Master Composter for Schools in Action

School Garden News Report

Franche Commnity Primary School, Kidderminster

FFLP Flagship School

Mary Bendall, Teaching Assistant at Franche Community Primary School in Kidderminster, was one of the first to be trained by Garden Organic as a Master Composter for Schools.  As part of the Food For Life Partnership, Garden Organic is committed to training a band of committed composters who can spread the message amongst their local schools and community and encourage others to become involved with the transformation of food culture.

Mary joined other school staff to receive her day’s training at Garden Organic Ryton in April 2009, and left with resources and the information required to work independently in her locality.  She made contact with local recycling officers at her county and local councils which she has found very helpful in terms of networking, local information and resources.  Her local environmental centre “Bishop’s Wood” have also helped by promoting her services to schools in the area.

Mary has promoted composting at a council information event and a schools’ networking event; and has responded to queries on the Garden Organic Master Composter forum.

At school she has run composting activities at the school Summer Fair; includes composting in the gardening activities she runs with pupils; run sessions for parents and toddlers at the school’s Children’s Centre; and worked with pupils during class time where links are made with the curriculum.

Food For Life Partnership has had a huge impact on Franche Community Primary in terms of cooking, farm links and improved school meal quality.  Growing has always been an important activity in the school, and by having a trained Master Composter on the staff this has raised the profile of the school locally.

Mary Bendall has some top tips: “Don't expect instant results, choose events where people may be interested.  Make it easy for people; schools can start off just doing fruit & crumpled paper and add other material later.

Events at environmental centres where you are preaching to the converted  are a great confidence boost.  Always expect things to go wrong – I have had events decimated by tummy buys, swine flu, and the weather.”

To attend the next Master Composters for School training day on 21^st April 2010 at Garden Organic Ryton (free for schools enrolled on Food For Life Partnership) please contact This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it