The Government has announced updated school food standards, which is the first time they have been reviewed in a decade. The proposed new school food standards, include measures to serve more fruit and veg and up fibre intake, refocusing menus on freshly prepared dishes that will nourish and fill children up, rather than wasting precious budget on highly processed foods that contain little nutritional value.
The ‘ground-breaking’ partnership will support schools to ‘transform’ school food within budget, improve food education and serve delicious meals to students up and down the country.
The partnership is funded by philanthropic foundations including the Henry Smith Foundation, the Christopher and Henry Oldfield Trust, the Ampney Brook Foundation and Macdoch Foundation, and has so far raised £2.3m.
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, commented: "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."
The School Food Project will provide practical, hands-on support tailored to individual schools. From classroom to kitchen to staff room, the programme will unite the whole school around a shared vision: better quality, real food, improved health, wellbeing and educational outcomes and a food education that will set children up for life.
From September 2026 the School Food Project Hub will be offering practical support to caterers and school chefs and the wider school community. This will include e-learning and live learning sessions.
Thomasina Miers, Wahaca co-founder, Masterchef winner and Chefs in Schools trustee added: "In the schools I've visited, I've seen children eagerly eating food that would hold its own in any restaurant - made from scratch, with skill and care, on a school budget.
"This is not a pipe dream. It's happening right now. The School Food Project exists to make sure every child gets that - not just the lucky ones. Kids are our future. Let's feed them like it."