PRACTICAL cookery classes will be compulsory for all 11 to 14 years olds from 2011.

In the 85 per cent of schools that already offer food technology, it will be mandatory from September.

The plans were announced by schools secretary Ed Balls, who said: "Teaching kids to cook healthy meals is an important way schools can help produce healthy adults."

Pupils will be taught to make healthy meals and will also learn about nutrition, hygiene and sensible shopping.

Ingrid Masters, head teacher of Winton Arts and Media College in Bournemouth, said: "We welcome these plans from the government and we already teach catering."

She said cookery was a very popular subject and more than a third of the boys took catering for GCSE.

She said: "Children need to do cooking themselves and the kitchen we have is more suitable for demonstrations so to improve the facilities we are constantly fundraising."

To help raise the £50,000 needed to re-fit the kitchen, the school is holding a five course dinner at the Royal Bath Hotel on February 29. Tickets cost £35 and are available by calling 01202 529738.

Mrs Masters said it is difficult to find trained food technology teachers.The school had to advertise a post three times before finding chef Tom Workman, who the school is training to teach.

Next month the school is introducing cooking sessions for pupils and their parents.

Mrs Masters said: "We have noticed the impact over the last three years. We are seeing less junk food being eaten in school.

"This is the way forward but we really need support to make it successful."

At Rossmore Community College in Poole, key stage three pupils learn food technology and catering is offered at GCSE.

Head teacher and former home economics teacher Sally Apps said: "I am very pleased to see the government is putting this higher on the agenda. I am passionate about children learning life skills.

"This is about enjoyment of food, trying new things as well as health eating."

Bournemouth borough councillor Roger West wants families to be able to encourage their children to cook at home as well as at school.

He is lobbying the planning board to ensure that any new developments allow sufficient kitchen space.