The Future of School Food

As the government reviews school food standards for the first time in over a decade, we have a critical window to ensure every child can access food that enables them to thrive.

Naomi Duncan, Chief Executive at Chefs in Schools, explains why this review matters and what needs to change to ensure every child gets the nutritious, delicious meals they deserve:

“Tasty, real food, cooked from scratch – accessed and enjoyed by all children. Food that is appreciated as an important part of every child’s learning experience. Children equipped with the skills, knowledge and opportunity to eat nutritious food. That’s our vision for school food in this country. 

“The government’s announcement, that they will update the School Food Standards is a chance to help make this vision a reality. This announcement was hidden somewhat by the incredibly welcome news that over half a million more children are to get free school meals. Updating standards might be less news-worthy, but it’s essential for ensuring children have the nutritious food they need. With the government investing in children’s health and education, we have a chance to truly transform school food.

“Updating the standards also gives chefs and caterers a level playing field to operate and innovate from. Currently, the legal minimum standards for school food are more than ten years old and routinely ignored. A lack of monitoring and accountability has given too much opportunity for them to be misinterpreted, bypassed or ignored. If the updated standards are actively monitored, we can turn things around. 

“Alongside monitoring, revised standards need to reflect the latest evidence on healthy and sustainable diets. They need to work for school kitchen teams. And they need to properly address the poor quality junk food that is too often the norm in secondary school canteens. 

“Ours is a vision shared by parents, who overwhelmingly support the idea that food in schools should be of good quality. We know that the Government recognises this opportunity too. And I believe a vast majority of caterers and chefs would also support having clear, unambiguous standards that they know are being applied equally. 

“In our work, we find that many secondary schools are providing a hot meal at lunch time which is compliant with the School Food Standards. That’s not the biggest issue. It’s the other stuff that’s available – snacks at break – or ‘grab and go’ options at lunch. 

“These foods tend to be high in salt, sugar and fat – pizza slices, bacon rolls, pre-packaged muffins or waffles. Not only do these look more filling than more expensive snacks like fruit pots, they’re also fast and available to grab and go. Too often where hot meals are available, these quickly run out or lengthy queues leave no time to eat. But we know from the schools that we work in that even grab & go food can be nutritious as well as quick and tasty.

“Offering junk food at every break and lunch inevitably means many children end up eating food that isn’t School Food Standard compliant. It also means they’re not getting the nutritious, delicious food they need to learn, grow and thrive. 

“It’s not fair to expect children to avoid unhealthy snack options when they are put in front of them at school, especially if their time at lunch is limited. Updating the School Food Standards is a welcome action and a vital chance to make nutritious and tasty food the primary choice for children.

“Research shows that school food has the power to enable not just better health and wellbeing, but improved attendance, better pupil outcomes and wider social benefits, including reduced inequalities. 

“Lunch shouldn’t be a rush to grab a quick highly processed snack, that causes a sugar crash when you get back to class. It should be a fun and educational experience, a chance to sit down with your peers and adults,  to recharge and to enjoy a variety of foods. A chance to fuel children up ready for an afternoon of learning. We see this reality in many schools, we want to see it in every school, so every child gets an equal chance. 

“Updated School Food Standards can’t do everything. You can’t pass a law that makes all school food great.  But Government can pass a law that sets an ambitious minimum standard. From there, it will be up to those of us in the industry and school leaders to work towards a place where school food is delicious, enjoyable and understood as an important part of the school day. 

“Because this is about much more than food. It’s about setting children up for life. Children represent our collective future, it’s time we start feeding them like it.”