past 3 months, students, Lammas families and staff have been donating food to the Year 8 collection. On the 7th May, a small group of student representatives went on a shopping trip to our local ALDI in Leyton to supplement the donations with a food shop purchased by the school. The visit to ALDI in turn presented another meaningful educational opportunity as students were encouraged to make decisions about the items they chose; they were asked to consider the value of perishable and non-perishable foodstuffs, those most filling and how healthy they were whilst also considering differing cultural diets and the cost of the items selected. Selecting food within a budget encouraged the students to consider budget planning and expenditure, which in turn supported our schoolâs numeracy strategy.
The students and staff at Lammas School put such care into shopping for food which they knew we were running desperately short of and, when we visited them, they showed such empathy and kindness. Weâre so very grateful to the families who got behind this collection for Hackney Foodbank. Demand for our emergency food parcels has increased by 53% in just a year and generosity like this makes a huge difference.
Jenna Fansa – Hackney Foodbank
Lammas year 8 students were incredibly proud to hand over the food and household goods they had collected and purchased to the Hackney Foodbank last week. It is our communal hope that we can create a sustainable partnership with the foodbank and one whereby we continue to donate whilst signposting their much needed service to those families who need it most.