Fuelling the Future: How does secondary school food fare for our young people?

In May 2024, we published the Fuelling the Future report, which captures the views of 40 young people from Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Trafford, and Wirral about their experiences with secondary school food. The report focuses on key areas including breaktime provision, the dining environment, school food policies, and the availability of food and drink outside of school. To gain a fuller understanding of the challenges, we also interviewed headteachers, school cooks, and parents.

Some of the key findings from the report include:

• Breaktime provision is a popular service, yet healthier food options are often limited.
• The cost of food and drink is a significant concern for young people, with many highlighting price increases alongside a reduction in portion sizes.
• The dining environment was consistently described as chaotic and stressful, with long queues affecting students’ overall experience.
• Lunchtimes are too short, and students frequently reported running out of food and having to compromise on other activities, such as sports or clubs, in order to eat.
• There are widespread concerns about the quality and variety of food available throughout the school day, with students calling for improvements.
• Food outlets on the journey to school are generally dominated by less healthy options, which are seen as more attractive and convenient compared to what is offered within schools.
• Schools are taking steps to address some of these issues, such as introducing rotas for lunchtime and converting other spaces into dining areas, but challenges remain.

The report concludes with several recommendations, calling for the government to review and increase funding for school food and catering facilities. It also urges better monitoring of school food standards to ensure that students receive high-quality, nutritious meals.

By listening to the voices of young people, alongside the insights of school staff and parents, Fuelling the Future highlights the urgent need to improve the school food environment. Investing in healthier, affordable options is essential to supporting the wellbeing and development of our young people.