Teacher Toolkit Tuesday - Fish in School Hero programme brings fresh skills to classrooms
Published 23rd September 2025
The Fish in School Hero (FISH Heroes) programme is giving pupils across the UK the chance to prepare, cook and taste fish before they leave school. The initiative builds practical cookery skills and confidence for students, while providing teachers with training, resources and free fish to use in lessons.
At its core, the programme helps pupils master essential techniques such as filleting, seasoning and cooking. Lessons also explore the nutritional benefits of fish, rich in protein, vitamins and omega-3s, as well as wider topics including sustainability, food sourcing and global cuisines. This makes it a strong fit for curriculum priorities around health, wellbeing and food education.
Breaking down barriers
Teachers often find that working with fish can be challenging, whether due to student reluctance, tight school budgets or the rising cost of fresh produce. FISH Heroes helps to remove these barriers by supplying fish free of charge, sharing easy-to-use classroom resources, and offering practical training days that boost teacher confidence.
Real classroom impact
The programme has already had a significant impact. Thousands of pupils have benefitted from donations including:
- 20,000 portions of salmon
- 4 tonnes of mussels for 16,000 pupils
- 100kg of scallops for 5,000 pupils
- 1,250 portions of hake
- Nearly 5,000 portions of frozen hake through the ‘Fish from the Chippy’ project
Students report feeling more confident cooking fish after taking part, and many are eager to try it again at home. For many, it has been their first experience handling fish, an experience that has proven both memorable and rewarding.
'Inspired by industry': Mindful Chef
FISH Heroes also connects with the 'Inspired by Industry' Mindful Chef context, which highlights the rise of modern recipe boxes. These meal kits give households everything they need to create healthy, balanced meals, often featuring fresh fish. By exploring this industry example, students can see how the skills they are learning, preparing, portioning, cooking and presenting fish, link directly to real-world food trends.
Mindful Chef can act as a starting point for classroom projects where students reflect on how fish fits into ready-to-cook meal kits. This encourages pupils to think about nutrition, presentation, and innovation, while reinforcing their practical cookery skills.
‘Inspired by Industry’ is free for all teachers to use, with additional member-only tasks and activities available for Design & Technology Association members.
How teachers can get involved
Teachers can join the Food Teachers Centre Community Fish Hero programme to access free fish deliveries, online resources and training. Practical training days are closely aligned with GCSE and vocational course requirements, helping pupils develop knowledge and skills that support both qualifications and lifelong learning.
To register or find out more, visit Fish in School Hero programme or contact info@foodteacherscentre.co.uk.
To support teachers further, a handy downloadable PDF article is available. This resource can be kept in your classroom as inspiration to revisit and share whenever you want to highlight how sustainability and creativity can come alive in design and technology.
