News

The Government says this delivers on change parents and campaigners have been calling for. New polling shows 74% of parents have at least one concern about their child’s nutrition – from too much sugar (43%) and too many fatty foods (24%), to not enough fruit and vegetables (30%).    

The new School Food Standards also include new dedicated breakfast standards to ensure every child begins their day with food that sets them up to learn and thrive.   

To ensure schools follow the new standards, the Government is committed to developing a robust national enforcement system including monitoring schools’ compliance. Full details will be announced this September, with enforcement in place from September 2027. 

The Government also wants every school to appoint a lead governor to be responsible for school food, as well as asking every school to publish their food policy and menus online. With 50% of parents in England saying they don’t get enough information about what their child is being served, this means parents, pupils and communities can hold schools to account.

Industry reactions:

Jamie Oliver: “Twenty years ago, dog food had higher standards than school dinners. I’ve been banging the drum ever since because I refuse to accept our kids being fed anything less than proper, nourishing meals.

“School food is the UK’s most important restaurant chain. From September, during term-time schools will provide two-thirds of a child’s daily diet - a massive opportunity to improve health at scale. My Good School Food Awards prove that world-class meals are possible right now, and every child deserves that same quality. So, I’m delighted this Government is now updating and enforcing these standards.”

Dame Emma Thompson: “I am absolutely thrilled that the Government is changing the School Food Standards to make sure that every child has delicious, nutritious school food that they deserve. 

“School meals are a golden opportunity to support children’s health, learning and wellbeing — and getting this right means children across the country can truly thrive. This is a landmark moment for families, for the NHS, and for the future of our young people.”

Henry Dimbelby: “We have a rare chance to reset school food: wider access to free school meals, higher standards - with proper monitoring to help schools improve what ends up on the plate. September can mark the start of a new normal, where every child can count on a lunch that is both delicious and nutritious, and every parent can have real confidence in what’s being served.

“Done right it will boost children’s health, their academic outcomes and their chances of success in later life. But it will only work if the Government sticks to the timetable set out today - and if schools and caterers are backed to deliver, and held to it.”

Naiomi Duncan: “We are pleased to see the first update to school food standards in over a decade, and a commitment to monitoring that means these measures will have real impact. Suggested changes will see a shift towards more freshly prepared and delicious meals that are packed full of nutrition. More fruit and veg and fibre will be served so that young people get all the goodness they need to grow up healthy and thrive.”

Anna Taylor: “With Government announcing higher school food standards, which will also be monitored, and rolling out universal breakfast clubs and wider access to free school meals, the huge potential of school food to nourish and energise the next generation is finally being recognised.

“This must be the moment the whole sector pulls together to make school food delicious and nutritious, and embed food education into the school day. We have a unique opportunity to initiate a seismic shift in child health, and we are excited to drive this forward with our partners at the School Food Project.”

Stephanie Slater MBE: “This is a truly exciting moment for school food. Government’s move to update the school food standards will strengthen the extension of free school meals and the continued roll-out of universal primary breakfast clubs. This has the potential to revolutionise access to delicious, nutritious and sustainable food for children and young people across the country.”