School Dinner Ladies

balletshoes

Person_one wrote: »

You've been lucky there then, but as academies the individual schools can make the decision now, some are bringing back the coke machines and the constant supply of chips. Some are even letting Costa Coffee set up franchises on the grounds!

it'll just be going full circle then - at my secondary school the school dinners pretty much consisted of chips, beans and chips, chip buttie, burger and chips, pie and chips, chips with a side of chips, oh and cans of Coke. Not to mention the tuck shop which was open every break and lunchtime, and sold nothing but chocolate and teeth-rotting jelly sweets (oh and more Coke).

In my area, theres a fair bit of competition among the secondary schools, the academies are by no means the bottom of the heap when parents and pupils are making their choice as to which secondary school to pick, so the academies have to step up just like all the others, and show what they have that sets them above the other schools in the area to prospective pupils/families.

pleasedelete

Person_one wrote: »

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/apr/22/jamie-oliver-academies-junk-food

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/sep/10/junk-food-academy-schools-claims

I don't disapprove of coffee on principle, but I don't think putting overpriced caffeine outlets in schools to make a profit off getting the children wired and hooked is particularly ethical or sensible.

We had a kettle in our sixth form common room.

So 29 unnamed academies out of the 2,000 plus. Hmm and the council quoted isn't in England so in fact it isn't in fact linked to academies .

Person_one

balletshoes wrote: »

it'll just be going full circle then - at my secondary school the school dinners pretty much consisted of chips, beans and chips, chip buttie, burger and chips, pie and chips, chips with a side of chips, oh and cans of Coke. Not to mention the tuck shop which was open every break and lunchtime, and sold nothing but chocolate and teeth-rotting jelly sweets (oh and more Coke).

Yep, it was like that when I was at school. Most people had chips and cheese followed by cake every day, with vending machines all over the place and no vegetables got past the school gates.

It was getting better though, after Jamie Oliver's campaign, but the academies have been allowed to undo those positive changes for financial reasons. Schools that are run by the local authorities still have to follow the healthy school meals rules.

Person_one

pleasedelete wrote: »

So 29 unnamed academies out of the 2,000 plus. Hmm and the council quoted isn't in England so in fact it isn't in fact linked to academies .

I know of two academies in my local area that have coffee shop franchises and have abandoned the healthy meals guidelines. I'm not going to name them, but trust me, its happening!

balletshoes

Person_one wrote: »

I know of two academies in my local area that have coffee shop franchises and have abandoned the healthy meals guidelines. I'm not going to name them, but trust me, its happening!

but that doesn't mean they all will, as you said yourself, academies have the choice.

Person_one

balletshoes wrote: »

but that doesn't mean they all will, as you said yourself, academies have the choice.

I suppose it will depend on what is cheaper/makes more money, but allowing them to opt out of the rules is a backwards step in my opinion.

Mind you, they don't even have to have qualified teachers so there's plenty to be concerned about on the academy front!

pleasedelete

I regularly enjoy school meals in both academies and maintained schools. The issue of quality of school food is not determined by whether a school is an academy or not. I have had outstanding and poor in both. By trying to make this an anti academy bandwagon it just hides the issue which is that basically there is too much variation across the country and even within LA and contract provider.

Plus if you think Jamie Oliver made any difference to most schools I would question that. There were good and bad before and there still is.

jellyhead

Person_one wrote: »

I know of two academies in my local area that have coffee shop franchises and have abandoned the healthy meals guidelines. I'm not going to name them, but trust me, its happening!

Are the coffee shops for all children, or just 6th form?

My son's 6th form common room has a kettle, and I provide him with fruit teabags. I imagine his entire meal costs less than a Costa coffee

I remember being hooked on caffeine when I was his age. I'm glad he isn't interested, because I couldn't afford to feed a Costa habit.

jellyhead

balletshoes wrote: »

OP what happens where you are?

Yes, I'm wondering what's different in Poland?

Person_one

jellyhead wrote: »

Are the coffee shops for all children, or just 6th form?

My son's 6th form common room has a kettle, and I provide him with fruit teabags. I imagine his entire meal costs less than a Costa coffee

I remember being hooked on caffeine when I was his age. I'm glad he isn't interested, because I couldn't afford to feed a Costa habit.

One at least is in the main entrance area, I don't know if the 11 year olds are allowed to buy from it. Businesses in schools doesn't sit well with me though.