FOI Request - School Meal Take Up

Request 101003171512

For the past five academic years:

1. In your local authority primary and secondary schools can you provide that take up rate for school lunch meals?

2. What satisfaction surveys have been taken in regards to school meals satisfaction and quality?
a) If so, what work has been done?
b) What are results of these surveys?

Response 11-11-2022

Academic year              Primary                  Comments
Aug 2017- June 2018      60%
Aug 2018- July 2019      54%
Aug 2019- June 2020      52%                        Schools closed due to COVID 19 in March 2020 -
Aug 2020- June 2021      35%                        Schools opened in August 20 but we were serving a reduced menu in classrooms, then closed again Jan - March 21
Aug 2021- June 2022      53%

Financial Year              Secondary               Comments
2017/18                      34%
2018/19                      30%
2019/20                      29%                         Schools closed due to COVID 19 in March 2020
2020/21                       8%                         Schools opened in August 20 but we were serving a reduced menu in classrooms, then closed again Jan - March 21
2021/22                      15%                         Restriction with the secondary school due to COVID

Note: secondary information can’t be broken down into academic year.

2. Parent surveys have been completed in 2020 and 2021. Secondary Pupil survey May 2022.

a) Primary- Changed menu to 2 hot meals and 1 sandwich choice, achieved Bronze Food for life award, Ingredients to be more allergen free is possible, Vegan Menu available, calendar dates on menu.  Secondary- more grab and go food, changing of menu, trying to keep up with food trends (where legislation allows), pupil focus groups, more advertising of options, pre order app.

b) We have made changes from the results of the survey where we can. If it’s about what is on offer we look to see if this can be accommodated or changed as long as it complies with the legislations that we have to adhere too. See attached overviews of the results (linked above).