School meal uptake fell in schools trialling the government’s food standards, with some pupils skipping lunch altogether, research shows.
A reveals that some pupils eligible for free school meals missed lunch or brought packed lunches, potentially placing financial pressure on their families.
The pilot scheme - commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care in partnership with the Department for Education - tested proposed changes to school menus during autumn 2025.
Only 11 schools completed the pilot, with five reporting a decline in meal uptake, four reporting no change and two reporting an increase.
The DfE last month published its final response to a consultation on changes to school food standards, which education secretary Lucy Powell hailed as a “once-in-a-generation” reform.
Reduced meal uptake
One secondary school in the pilot reported a 40 per cent reduction in meal uptake after removing most of its “grab-and-go” food options and bottled drinks because they did not comply with the proposed standards, today’s findings show.
One primary school reported a 15 per cent reduction in school dinner bookings; another saw uptake fall from 73 per cent to 67 per cent.
Some pupils brought packed lunches instead, while others bought food outside school or occasionally skipped lunch, the research finds.
School staff warned that packed lunches or food bought externally could be less nutritious than school meals.
Concerns for pupils with SEND
The research also reveals concerns about the impact of removing familiar foods on pupils with sensory sensitivities or restricted diets.
In some schools, pupils chose not to eat at all when familiar options were withdrawn, the report says.
Other schools continued offering meals not included in the food standards - such as jacket potatoes, paninis and cheese or ham sandwiches - to ensure that these pupils had something to eat.
Additional support for schools with higher proportions of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is needed to support the new standards, the researchers recommend.
Higher school meal costs
Food costs increased by between 6p and 20p per meal in some schools during the pilot, which was conducted by independent research company Verian.
The increased costs are associated with introducing higher-fibre bread, rice and pasta, reduced-fat cheese and alternatives to traditional desserts.
Some schools also faced higher staffing costs due to additional food preparation, training and packaging requirements.
Commercial caterers raised fears that increased costs and declining meal uptake could make school catering financially unsustainable.
The researchers advise that the government should review school food funding arrangements to help schools meet the revised requirements.
England’s school meal funding rate has only increased by 11 per cent since 2020 - a significantly lower rise than across the rest of the UK, Vlog previously reported.
Changes made since pilot
Today’s report identifies some nutritional improvements under the pilot scheme, including lower sugar levels and increased fibre in grab-and-go meals.
Schools that already had established approaches to healthy eating generally found the changes easier to implement, the report adds.
The findings are not representative of all schools, the researchers caution, adding that none of the participating schools fully implemented every proposed standard.
The government has since revised some of the requirements following public consultation on the food standards, and given secondary schools more flexibility ahead of implementation from September 2027.
The DfE also today published and alongside the pilot.
Earlier this week, a report advised that schools should assess the risk of a catering provider collapsing when they award contracts, amid warnings that smaller companies are being squeezed out.
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