Save the heart of our Schools!

We need your help, save Rhynie Primary School & Nursery Kitchen plus many more from closure!

The following is happening all over Aberdeenshire, rural school kitchens are being closed. Some were given merely 4days notice without any consultation!

 Aberdeenshire Council plans to close Rhynie Primary School & Nursery on-site kitchen that provides delicious home cooked meals for 74 pupils by dedicated staff, and also Lumsden Primary School and outsource meals to neighbouring primary school at Kennethmont, a 15 minute journey (further for Lumsden) as part of new budget costs. This closure isn’t just about food, It’s about potentially losing learning opportunities, our school community, and wellbeing.

This decision was made without parent and family consultation, and is due to happen January 2026. This will make a huge impact on children’s health, learning, and wellbeing. Our unique school kitchen is not just about food,  it is the heart of the school’s ethos of sustainability and community.

Children from our after school club Garden Gang grow produce in our school garden, which is served to all pupils during lunchtimes, distilling a huge sense of pride to the pupils. We also recently gained funding through a local windfarm grant to purchase a eco friendly state of the art composter which can compost all food waste, this is run by our pupil led eco group. Outsourcing meals from another school undermines these projects, increases food miles, and diminishes valuable learning opportunities.

Many schools have growing spaces already in place and are working hard investing into them to be able to provide these experiences should this not be encouraged by Aberdeenshire Council? 

On-site staff know our pupils personally, adapt meals to their needs, and provide flexibility for school events such as our monthly community cafes.  Outsourcing risks lower quality, less variety, and a loss of that vital connection.

Why our kitchen matters:

·      Our staff know each pupil, their dietary needs, fosters familiarity and  gains trust.

·      Promotes healthy eating habits every day in a nurturing environment.

·      Supports hands on learning through the pupil-led eco group and their new funded composter project

·      Reinforces life skills

·      Connects pupils to our thriving school garden: growing food, understanding food miles, creating their very own farm-to-fork journey.

·      Upholds our school’s sustainability and community ethos 

·      Enables flexible events: sports days, fayres, our monthly community cafes.

·      Keeps valued kitchen staff as part of our school community.

⚠️ Concerns:

·      Closing the kitchen undermines practical learning

·      Disconnects pupils from food provision, how it’s prepared, nutrition, meals brought in on trays 

·      Pushing neighbouring school kitchens facilities beyond capacity.

·      Freshness, variety, and quality of meals would be lost.

·      Less adaptable for allergies, intolerances

·      Logistical challenges and environmental impact.

·      Pupils lose their pride and connection from seeing their produce used in meals.

·      Where are the savings really being made? On electricity? Any reduction there will surely be offset by increased transportation costs.

·      Decision made without any parent and family consultation. 

School kitchens are the heart of every primary school. With the recent closures of three neighbouring rural schools and the mothballing of many more our school kitchens are now under threat of closure too. These kitchens provide far more than meals; they are a vital part of daily school life. Shouldn’t we be protecting our rural schools, especially when they are showing steady growth year after year? Our schools clearly demonstrate how they are shaping future generations to adopt more environmentally conscious practices in the face of our uncertain climate and environment. Alternative solutions could protect budgets without taking away vital resources.

Please share and sign our petition to help us keep it open!

#SaveOurKitchen #OurKitchenIsCommunity #RhyniePrimary&Nursery

Any questions please contact rhynieptc@outlook.com