APSE says this reflects the rising cost of provision, with councils unable to subsidise the service due to financial pressures. The most popular measure to mitigate price rises was ‘working with suppliers’ – with 88.87% of respondents engaging in this practice.
‘Meat-free days’ was the second most popular measure at 64.52%, a significant increase from 22.73% in 2023. APSE says this is a cost reduction measure, but it could also be in response to the catering services' commitment to being more sustainable and the changes to UK diets.
A survey carried out by the Vegan Society reported in January 2025 over 3% of the UK population self-identify as vegetarian or vegan and 10% are eliminating or otherwise reducing animal product consumption.
Speaking about the findings, Vickie Hacking, APSE principal advisor, commented: “There is currently a perfect storm impacting local authority catering service. With the gap between Government funding for free school meals and the cost of providing meals increasing, councils across the UK report that it is very challenging to deliver the service and remain viable.
“Several authorities in England are now reviewing the service and, in some cases, opting to cease providing the service. In some areas this is leaving the delivery of a school meals service to private sector caterers, which has several impacts including on the less profitable schools not having the option of provision, for example small schools.
“Local authorities can use school meals as part of the solution to challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis and obesity - providing the predominantly female part-time workforce with good pay and conditions. With local authority providers exiting the market, these benefits cannot be realised."
Other key findings:
- 64.52% of respondents anticipated that free school meal numbers would increase slightly
- 40.63% thought catering income would decrease slightly
- 90.63% said staffing costs have gone up, an increase of 4.52% from last year
- All respondents report that staff costs are the greatest challenge currently facing in the sector
- There has been a decline in the number of councils that offer apprenticeships in their catering services - just 10% offer apprenticeships for frontline catering staff
- 43.48% expect a reduction in contracts with schools
- 60.87% anticipate a reduction in contracts with academies
Hacking added: “Research conducted by APSE, ‘Local authority education service: More than just a service’ explores the challenges of delivering the service, outlines the benefits of councils providing school meals, and sets out five recommendations for national Governments regarding fixing school meal provision.
“APSE has consistently advocated for a return to greater local authority involvement in education provision and an end to the marketisation of education catering - reflecting the need for all local authority services to support children and young people by providing holistic support within local communities.
“APSE will continue to press for public policy changes in this regard and to support the All-Party Parliamentary Group on School Food to campaign for greater awareness and recognition of the value of school food to children and young people.”