School Lunch

At Christ’s College Finchley, we believe that having a nutritious and delicious lunch is an important part of the school day and, as such, we do not contract out our catering to an outside agency and instead employ our own catering team, led by our Head Chef/Senior Food Educator, Amber Francis.

One of Britain’s most talented rising culinary stars, Amber is a chef with over ten years of experience operating in some of London’s top restaurants. She has extensive experience, becoming Head Chef at the age of 26. Crowned Young Chef of The Year 2022, Amber has also appeared on The Great British Menu 2023 and Square Meal’s ‘Ones To Watch’ list. Not limiting herself to the confines of fine dining kitchens, Amber is heavily involved with community projects. She has been a Young Chef Ambassador, Mental Health Ambassador and volunteered with food-based charities, including The Felix Project and Food Behind Bars.

The menu at CCF is changed six times a year and the fortnightly menu allows us to offer exciting variety. During lunch times, pupils can choose from the daily hot meals which cater to a wide variety of dietary requirements, freshly-made sandwiches and protein-pot salad bowls. Our salad bar has allowed pupils even more autonomy over their food decisions and we have found that pupils consume far more fresh fruit and vegetables when they can select for themselves from a varied salad bar. 

Both hot and cold homemade break time snacks are available daily, as well as a yoghurt and granola bar, fruit pots and a choice of pre-packaged goods carefully selected by Amber and the School Food Council to meet our food ethos at Christ’s College Finchley.

"Since Amber started as Head Chef at CCF and focused on ensuring our school lunches are both tasty and healthy, we've noticed a positive change in pupils' energy levels in the afternoon. Their attitudes to learning are strong and they are taking a real interest in nutrition and in trying different foods." Mr Hodges, Senior Assistant Headteacher. 

Generation Juice machines have revolutionised how pupils can choose drinks during their break times. As part of our commitment to removing single-use plastic, Amber worked with the School Environment Council to reduce the plastic waste created by bottled drinks. Having completed thorough research, CCF now boasts two juice machines which allow pupils to purchase tokens to use on a wide selection of flavoured water and juice drinks which are dispensed into reusable cups.

Amber’s goal is to ensure that learning does not stop when pupils leave their classrooms and she achieves this by discussing food procurement, sourcing, seasonality and cuisines with pupils. Initiatives such as Try Something New Tuesdays, a project launched by Amber, has seen great success in encouraging pupils to try new and wonderful foods for free during Tuesday breaktime sessions. Pupils have had the opportunity to try wild garlic, radicchio, miyagwas and girolles, and question whether ‘all cucumbers taste the same?’.

Amber is always available to answer any questions and concerns that parents may have and is always keen to speak to the wider school community. 

School Menus 

corrected ccf feb half term menu week 1 2 ccf colours 1 .pdf