Event Report: Tim Clark launches “Food, Glorious Food”

Tim Clark

On Tuesday, my fourth school improvement report, this time looking at food in schools (both the provision of food and the teaching of food and cookery) was launched at the Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, where Oliver is currently playing to packed houses. The report was again published and launched by Ronel Lehmann’s Finito, and the report introduced by Sir Anthony Seldon in his inimitable perceptive and engaging manner. The event was attended by leaders from the world of politics, education and journalism.

Unlike previous reports, although this one does offer some concrete recommendations, it is more concerned with generating debate. Some of the questions posed to the audience were:

Is it the duty of the state to feed children, or is that the responsibility of their parents? If it is the duty of the state, where does the money come from and how much should be spent?

If the state feeds the least well off (free school meals) how do we decide who is eligible? In Northern Ireland the income threshold for FSM is £14,000 per year, almost twice the threshold in England – £7,400. Which is right?

Should the teaching of food and cookery be compulsory? It is currently a compulsory part of the national curriculum but that now applies to only 18% of secondary schools.

Can food in school actually make a difference to the diet and health of the nation, considering children are only in school for 17.5% of the year? For the other 82.5% (when not asleep) they are susceptible to fast foods and, more significantly, they are dependent on what they are fed at home.

What would be the cost benefit to the state IF (the crucial word) what we do with school food could change the diet and health of the nation? Last year, the NHS spent £11.4 billion on issues relating to obesity.

Just under a quarter of children in England are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), but that percentage doubles when one looks at special schools. Even more noticeable is alternative provision, where the percentage of FSM children rockets to just over 60%. Is there a correlation? If so, can anything be done about it?

Breakfast clubs – how can they be funded? The government has allocated £30 million which isn’t enough to even cover staffing costs. Either more money is required or politicians need to consider a different funding model. Under the present proposals, primary schools will simply end up subsidising these compulsory clubs, in addition to paying for increased national insurance, and an unfunded teacher pay rise, as well as continuing to top up the shortfall in the funding for compulsory free school meals for infants.

Finally, is the real issue with children going to school without breakfast simply poor parenting?

You can read the report here:

Roger Gewold and Liz Brewer

Report author Tim Clark speaking to Zubair Junjunia and Rin Teshima

Merrill Powell and Dame Mary Richardson

Alan Judd and Nick Hennigan