CAMPAIGN
Have Your Say: the Future of School Food
If you have a vision for how school food should be, we want to hear from you without delay. The government is reviewing the School Food Standards, giving us all an opportunity to share how we think they should be.
With Survation’s help, we polled 1,000 parents for our report: The School Food Standards, What Parents Want for their Children. Now we need more insights – if you’re a pupil, chef, educator, caterer, governor or parent, get involved now.
Our new report and polling (released 10.07.25) reveals a snapshot of what parents want in schools. In a nutshell: it’s junk food out, more fresh food in, plus better monitoring of food standards.
The polling found 96% of parents feel it’s important that school meals are prepared with fresh or nutritious ingredients.
Two thirds of parents (66%) are concerned about the possibility of junk food being offered to a child in secondary school every day. A quarter say these items should not be available in schools at all. Perhaps because three quarters (78%) say that without guidance their children would choose items high in sugar, salt and fat.
The Future Of School Food Campaign
It reveals strong support among parents for monitoring of quality, with around three quarters (78%) saying they want the government to actively inspect and enforce the School Food Standards in every school.
There is widespread support for development of school chefs with 80% of those polled believing the government should make it mandatory for school chefs to receive training in child nutrition and the preparation of nutritious food. There is currently no requirement for chefs to have this type of training.
Now, we’re seeking more views on school food, share them here: chefsinschools.org.uk/feedthemwell
The report includes contributions from School Food Matters, the Food Foundation and Bite Back, and highlights a demand for bold action from government to ensure innovative and nutritious food is the norm in all schools.
It also shows the need for better monitoring of school food. Dame Prue Leith, patron at Chefs in Schools, said:
“It’s high time we fed children healthy, delicious food at school. For this we need better school standards, and more importantly, that they are enforced, something which has never happened. Maybe this time?”
Naomi Duncan, Chief Executive at Chefs in Schools, said: “We welcome the government’s commitment to review the school food standards and we urge people to get involved and share their views on how school food could be. Our polling found that two thirds of parents want to be involved in shaping what children eat at school, this is your chance to have a say. We have a window of opportunity to deliver school food that fuels, teaches about varied diets and gives children the nutrients needed to learn.”
Amber Francis, holder of BBC’s Great British Menu Champion of Champions crown, and a school chef at Christ’s College, London, lent her support to calls for school chefs to receive dedicated training in how to produce nutritious food for children.
Amber Francis said: “How can we improve health for children and reduce issues such as childhood obesity if we don’t improve school food, and how can we expect to improve school food without giving support to the hardworking individuals that create this food day in day out?”
Despite a clear appetite for change among parents, the research highlights a lack of awareness of School Food Standards with only around half (47%) of those surveyed having heard of them.
In 2014, the UK Government introduced a mandatory set of standards for the food provided to children in government-maintained primary and secondary schools in England with the aim of helping children develop healthy eating habits.
Yusuf, student and Bite Back campaigner, said: “I met with Stephen Morgan, the Minister for Early Education, to talk about how unfair the system is — especially for kids in secondary schools and sixth form. We told him the food’s often low quality, the queues are out of control, and grab-and-go junk is everywhere.
“The government’s now listening — and that’s huge. But the real test is what happens next. This review can’t be a tick-box exercise. We need proper standards, regular inspections, and food that actually helps us learn, grow and thrive. We’re ready to help shape that change — because young people know exactly what’s broken, and how to fix it.”
Since the standards were introduced there have been concerns about how they are being implemented in the absence of a strict monitoring and enforcement regime.
Shona Goudie, Policy and Advocacy Manager at Food Foundation, said: “This new polling clearly demonstrates overwhelming demand from parents for better school food. Raising the bar on School Food Standards and proper monitoring are fundamental to achieving this; going even further, government should update procurement rules to prioritise British produce – not only helping children get more fresh, minimally processed food but also supporting British farmers and boosting the local economy.”
School governors and trustees have the statutory responsibility for ensuring School Food Standards are being met, yet evidence suggests many schools fail to meet them. A 2019 study found more than 60% of secondary schools in the UK did not meet the School Food Standards, a failure caterers attributed to a mix of rising costs, inadequate government funding and a lack of enforcement.
Jamie Oliver said: “Making sure kids get fresh, nutritious food at school is a win for everyone — it helps kids learn, feel good, and build healthy habits for life. Parents get it. Teachers get it. The kids get it. Now it’s time for the government to get it too. We need amazing standards, proper checks, and real support for the brilliant school chefs who make it happen every day. Get involved and make school food something we can all be proud of.”
