School food standards

Actions in the School Food Plan

The Action:

Introduce food-based standards for all schools

A new set of standards for all food served in schools came into force in January 2015

As part of the School Food Plan, a new set of standards for all food served in schools was launched by the Department for Education. They become mandatory in all maintained schools, and new academies and free schools from January 2015. Welcomed by the Save Our Standards Campaign, and by Jamie Oliver, the new school food standards are designed to make it easier for school cooks to create imaginative, flexible and nutritious menus. Find out more about the background to the standards here.

The Standards ‘tea towel’ and accompanying guidance have proved very popular with cooks, caterers and their schools. Download and print the standards poster, guidance and checklists here.

School_Food_Standards_140616 tea towelSchool-Food-Standards_COVER (1)

‘What Works Well’ Recipe Hub

The Recipe Hub brings together over 100 recipes for pupils’ favourite meals and snacks, all checked against the School Food Standards. These tried and tested recipes have been created by school cooks and caterers and cover food served across the whole day: breakfast clubs, mid-morning break, lunch and after-school clubs.