Joseph Whitaker Lower School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Newark and Sherwood
Joseph Whitaker Lower School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 21 January 2026, 5 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: The Joseph Whitaker School, Warsop Lane, Rainworth, NG21 0AG
How it compares in Newark and Sherwood
That puts Joseph Whitaker Lower School among the 906 places in Newark and Sherwood holding top marks, 87% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 906 | 87% | ← Joseph Whitaker Lower School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 79 | 8% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 35 | 3% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 17 | 2% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 82 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Joseph Whitaker Lower School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Joseph Whitaker Lower School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Whitaker Upper School Catering School/college/university | at this address | 5 - Very good | 26 September 2025 |
| Lake View Primary And Nursery School School/college/university | 84 yards away | 5 - Very good | 22 January 2025 |
| Country Kids Day Nursery Caring Premises | 88 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2025 |
| Co-operative Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| China Rose Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 March 2026 |
| Sam's Workplace Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 7 July 2025 |
| Junction Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2025 |
| Fresh And Tasty Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 13 August 2025 |
Questions about Joseph Whitaker Lower School
What is Joseph Whitaker Lower School's food hygiene rating?
Joseph Whitaker Lower School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Newark and Sherwood Council on 21 January 2026.
Is Joseph Whitaker Lower School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Joseph Whitaker Lower School last inspected?
Joseph Whitaker Lower School was last inspected on 21 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Newark and Sherwood Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Joseph Whitaker Lower School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Joseph Whitaker Lower School compare to other places in Newark and Sherwood?
87% of the 1,046 rated food businesses in Newark and Sherwood hold the top rating of 5, and Joseph Whitaker Lower School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Newark and Sherwood Council inspects Joseph Whitaker Lower School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Joseph Whitaker Lower School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Joseph Whitaker Lower School is one of 32 rated food businesses in Rainworth. See every hygiene rating in Rainworth →
Newark and Sherwood inspects and rates 1,128 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Newark and Sherwood →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →