The kitchen at Ark Atwood Primary Academy in Westminster was temporarily shut after inspectors found mouse droppings under freshly baked bread and gnawed food packets. The school voluntarily closed its kitchen on December 1, 2025, following a zero-star hygiene rating from Westminster City Council, indicating urgent improvement was necessary.
Inspection Findings
An inspector discovered a loaf of freshly-baked bread placed directly on top of mice droppings. Droppings were also found near clean equipment, and bags of rice and pasta had been chewed by rodents. Mouse droppings were present throughout the kitchen, food storeroom, and pot wash area, including on food packaging, baskets containing sauces and spices, and in boxes with new disposable cutlery.
The report stated that these findings showed rodents were active on food and surfaces where food is stored. Food baskets used for storage were described as visibly dirty. Staff admitted they forgot to clean up the droppings because they were busy preparing lunch. They also reported seeing a mouse in the kitchen the previous week, but no effective monitoring had taken place.
Pest Control and Response
A pest control report from November 26, 2025, had already noted mice problems at the school kitchen. The school was instructed to address the pest issue, clean the entire kitchen, discard potentially contaminated food, and retrain food handlers on contamination prevention and safety.
The report highlighted that staff were not consistently monitoring for pests, escalating issues immediately, or implementing required controls to prevent contamination, significantly reducing confidence in food safety management.
School Statement
Ark Atwood Primary Academy's Executive Principal, Daniela Grasso, said: "An environmental health spot check in December 2025 identified an issue within the school kitchen. The school responded swiftly and the kitchen was closed while a deep clean was carried out. The kitchen reopened as normal following a reinspection. Alternative meal arrangements were in place during the brief closure."
Despite the kitchen reopening, the Food Standards Agency still displays the zero-star rating as of the latest report.
