Food – a Fact of Life conference inspires Scottish teachers

A hands-on, interactive conference at Abertay University provided teachers from across Scotland with curriculum support and teaching resources to help them empower young people with the skills and confidence needed to cook and eat well.

The Food – a Fact of Life conference’s highlight was a culinary masterclass led by Scotland's first National Chef, Gary Maclean, in the university’s state-of-the-art food science laboratories.

Over 80 food and nutrition teachers from secondary schools across Scotland took part in the 16 November event, gaining insights to inspire students with engaging, practical approaches to food education.

Gary, the 2016 winner of MasterChef: The Professionals, delivered an interactive session emphasising the importance of using local, nutritious ingredients while providing teachers with recipes and techniques to boost students’ culinary skills.

The conference embodied the mission of Food – a Fact of Life, the British Nutrition Foundation’s school education programme run in partnership with AHDB.

By connecting educators with innovative teaching strategies, the event aimed to enhance the delivery of food and nutrition education in schools, ensuring children gain confidence in cooking and a solid understanding of healthy food choices.

In addition to the masterclass, participants engaged in workshops hosted by Abertay’s food scientists, covering topics like 'The Science of Chocolate' and 'Factors Affecting Reformulation in Bakery Products'.

These sessions utilised the university’s cutting-edge £3.5m food innovation labs, including Scotland’s only specialised sensory suite, to explore the science behind food.

Student celebration

Gary also presented the British Nutrition Foundation Drummond Education Awards to students excelling in SQA National 5 and Advanced Higher Health and Food Technology courses.

This celebration of student achievement highlighted the importance of nurturing food literacy as part of Scotland’s curriculum.

Elsa Healey, AHDB’s Senior Education Manager, said:

"This conference provided an invaluable opportunity for teachers to gain practical ideas and strategies to enhance food education. By aligning with our aim to build children’s confidence in cooking and deepen their understanding of nutrition, the event not only supports educators but also empowers young people with lifelong skills and knowledge to make informed food choices.

"By fostering collaboration between educators, food scientists and culinary professionals, the conference directly supported AHDB’s commitment to build children’s confidence in cooking and knowledge of nutrition, reinforcing the role of food education in shaping a healthier future for Scotland."

Chef Gary Maclean led a culinary masterclass

One of the workshops in Abertay's cutting-edge labs