School food on the governing board agenda

Under proposed updates to the School Food Standards, a significant change is on the horizon: for the first time, every school will be expected to appoint a dedicated lead governor for food. For schools, that raises an obvious question: what does good food governance actually look like in practice?

Beyond the Compliance Checklist

Across years of working with schools, a clear pattern emerges: in every school where the food is excellent, governors and headteachers treat it as a real priority, not a line to tick off during an annual audit.

Effective food governance tends to involve:

• Asking the right questions about nutritional value, sourcing, and meal take-up rates.
• Advocating for the kitchen team: making sure catering staff have the equipment, time, and recognition they need to do their job well.
• Driving school culture: recognising that what happens in the dining hall has a direct knock-on effect on concentration, behaviour, and wellbeing in the classroom.

A Practical Guide for Governors

Whether schools are preparing for the upcoming lead governor requirement or simply want to strengthen their existing food culture, there’s a free, practical guide designed specifically for school governors. It breaks down what effective food governance looks like in practice, and shows how to support a kitchen team effectively.