A BURNLEY school is leading the revolution in school meals by banning junk and introducing healthier options.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver highlighted poor quality school meals in his recent Channel 4 TV series and he persuaded the Government to spend an extra £280million to tackle the "crisis".

Now the infamous turkey twizzlers and chicken nuggets are off the menu at St John the Baptist Junior School, Thames Avenue, and will be replaced with nutritious salads, pasta and rice.

From April 18, reconstituted food will be outlawed and parents will be encouraged to put healthier options in their children's lunchboxes.

The school was already on the road to healthier menus before the famous chef began his high-profile campaign but they are delighted his actions back their own new measures.

The school won a healthy schools award last year and head teacher Kieran Heakin said: "As part of that, it made us focus on what we were putting into children's mouths.

"We wanted to improve the quality of meals served and what's being brought in, in lunchboxes. It's a two-pronged attack.

"We have banned reconstituted food altogether. The downside is the poor school cook has to spend more time preparing in the kitchen and the other is the cost.

"But when parents see the food being served they will realise they are paying for quality."

School meals cost parents £1.50 a day but that may go up when it is reviewed in the summer.

Seventy of the 170 pupils have a healthy school dinner.

Mr Heakin added: "I have lunch with them every day. We talk about it and they like it. They are very enthusiastic. There are always seconds and there's a queue of people going back for more."

And Mr Heakin believes a better diet improves behaviour and performance.

He added: "Last year we got our best ever SAT results. Is it a coincidence? I don't think so. And I think they are more settled in school. We should see an improvement in school results without a doubt.

"Behaviour has improved, attainment has improved and pupils' self-esteem has improved. They look healthier and feel healthier and there are hardly any overweight children."

Cook Lynne Webster also shows fussy eaters how the food is prepared to encourage them.

She said: "It's a lot more work preparing healthier meals. But if you have a good team, which I have, you manage to get through the work. I love my job.

"I think the children should eat healthier food. I think if they have a healthy diet inside them it makes them behave better."

Pupil Olivia Harding, eight, said: " I think it's a good idea because it's good for you. I like having a hot meal.

"I think I will like the new menus and they will be tasty and good for us."