Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is now turning his attention to what goes on inside classrooms, instead of the kitchens, with plans to set up his own school.
While we love Oliver in our house – his food is easy to cook and delicious to eat plus he is doing great things – I'm not entirely sure I'd want my children to attend a Jamie Oliver School.
But it doesn't look like parents have much to worry about. This school, for teenagers who have struggled in the mainstream education system, is for a Channel 4 programme.
Fresh One Productions, Oliver's television company, is advertising for teenagers aged 16 to 19 from the Greater London area who have left school feeling unfulfilled to join Oliver's school "with a difference".
Failing to shine at school is something the chef knows about: he suffered from dyslexia and it wasn't until he reached catering college that he found his niche in life.
The Guardian reports that a source has revealed the project would offer those who hadn't got on well at school the opportunity "of something that is a little more inspiring".
Oliver's spokesman, Peter Berry, confirmed a new series was being planned but said the details were vague and the show, a prime-time one, was not scheduled to air for a long time and production had not yet begun.
Although details are vague as to how this school will be different from traditional ones, Berry confirmed it would be teaching teenagers general life skills rather than concentrating onfood.
Oliver is used to helping people: he trains underprivileged young people to staff his 15 restaurants, he's tried to re-educate Americans and people in this country to eat more healthily, and he's also tackled the state of school dinners.
The new school has got the backing of the head of family learning at the Campaign for Learning, Juliette Collier, who thought it could be "fantastic".
"Some young people find school a pretty humiliating and irrelevant experience, so anything that makes it interesting and relevant to them has to be a good thing," she told the Guardian.
What do you think? Do you think Jamie should stick to educating people about food or will his school experience help him provide a better one for others?
Source (The Guardian)