In association with the Catering Managers Association of Great Britain and the Channel Islands

School Food Trust statement: 15% increase in free school meals requests

In response to Local Government Association research which found that more than 15% councils have seen an increase in requests for free school meals, Chris Wainwright, School Food Trust comments:
 
“We’re not surprised that councils are seeing an increase in requests for free school meals; the recession continues to hit families hard. All households with an income of less than £16,040 could be eligible and should contact their local council to ensure they are not missing out on claiming what’s theirs. Don’t imagine that if you work then you are automatically ineligible, there lots of ways families can claim.  
 
Our own research estimates that 24%, which is over 334,000 children in England who are entitled to free school meals aren’t claiming.  We want all eligible families to be able to access the right to free school meals - it’s not just about saving money its guaranteeing your children a nutritious lunch that can actually help them perform better at school.”

Exam results hampered by junk food

• Exam stressed kids turn to fast food to fuel studies
• Evidence shows smart eating makes kids achieve better results
• Celebrity chef Prue Leith’s new guide to brain-fuelling foods released
Exam stress this summer has seen kids systematically turning to quick junk food options like chocolate and fizzy drinks, in a bid to squeeze in more time for their studies, despite new research showing that eating the right foods throughout the year will help them to get better results in their exams.
New School Food Trust research reveals that a healthy diet has a direct impact on a child’s ability to study; children who eat a healthy breakfast achieve better results and children who eat a healthy lunch are more focused and better able to learn[1]. 
Despite students acknowledging that brain-fuelling foods like fish and fruit would be best to help them when revising or studying, 42% chose chocolate, a third chose fizzy drinks (33%) and biscuits (31%), and one in four (26%) chose caffeine laden energy drinks as their snack of choice when cramming for exams. [2] 
When asked what they felt were the top ‘brain-fuelling’ foods to aid concentration kids put healthy choices on top; one in three chose fish (34%) and fruit (33%) and a quarter chose pasta (25%) and vegetables (24%), relegating the more unhealthy chocolate (15%), fizzy drink (12%), sweets (8%) and biscuits (7%), to the bottom.
Surprisingly then, despite being clued up about the benefits of healthy eating, eight out of ten (79%) agree that they are more likely to snack more and eat less healthily when studying or revising. 
To compound the problem, four in ten (42%) kids have skipped meals in order to make time to study and 91% say they regularly feel tired as a result of their school work. As a result of this half (50%) of kids can only study for 30 minutes before losing concentration on their work, nowhere near the two hour+ needed for exams this summer.
Prue Leith, celebrity chef and School Food Trust chair, commented: “It's often said you get out what you put in - our research shows that children are able to perform better in class when they have had a healthy school lunch rather than junk food.  Children aren’t stupid and they know that healthy food is better for them, and that a healthy breakfast and a balanced school lunch will give them more energy for their studies and help them concentrate more. Making that choice, and sticking with it, especially come exam time, could be the difference between success and failure."
 
Further results from the study included:
• 31% say they eat school lunches only every now and again
• Yet 47% say they agree that having a school lunch helps them to concentrate more during lessons
• Only 48% agreed that eating properly was important to help them study
• Less than 20% felt that getting enough exercise was an important factor in their study regime
• Worryingly a further 11% put performance enhancers like ProPlus on their list of top concentration aids
 
The following tables demonstrate a correlation between school food take up and attainment in some of the top performing primary and secondary schools in the UK:
Five of the top Performing Primary Schools 07/08
Percentage of pupils who have a school meal
St Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic Primary School, Ware, Hertfordshire
70%
Cuckoo Hall Primary School, Enfield, London - 64%
Park Primary, Stratford, London - 60%
Lowercroft Primary School, Bury, Lancashire - 50%
St Elizabeth Catholic Primary School, Tower Hamlets, London - 49%
 
Five of the top Performing Secondary Schools 07/08
Percentage of pupils who have a school meal
Charters Secondary School, Sunningdale, Berkshire - 70%
Wolverhampton Girls' High School, Wolverhampton, West Midlands - 56%
Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby, Warwickshire - 50%
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Essex - 50%
Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall, West Midlands - 47%
 
