School Meals: Standards

(asked on 12th March 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance on nutritional standards his Department issues to private contractors providing school meals.


Answered by
Vicky Ford Portrait
Vicky Ford
This question was answered on 20th March 2020

The School Food Standards provide the legislative framework to ensure schools provide children with healthy food and drink options, and to make sure that children get the energy and nutrition they need across the school day.

Schools are responsible for their school meals service and how and where they choose to buy their produce. Compliance with the School Food Standards is mandatory for all maintained schools. We expect all academies and free schools to comply with the standards, and since 2014 we have made this an explicit requirement in their funding agreements.

Governors have a responsibility to ensure compliance and should appropriately challenge the headteacher and the senior leadership team to ensure the school is meeting its obligations. Guidance on the Standards, and further resources for schools, are available on GOV.UK.

Reticulating Splines