Eating well at school plays an important role in children’s health, wellbeing and ability to learn. That’s why the government has updated the School Food Standards for the first time in over a decade, with a focus on making meals healthier, more balanced and more consistent across all schools.
These changes are designed to ensure every child has access to tasty, nutritious food during the school day, while also responding to concerns from parents about sugar, processed foods and lack of information about school meals.
They come as 500,000 more children are now able to get free meals at school – thanks to the historic expansion of free school meals to children from families on Universal Credit this September.
What are the new School Food Standards?
The updated School Food Standards set out clearer rules about the food and drink that schools can provide. They focus on improving the nutritional quality of meals by increasing the amount of fruit, vegetables and fibre, and reducing foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar.
They will apply to all food served in both primary and secondary schools, including both breakfast and lunch.
Why are the changes being made now?
Children’s eating habits have changed over time, and many families are concerned about the amount of sugar and processed food in diets. There are also growing health concerns, including rising levels of childhood obesity and tooth decay.
Parents have said they want better-quality food and more transparency. Updating the standards is about making sure school meals reflect modern guidance on healthy eating and meet those expectations.
What will change on school menus?
In practice, school menus will shift towards fresher, healthier options. Children can expect to see more fruit and vegetables included in meals, as well as a wider range of balanced dishes.
Foods high in fat, salt and sugar will be limited. Deep-fried foods will no longer be served, and high fat items like pizza or sausage rolls won’t be available every day. Low-sugar desserts are still allowed, such as an apple crumble, raspberry rice pudding or banana bread, but, for most of the week, fruit will be the dessert on offer, along with yoghurt or custard.
The aim is not to take away choice, but to make the healthier option the default.
Will children still enjoy school meals?
Schools will continue to offer meals that children recognise and enjoy, but with healthier ingredients and cooking methods.
Menus are expected to include a mix of familiar favourites and new options, showing that nutritious food can still be varied, filling and appealing. Many schools already do this well, and the new standards aim to make that consistent everywhere.
For example, items like spaghetti Bolognese, Mexican style burritos, cottage pie with root-veg mash, jerk chicken with rice and peas and roasted chickpea or a vegetable and mozzarella wrap.
Do the standards apply to breakfast clubs as well?
The new standards will cover all food served at school, including breakfast. This means children attending breakfast clubs will also be offered healthier options to help them start the day ready to learn.
This supports the wider rollout of free breakfast clubs in schools, with over 680,000 children now able to access a free club.
How will schools be held accountable?
To give parents greater confidence in school meals, schools will be expected to publish their food policies and menus online, as well as nominate a school food governor.
And to help schools implement the new standards, the government will provide training, rewith the Food Standards Agency on an approach to monitoring school food, with more details in the coming months
When will the changes take place?
Some schools may begin making changes straight away, but they will not be in force until September 2027.
There will be a few phased changes on specific foods for secondaries – such as cheese, pulses and drinks – to give schools enough time to make them a success.
How do these changes support families?
The updated standards are part of wider efforts to improve children’s health. This includes the expansion of free school meals to more than half a million children from this September and the continued rollout of free breakfast clubs.
Together, these changes aim to make school food healthier, more consistent and easier for families to understand, while helping children build positive eating habits for the future.