To help students studying for exams or just everyday homework, the School Food Trust has teamed up with celebrity chef Prue Leith to devise some top healthy eating tips that will set them on the path to successful exam results:
1 A healthy breakfast = a healthy brain. Start the day off with wholegrain cereals such as muesli or porridge with low fat milk or yoghurt and a handful of dried or fresh fruit; or wholegrain toast with tomatoes and mushrooms, peanut butter or baked beans on wholegrain toast. Wholegrains contain folate and B vitamins which improve memory function and peanuts and beans are full of protein and will keep you feeling full for longer, while porridge releases energy slowly over the day. A glass of fresh fruit juice will also provide the vitamin C you need to absorb more of the iron from cereals.
2 Take advantage of school breakfast clubs. Many schools lay on free breakfast clubs during exam periods to help students start the day, they are a great way to get you focused and it won’t cost a penny.
3 Swap fizzy drinks for water. Soft drinks might stave off thirst but they are full of sugar and calories. Water is the ideal way to keep you hydrated whilst keeping your brain in check as dehydration may affect your concentration. Keep a bottle of water near you at all times and sip regularly to stay sharp.
4 Stay in for school lunch. Evidence supports the finding that a healthier lunch improves concentration in the afternoons. School lunches are full of exactly the right nutrients your body needs to help you through the school day. So check out your school diner to see what’s on offer today.
5 Get friendly with fish. Try and eat two portions of oily fish, like mackerel, tuna or salmon every week. These oily fish are rich in essential omega-3 acid which is vital for your brain to function properly.
6 Break it up. Breaks in revision are very important. Take a half hour break every two or three hours in time for a TV show, exercise or whatever else you like doing to unwind and distress before hitting the books again.
7 Energy boosting snacks. Sweets and biscuits might give you an instant hit but you will crash and burn as they release energy quickly. Instead make sure there are lots of healthy snacks around to keep you going between meals: bananas, dried apricots, wholemeal toast and unsalted nuts all contain slow release energy that will keep your tummy full and your mind on your books.
8 Swap caffeine for herbal tea. Caffeine laden energy drinks might seem like a good option to keep you going late into the night, but they send your body on an energy roller coaster and can end up doing more harm than good. Try herbal teas containing natural stimulants like ginseng and ginger to give you a natural boost.
9 Forget the microwave. Microwave meals might be quick and easy for a nights’ cramming but they can be really high in fat. Lean protein like fish, chicken and lentils can be just as quick and are far more nutritious - you can cook a chicken stir-fry with rice in less than 20 minutes. Make sure you bulk out your evening meal with starchy carbohydrates, such as wholegrain bread, brown rice or potatoes too.
10 Iron power. If you’re not getting enough iron your energy levels will begin to drop and you won’t be able to concentrate for long periods of time. If long revision sessions are becoming tiresome, try eating more eggs, red meat and leafy green vegetables like spinach. And, making sure you get enough vitamin C at each meal will help you to absorb more iron from your food.

[1] Long and short term benefits of healthy school food across the school day, School Food Trust, 2008
[2] Research conducted by Pollab amongst a representative UK sample of 500 13-17 year olds between 9 and 12 June 2009.

School wins at TES Awards 2009 – Award sponsored by School Food Trust
Announced at an awards ceremony recently, St Aidan’s High is the winner of the Best School Dinners Awards 2009. The school employs a 20-strong catering team and 85 per cent of pupils eat school lunches. There are three professional chefs and a baker. Year 7 pupils have a separate dining hall while sixth formers can use an all-day café. Pupils are allowed to leave the school premises at lunch time. Many do – but only after they have enjoyed their school lunch.
The restaurants offer cashless catering and the eating habits of individual pupils can be tracked. A dietician analyses the meals for nutritional balance. St Aidan’s High is sharing its expertise with other institutions. Two catering conferences for schools considering an independent catering service were a sell-out. A subscription website has recipes and five-day menu plans for healthy meals.
Last year, the school opened a deli bar for soups, salads and hot baguettes for those who want a quick lunch before going to midday clubs.
Head Teacher Dennis Richards praised the work of Steve Hatcher, Deputy Head, who set up the project and whose vision and initiative continue to drive it, and Catering Manager Trevor Whitehead, currently in his ninth year at the school.
Abbey Manor College, Lee Green, South-East London also received a Special Mention for their school dinners. NVQ catering students at this pupil referral unit, plan, prepare and cook the meals. They serve staff and pupils, 90 per cent of whom have a two-course lunch. 
Chris Wainwright, School Food Trust, sponsoring the award said: “We’re hugely impressed by the outstanding school dinners served by St. Aidan’s High. They’re an example of how school meals should be done. Schools inspired by St. Aidan’s should sign up to our Million Meals campaign for help and advice on how to encourage your children to eat better to do better.”  www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/millionmeals      

