Children's Food Campaign calls for action on improving school food, not more reviews

Responding to Michael Gove's announcement of a new review into school food, Malcolm Clark, co-ordinator of the Children's Food Campaign, said:

"How many reviews and surveys will Gove have to commission until he gets the answer he wants, rather than the reality? The evidence from the recent School Food Trust survey of school food in 100 academies was clear: standards are slipping. The evidence is equally clear that national standards have worked in making school food more nutritious, appetising and popular. What is needed now is more time and money for those standards to be fully implemented across all secondary schools." 

"Our challenge to Gove is, if the review - like every other piece of evidence - points to the benefits of national food standards, properly applied and monitored in all schools including academies, will he act on that? Otherwise, there is a real danger that this review will go the way of the Food Growing in Schools Taskforce report, which the government commissioned but has so far failed to implement any of its recommendations. In the meantime, will the Department for Education provide information to parents to enable them to better hold their academy to account if standards fall?"

"The one bright spark from Gove's announcement is his recognition of the importance of food education and teaching cooking skills. However, with the consultation on the new national curriculum due later this year, we can't wait until 2013 to hear how cooking and food growing will be integrated into schools' provision of a healthy food environment for their pupils."

Note: details of the review announcement can be found here