Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she expects to publish the school-food monitoring framework being developed with the Food Standards Agency; whether compliance checks will be independent and findings published for individual schools; and what guidance school governors will receive on monitoring compliance and reporting concerns.

The department is working closely with the Food Standards Agency to put in place an efficient and proportionate monitoring system. The government will also expect schools to nominate a lead governor for school food as part of the new national compliance framework being introduced from September 2027. Together, these measures will strengthen governance and transparency around school food, and help parents, pupils and communities understand the food on offer.

To support schools and trusts in meeting these expectations in a way that reflects their individual governance structures, the department is working closely with stakeholders to ensure that clear, detailed and practical guidance is provided ahead of implementation.

The department will also provide guidance for schools, local authorities and caterers to apply the revised standards.