2026 School Leader Food Hero SHARON HUNTER, MEARNS PRIMARY SCHOOL, EAST RENFREWSHIRE, SCOTLAND

Headteacher Sharon Hunter is leading a total food education revolution in the West of Scotland! Driven by a mission to break the reliance on processed convenience foods, Sharon transformed a standard classroom into a fully equipped teaching kitchen and made cooking a core part of daily life. Through the school’s brilliant ‘Gastronomers’ pathway, every single child from Nursery to Primary 7 treats food education with the exact same importance as maths or reading.

Sharon’s boundary-pushing vision didn’t stop indoors, either. She successfully rallied her community and raised over £10,000 to build ‘Spark Park’: an innovative outdoor learning space complete with dedicated cooking zones, BBQs, and pizza ovens.

From turning child-led curiosity about pen pals into a massive Middle Eastern community banquet, to partnering with the Glasgow School of Art to launch a student-run café, Sharon has completely redefined school culture. She is turning her pupils into passionate, capable young chefs who understand how food brings people together. 

Massive congratulations, Sharon

WHAT THE CELEB JUDGES THOUGHT…

“I love the fact that Sharon has made cooking and food such a positive part of school life. Helping children build confidence in the kitchen is a skill they’ll carry with them for years to come and it’s easy to see why she’s been recognised with this award.” Joe Swash

Huge thanks to our headline partner, Wonde, for making the awards possible.