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SCHOOL FOOD
MANIFESTO
Our Asks.
Our Progress.
Our Next Steps.
We set out three pledges we believe every government must commit to.
Progress is being made, but promises need to be kept, scrutinised, and pushed further. Here’s what we’re holding the government to, and why your support still matters.
LET’S MAKE IT STICK
Three Things Government Must Deliver
where are we now?
Our three asks remain as relevant as ever: real implementation takes funding, enforcement, and ambition.
Since the 2024 general election, the government has committed to reviewing school food standards, extending free breakfast clubs to more schools, and widening free school meal eligibility. We welcome this momentum — and we’ll be here to make sure it translates into lasting change for every child.
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Please help spread the word. Let’s make three essential changes to school food.
CASE STUDY
Our Manifesto in Action
The benefits of long term change at Woodmansterne School, demonstrates the impact our manifesto could have across the country.
We know that when schools make these changes, better is possible, we’ve seen it happen time and time again. At Woodmansterne School in South London, they’re proving that when we imagine more for the next generation, we can realise it.
Headteacher Samantha Palin believes the good food culture has had a positive effect.
“Our last two years of (attainment) data at primary level have been significantly above the national average. That’s never down to just one thing but I’d love to think it’s in part due to the food.”
Samantha Palin
Headteacher, Woodmansterne
How is the school changing their school food?
Trained Workforce
Chefs are teaching nutrition. Once Head Chef duo Sam and Jake were hired, they began supporting the kitchen team to take on new roles and learn new skills. Chefs in Schools now offers training to school kitchen teams to provide them with the skills and know-how build confidence in the kitchen.
QUALITY FIRST
Quality means more kids eat more nutritious food, and build better relationships with good food. It was out with the bland, beige and boring and in with new tastes, textures and flavours. new suppliers were brought in in order to ensure the highest quality of ingredients, all within the school budget.
NO CHILD MISSING OUT
Free School Meals mean that everyone eats, without exception. Whilst the national landscape is still one of postcode lottery, Woodmansterne, thanks to their location, were able to provide free school meals to every child in their primary school, and we’re continuing to push for universal provision, so that no child’s access to good food depends on their postcode or their age.
MANIFESTO IN ACTION
Samantha Palin
“Last year we lost access to our school field and so the children were having to play in quite a restricted space. In a normal school, particularly a primary school, you’d have expected to see a spike in accidents and fights between kids because of that constrained space but we didn’t see that. I think that was directly impacted by the positive atmosphere and environment in the school lunch hall, but also because the children are not being fed with lots of sugar and ‘E-numbers’.”