THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS’ COUNCIL LAUNCH A STRATEGIC FOOD POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR SCHOOL GOVERNING BODIES

15 June 2005

Jacqui Smith, School Standards Minister, opening the Joint Conference on Governance today launched the NGC/FSA joint publication, School Food Policy - A Strategic Framework for Governing Bodies. She said “It’s vital that we take a whole school approach, so that nothing gets in the way of our children and improved education and life chances. Healthy eating choices can boost pupils’ engagement and achievement and I welcome this strategic policy framework for governing bodies on school food”.

Governing bodies with their strategic role and responsibility for the ethos of the school are ideally placed to embed healthier food policies in school. This is why the NGC has joined forces with the Food Standards Agency to produce a practical document for governing bodies with advice and guidance on how governors can effect a sea-change in the quality and nature of the food available in their schools. Unlike other documents on school food the NGC/FSA publication is specifically written with this strategic role in mind.

Introducing the document, Jean McEntire, Chief Executive of NGC said that governors had an important role to play in school food policy. She suggested three key questions governors could ask about food policy in their schools.

• How can we expect our pupils to learn the importance of a balanced diet if we do not provide a consistent message throughout the school day?
  
• Why have a policy allowing pupils off the school premises during lunchtimes? Why not consider restricting this to prevent pupils visiting the chip shop?
  
• How much choice do we need to offer? Why not limit choice to a few well-balanced meals?

Background

In 2003 NGC in collaboration with the FSA carried out a survey of governors which indicated that the majority thought that school food needed improving and that schools should have policies on healthier eating. Governors reported that they did not have sufficient relevant nutrition information and were unsure about where the strategic role ended and the management role began. As result of that survey NGC and FSA agreed to collaborate on the Strategic Framework.
The framework is intended to be a reference document with governing bodies dipping into it as and when required. Not all school food issues will apply to all schools, for instance few primary schools will have vending machines. Likewise, although schools should be aiming to adopt a whole school food approach individual components may best be implemented in stages to ensure each aspect of a healthier eating policy properly considered. The individual policy sections allow governing bodies to tackle school food issue by issue.

Notes

1. The National Governors’ Council is a registered charity, established for general public benefit but in particular to improve the educational welfare of children by promoting high standards in schools, and raising the effectiveness of governing bodies.
2. The Joint Conference on Governance takes place at the Victoria Plaza Hotel, London SW1 on Wednesday 15th June. The Minister is speaking at 10.30 am.
3. For further information please contact, Gillian Windass, Consultations and Policy Officer, National Governors’ Council, 0121-616-5104 or 07967-380576.

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