England prepares for sweeping overhaul of school food rules to boost health and equality

England is set to implement the most significant changes to school food standards in over a decade, aiming to improve children’s health, support concentration, and promote fairness across primary and secondary schools, starting from September 2027.

England’s school food rules are set for their biggest overhaul in more than a decade, with ministers promising healthier meals, tighter limits on sugary and high-fat items, and more consistent standards across primary and secondary education. According to the Department for Education, the updated requirements are intended to improve children’s nutrition, support concentration in class and help tackle obesity and tooth decay, while also making sure pupils from lower-income households are better fed during the school day.

The changes are due to begin in September 2027, subject to parliamentary approval, with primary schools expected to comply from that date and secondary schools given until September 2028 for some of the measures. The government has said the reforms were developed with nutrition experts and public health specialists, and it has pointed to growing support from campaigners, including chef Jamie Oliver and actor Dame Emma Thompson. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said no child should go hungry at school and framed the overhaul as a move towards fuller stomachs and a fairer start.

The new rules set detailed expectations for what schools must serve. Meals will need to include a wider range of starchy foods, including wholegrains, with bread available daily and fried starchy foods restricted. Schools will also be expected to offer vegetables or salad with every main meal, provide fruit every day, and include desserts that contain at least half fruit on at least two days a week. The guidance also places more emphasis on pulses such as lentils and chickpeas, and encourages schools to make fruit and vegetables more visible and appealing, including by using seasonal produce and school gardens where possible.

Protein and dairy standards are also being tightened. Schools will have to provide a dairy item each day, with lower-fat milk available during school hours, while meat or poultry must appear on at least three days a week. Oily fish should be served at least once every three weeks, and schools will need to provide non-dairy protein on three or more days a week. The Department for Education also advises schools to vary vegetarian options more carefully, using ingredients such as pulses, tofu, soya and mycoprotein, while limiting meat or poultry products to once a week in primary schools and twice a week in secondary schools.

At the same time, the government is drawing harder lines around foods high in fat, sugar and salt. Deep-fried items, many pastries, confectionery and salty snacks are all restricted, and condiments will be capped at small portions. The only drinks allowed will include water, lower-fat milk, certain milk alternatives and limited quantities of juice or combination drinks. Schools will also be expected to publish menus and food policies online, and to appoint a school food governor to help oversee compliance. The Department for Education says it will work with the Food Standards Agency on monitoring, as the government tries to turn the standards into a practical change in what children are served each day.