Healthier school dinners as government delivers major reforms

Government updates school food standards for first time in over a decade, backed by Chef Jamie Oliver, actor and campaigner Dame Emma Thompson and parents

Healthier, tastier school dinners will be on the menu for millions of children across the country as the government delivers the biggest overhaul of school food in a generation.

The changes to the school food standards will see more fresh fruit and vegetables, fibre-rich foods and nutritious balanced meals that help children stay focused, energised and ready to learn throughout the school day.

The standards have been rigorously tested with schools, caterers and sample menus to make sure schools across the country will be able to provide exciting, healthy and nutritious meals that kids enjoy - from sweet chilli stir fry, to lasagne, to chicken or veg curries. 

The school food revolution follows major reforms to give families breathing space with the cost of living, including a cap on the number of branded school uniform items. Three million children from families receiving Universal Credit are now eligible for free school meals and thousands of free breakfast clubs are operating across the country, thanks to government action.

Developed alongside nutritionists and public health experts, the new school food standards are backed by campaigners, charities and nutritional experts, including Chef Jamie Oliver and Dame Emma Thompson. 

While many schools are already leading the way with excellent food, these reforms will ensure every child, wherever they live, benefit from the same high standards.

Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, said: 

"These are once-in-a-generation changes that will transform school food for children across the country.

"From our historic expansion of free school meals to the rollout of free breakfast clubs and new school food standards, we are making sure that every child has access to the healthy meals we know children need to learn, grow and succeed.

"No child should spend the school day hungry, and no family should have to struggle to put food on the table. This is what change looks like: healthier food, fuller stomachs and a fairer start for every child."

With one in three children leaving primary school overweight or obese, and tooth decay linked to high-sugar diets remaining the leading cause of hospital admissions among children aged five to nine, the case for change is clear. When asked what they would change to school dinners, parents called for the same changes we are making - with 36% wanting more fruit and vegetables in school meals, 38% wanting limits on fatty foods and 33% wanting less sugary food and drink.

Jamie Oliver, Chef and Child Health Campaigner, said:

"Back 20+ years ago when I started School Dinners I could not believe that we had standards for dog food but not what we serve our children at school! And I’ve never stopped banging that drum. Because it’s massive - 190 days of the year 70% of our kids’ nutrition is in the hands of their school. So, it’s got to be great. It’s got to fill them up with all the good stuff they need to learn and grow.

"So, it’s brilliant to see new School Food Standards based on the latest science, to make sure the food children get at school is actually supporting their health and helping them thrive. And, that those standards won’t just live on paper, but have proper monitoring to make sure they’re followed, so we know where we need to deploy care, love and support.

"Sure, there’s always more to do, but after 25 years of campaigning, today is a brilliant day."

Dame Emma Thompson, Actor and Food Foundation Celebrity Ambassador, said:

"For years, campaigners, parents and experts have called for school food standards to be updated, so I am thrilled to see this moment finally arrive.

"Every child deserves access to healthy, nutritious food at school. Good food helps children learn, grow and flourish, and these new standards have the power to make a real difference to children across the country. 

"This is a milestone worth celebrating and an investment in a healthier future for the next generation."

Sarah Orves, Headteacher of Ilketshall Lawrence Primary in Suffolk, said:  

"Lunchtimes used to be just a moment to refuel and get back to the day, but it was our pupils themselves who told us they wanted change. 

"We started the journey of transforming our school food a year ago, introducing ‘Try it Tuesday’ and family taster sessions to bring both children and families on board, and now lunchtimes are something the kids genuinely feel excited about. 

"We’re only halfway through that journey, but we’re already noticing the difference: children are more social and settled at lunch, more focused in class, and genuinely excited to try new foods and engage with being healthy."

To give parents greater confidence in school meals, schools will be expected to publish their food policies and menus online and nominate a school food governor, helping parents, pupils and communities understand and hold schools to account for the food on offer. 

To help schools implement the new standards, the government will provide training, resources and guidance. The Department for Education will work with the Food Standards Agency on an approach to monitoring school food, with more details in the coming months.

Alongside the historic expansion of free school meals and the rollout of free breakfast clubs, these changes represent the most significant package of school food improvements in a generation, giving parents confidence that their child is receiving healthy, nutritious food throughout the school day and helping children focus, learn and succeed at school.

From: Department for Education and The Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP