Cookery classes to cut childhood obesity

The Department for Children, Schools and Families wants all 11- to 14-year-olds to receive an hour of cookery tuition every week.

Around 85 per cent of schools have teaching kitchens, and will be expected to introduce the change immediately. Other schools have until 2011.

The government has promised to back the initiative with £2.5m a year, which will be used to subsidise ingredients for children from low income families.

It also intends to make sure around 800 teachers and teaching assistants are trained to deliver cookery education.

The announcement comes ahead of the publication of the government's anti-obesity strategy, which is expected tomorrow.

The plan is likely to contain measures to restrict the sale of unhealthy food near schools, but is not expected to tighten rules on junk food advertising.