Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that schools offer healthy meals.

The School Food Standards set the mandatory nutritional framework for food and drink provided in state‑funded schools in England. They are designed to ensure children receive the energy and nutrients they need during the school day, while giving schools flexibility to design menus that work for their pupils and local circumstances.

The Government has published its response to the consultation on updating the School Food Standards in England, setting out changes to ensure that food served at school reflects current nutritional guidance while remaining practical for schools to deliver. The government response is viewable here: School Food Standards: updating the legislative framework - GOV.UK.

Strong standards must be backed by strong compliance. Schools must comply with the School Food Standards, and governors and trustees play a key role in holding school leaders to account. This could include a lead governor for school food and requiring schools to publish food policies alongside wider guidance and resources to support school to comply.