New guide helps special schools to meet food standards
- Livity School in Lambeth to host launch on Tuesday 9th June 2009-
The School Food Trust has launched a guide to help special schools prepare for the new nutrient-based standards for school food, which come into force in September. A booklet and CD entitled ‘Eat Better, Do Better: A practical guide to adopting a Whole School Approach to food in special schools’ will be sent to all special schools in England today offering advice in achieving and maintaining a positive healthy eating culture for the whole school community.
From September 2009 all maintained and non-maintained special schools in England will be expected to have introduced the Government’s final food-based and nutrient-based standards for school lunches. Helping pupils with complex physical, emotional, behavioural and medical needs to meet their nutritional requirements may be harder to achieve than for pupils without these conditions. The ‘Eat Better, Do Better’ guide has been specially developed as a practical tool to offer an extra level of support. 
Prue Leith, celebrity chef and chairwoman for the School Food Trust said;
“Children in special schools, like children anywhere else, need healthy delicious food in a pleasant environment and with time to enjoy it. But ensuring they get such an obvious need is not always easy. This guidance should really help: it is drawn from the practical experience of professionals who have already managed it.”  
The guide contains a case study of The Livity School, Lambeth, where good practice and partnership between the school, the Lambeth Children and Young Peoples Service Contracts Unit and Harrisons Catering demonstrates how the nutrition-based standards can be met whilst still meeting the individual needs of pupils.  For example, the school used signage, symbols and pictures to assist pupils in navigating the lunch service, introducing voice buttons so pupils could hear the menu and using colour coded menus to help children identify foods. 
The guide will be officially launched at The Livity School today by Michael Nelson, Head of Research at the School Food Trust.  Pupils will be discussing healthy food and releasing balloons to celebrate their National Healthy Schools Status.
The guidance and CD resource has taken over a year of development and joint collaborative working involving the School Food Trust, National Healthy School Programmes and other partners. It combines examples of good practice from schools, and professional experience obtained from those who have been actively involved with implementing the school food standards within the special school setting.
The guide has been designed to complement a range of existing resources on healthy eating in schools.   Further information is available on the School Food Trust’s website: www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/resources/specialschools

Since 2005 school food has gone through a revolution, out with the Turkey Twizzlers, sugar laden high fat drinks and stodge and in with fresh pasta, Thai curry and oriental noodle salads.

Recently Tottenham and England player Darren Bent took time out to visit Chace Community School in Enfield.
The visit was put on to encourage more students to eat school meals; the school is working with the School Food Trust to pilot meal deals. Meal deals offer a nutritious and balanced meal, increase fruit and vegetable consumption and are priced competitively.
One of only three schools in England to work on the project the school have created a student and staff working group to design the meals and work on marketing. Critically the project has been supported by the catering manager Russell Brookes and head teacher Sue Warrington. The project was coordinated by Anne Jackson, the school’s Business Manager and the National Schools Partnership. Enfield Council have supported the school to analyse the menus and work towards compliance to the nutrient based standards, several months ahead of the September deadline.
Meals on offer include; vegetable noodles and prawn crackers served with a pudding and drink all for £2 or Pirri Pirri chicken strips with salad, fresh naan and yoghurt dip served with sticky toffee pudding and custard.
The School Food Trust is working with schools, caterers and Local Authorities on a number of pilot interventions, from working on the efficiencies and capacity of kitchens, marketing initiatives and the meal deals scheme. A great deal of work has been undertaken in recent years to improve the food on offer, now caterers, schools and LAs are looking to improve the dining and kitchen environments. The aim is to make the dining space more attractive and easier to navigate – managing queues, improving the flow of students as well as looking at kitchen space and design to ensure time and cost efficient production. The lessons from the meal deals pilot will be shared across the country.
Darren Bent had a kick about with year 11 students and then went to a cookery class with year 9, the students were making Calzone. Darren took part in a Q&A session with the year 9 students, who were surprised when Darren said his favourite food was fish or pasta, they were even more shocked when he said he couldn’t remember the last time he had junk food!
Darren Bent said:
“Eating the right foods is an important topic, and if young people are going to stay fit and healthy into later life, then there’s no better way to start than by eating healthy meals at school. Spurs, through the work of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, are always keen to support initiatives that help young people in our community, and ‘Meal Deals’ at Chace School is no different. I was able to relay my message to the children I met that, as a footballer, the healthier I eat, the higher my level of performance on the pitch will be.”
The Tottenham Hotspur Foundation are delighted to support the Meal Deal initiative at Chace Community School. As a Foundation they are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the young people in our community and are involved in a number of innovative projects that support healthy eating and nutrition. Just some of the wide reaching initiatives include:
• Kick & Cook - a project for Key Stage 3 students which gives them the opportunity to cook meal time favourites from the first team in Tottenham’s stadium kitchens.
• Free Saturday morning cooking classes for parents and carers at Haringey 6th Form Centre - part of the To Care is To Do project in Haringey. Particular focus on foster carers and care leavers
• Healthy Family initiative across the club’s key boroughs – THF coaches working in schools with parents and carers to deliver sessions on nutrition, oral health, physical activity etc. Families have the opportunity to work through a levelled, accredited programme.
Emma Heesom, spokesperson for the School Food Trust said; “School food has transformed in recent years and students have access to tasty and nutritious food every day. The work Chase Community School has done to ensure the food on offer is not only nutritious but marketed well and what students want to eat is great, the lessons learned at Chase School will benefit schools across England. It was really good to see Darren Bent interact with the students and they seemed genuinely impressed at his healthy diet. Students look up to role models like Darren, it really hits home when he said he eats so well to keep at the top of his game.”