School meals

School meals are changing. Leading school meal providers are lining up to launch freshly prepared, local and organic menus that support our award scheme for schools. School meal take-up in our award-winning schools has increased by a whopping 16%, great news amidst a backdrop of headlines highlighting the decline in national take-up figures. Talk to your catering team. This has to be one of your main priorities. Your caterer will play a crucial role in successfully transforming your food culture.
 

The food in my school has changed immensely, we now make everything from fresh, locally sourced products and there are no undesirable additives.

Arndala Wynd, school cook
St James CE Primary School, Cumbria

Since changing our menus we’ve seen dramatic improvements in children’s behaviour at playtimes and in their ability to sustain learning throughout the day.

Louise Rosen, headteacher
St John the Baptist CE School, Hackney

 
Food quality and Provenance

As well as making food healthier, the Food for Life Partnership award scheme offers caterers a clear ladder of progression for animal welfare and environmental standards of ingredients used in school meals. The journey from Bronze through to Gold follows a step-by-step framework to achieving more seasonal food, at least 30% organic or Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified food in the school menu. This means the quality of the food improves as the caterers progress.