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The pilot was initially announced as part of the Levelling Up White Paper, which set out to ‘transform’ the UK into a more equal society. The joint initiative aims to design and test a new approach in supporting schools to comply with the existing School Food Standards.  

Professor Susan Jebb, FSA chair and one of Public Sector Catering’s Top 20 ‘most influential’, welcomed the 18 local authorities’ participation. She said: “Schools play a crucial role in providing children with healthy food to help them concentrate and thrive in the classroom and beyond.  

“We all want to ensure that the food served in schools meets the standards that have been set. This project will give insight into what’s happening in schools today and identify whether additional support is needed to help them to do the very best they can for children and drive positive change in the school food system.”

The authorities selected to take part in the pilot include: Blackpool Council, Lincolnshire County Council, City of Lincoln Council, Plymouth City Council, Nottingham City Council, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, City of Wolverhampton Council, Oldham Council, Herefordshire Council, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Telford & Wrekin Council, Newham Council, Chelmsford Council, South Tyneside Council, Peterborough City Council and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb commented: “A healthy school meal supports a child’s development. This pilot will help schools meet the school food standards and will ensure more schools offer balanced and nutritious meals to support education throughout the day.”