Pupils go vegan for day

PUPILS at Shiplake College ate a plant-based lunch as part of Veganuary, a national campaign to encourage people to try vegan food in January.

Thomas Franks, the independent school’s caterers, provided a buffet selection of vegan curries, including a cauliflower and chickpea korma and a sweet potato and aubergine tikka.

A total of 38 students and 23 members of staff ate the vegan meal.

Jack Burrows, a geography teacher, calculated that the impact would be the equivalent of taking a car off the road for about six years.

Students who tried the lunch were given “eco points”, an extension of the school’s “excellence points”, which reward academic progress and good behaviour.

The school has an eco-committee, which encourages members of the school community to make minor adjustments to their lives and habits in order to benefit nature and the climate.

Charlie Scott, vice-chair of the committee, said: “Changing our food habits is one of the biggest things we can do to make a difference.”