A Kent headteacher says the government’s scheme to pay for new school teaching kitchens is a "step in the right direction."

Richard Wallis, head of Sandwich Technology School, has welcomed the £151 million to help build the kitchens in schools across the country.

Mr Wallis said: "It is once again further recognition that schools are playing a much broader role than purely academic, and that healthy eating, healthy body and healthy mind is important."

The funding Schools Secretary Ed Balls has announced comes ahead of the compulsory cooking lessons for 11 to 14 year olds that are due to come in from 2011.

As well as for building new food technology areas, the money will go towards recruiting and training 800 specialist teachers all over the country.

Today healthy eating is top of the agenda but it has not always been that way.

Mr Wallis said: "What happened in 1997 is cooking fell off the curriculum.

"Now everyone is starting to realise the folly of that policy and starting to change and realise that actually healthy eating is hugely important."

The former Headteacher of the Year went onto say: "Unfortunately a lot of the infrastructure was lost in re-modelling and re-designing as other priorities were set higher by the government."

Although Sandwich Technology School already holds cookery classes, Mr Wallis says facilities will need to be improved.

He said: "We lack sufficient facilities to service increasing demands so we will certainly be requesting additional facilities.

"I really do think that the tide has turned and people are looking to imaginative ways and looking towards cooking some exciting and tasteful dishes."

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