New research highlights key conditions for successfully improving food in secondary schools
School Food Matters has published new research with the University of Birmingham exploring how its Nourish school food transformation programme can be effectively delivered in secondary schools. The research focuses on establishing a whole school approach to food which connects food education, school food provision and overall food culture to create a sustainable school food environment that runs through all aspects of school life.
The findings highlight the practical conditions needed to support implementation in secondary settings, where complex structures, competing priorities and varied food provision models can make whole school approaches more challenging to embed. This study comes at a pivotal moment for school food, as the government announces revisions to the decade-old school food standards.
Drawing on a rapid evidence review, interviews and workshops with students, school staff, caterers and the wider school food sector , the study identifies five key conditions for successfully delivering a whole school approach to food in secondary schools:
- A ‘slow and steady’ approach tailored to each school’s context and challenges
- Meaningful and sustained engagement of students
- Strong involvement of school catering teams and catering organisations
- Collaboration with external partners, including local authorities and trusts
- Embedding opportunities to celebrate progress and sustain momentum
Across all five areas, the research highlights the importance of recognising secondary schools as distinct environments, where lasting change is more likely to be achieved through incremental, context-specific approaches that involve the whole school community.
Young people were central to the research and consistently highlighted the importance of being actively involved in shaping their school food environment. However, many felt their input is still too often tokenistic rather than meaningfully acted upon.
One student said:
“What would make me be involved is if we actually saw a change – there was actually different stuff.”
The findings also emphasise the role of catering teams, school leadership and external partners in supporting a whole school approach to food, alongside the importance of clear communication, shared ownership and long-term engagement.
Georgie Branch, Nourish Programme Manager at School Food Matters, said:
“This research helps us better understand what is needed to successfully deliver our Nourish programme in secondary schools. It shows that meaningful change takes time, collaboration and a clear focus on engaging the whole school community, including students and catering teams.
While the findings directly inform the development of Nourish in secondary settings, they also offer valuable insight for anyone working to strengthen school food culture through a whole school approach.”
Professor Miranda Pallan from the University of Birmingham, said:
“This research builds on our earlier work exploring food in secondary schools, which showed how complex and challenging it can be to ensure students have access to nutritious food. By focusing on how the Nourish programme’s whole school approach to food can be tailored to secondary schools, this study moves the conversation beyond identifying problems to exploring practical solutions. Creating school environments that support nutritious diets is an essential step in protecting young people’s health as they grow into adulthood.”
School Food Matters is now using the findings to adapt its Nourish programme for secondary schools, with delivery taking place across Birmingham, Cumberland, Hertfordshire, London and Worcestershire in 2026.
ENDS
Notes for editors
The Nourish Secondaries research project was made possible through funding from Ocado Retail.
- Explore the Nourish Secondaries research project on our website.
- Read the independent report summary on Delivering Nourish in Secondary Schools.
- Find out more about the University of Birmingham EPIC Food Study (Enhancing Policy In sChool food)
- Find photos for media use in our Nourish Secondaries press kit album. Please credit School Food Matters.
About Nourish
Nourish (formerly Healthy Zones) supports schools to create a food environment that puts children and young people's nutrition first. Our evidence-based, multi component programme helps schools to develop action plans and policies to cover the food served across the whole school day.
The Nourish team uses a whole school approach to food involving everyone across the school community to create lasting change. The team delivers fun and engaging nutrition education directly to children and young people, so they can develop a positive relationship with food for their future health and happiness.
For more information on the Nourish programme, visit www.schoolfoodmatters.org/projects/nourish
About School Food Matters
At School Food Matters we believe that school food can unlock a happier, healthier, more sustainable future for every child. We want a school food system that delivers for all children, so they can enjoy nutritious, delicious and sustainable school food and leave school with an informed and positive relationship with food.
To achieve this, we campaign for a better school food system, bringing the voices of children, parents, and teachers to government policy, and deliver fully funded food education programmes in schools across the country.
For more information on School Food Matters, visit www.schoolfoodmatters.org
About University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, educators and more than 40,000 students from over 150 countries.
England’s first civic university, the University of Birmingham is proud to be rooted in of one of the most dynamic and diverse cities in the country. A member of the Russell Group and a founding member of the Universitas 21 global network of research universities, the University of Birmingham has been changing the way the world works for more than a century.
For more information on the University of Birmingham, visit www.birmingham.ac.uk