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Adapting our school food improvement programme to meet the unique challenges of secondary schools

School Food Matters commissioned research into how our school food improvement programme, Nourish, can be adapted to better suit the needs, preferences and priorities of secondary school settings. We worked in collaboration with the University of Birmingham using the findings from their FUEL (Food provision, cUlture and Environment in secondary schooLs) study as a framework.   

Our latest findings 

In April 2026, we published new research identifying five key conditions for delivering a whole school approach to food in secondary schools. This approach connects food education, school food provision and wider food culture to create a positive and sustainable school food environment. 

The research highlights that, in secondary settings, successful implementation requires: 

  1. A ‘slow and steady’ approach tailored to each school’s context and challenges  
  1. Meaningful and sustained engagement of students  
  1. Strong involvement of school catering teams and catering organisations  
  1. Collaboration with external partners, including local authorities and trusts  
  1. Embedding opportunities to celebrate progress and sustain momentum  

These findings have informed the development of an adapted Nourish programme for secondary schools and are intended to support others working to strengthen school food culture through a whole school approach. 

Read our Latest News article to learn more about the research and its implications. 

Understanding the challenge: insights from the FUEL study 

The FUEL study identified a number of key challenges in secondary school food environments:

  • Compliance challenges – schools provided nutritious food but often failed to meet all food standards, particularly around restricting foods high in fat, salt and sugar 

  • Meeting student needs – food on offer did not always match what students wanted – tasty, convenient, filling and good value options. 
  • Balancing quality and profit – caterers found it difficult to meet standards while offering popular foods that ensure financial viability 
  • Lack of leadership around school food – many schools had low awareness of the School Food Plan, limited monitoring of standards, and few formal food policies. 
  • Dining experience – students described canteens as busy, chaotic and stressful 
  • Student voice – students were rarely involved in discussions about school food 
  • Food education – schools placed little emphasis on food education, with inconsistent messages about healthy eating 

Our research approach 

These findings reflect our own experiences of the challenges faced by secondary schools in delivering a whole school approach to food. To shape an adapted Nourish programme tailored to secondary settings, we carried out further research, including conducting interviews and workshops with schools, caterers, students and wider stakeholders, alongside a review of existing research on school food. This included two in-person sessions with students in London and the Midlands, ensuring young people’s voices were central to the research and its findings. 

The work was also informed by input from a Steering Group, the Bite Back youth panel and the Nourish delivery team, with insights shared and discussed throughout the research process. 

In November 2025, we published the findings from our rapid review of the research.  We released our final report and recommendations from the study in April 2026. 

The Nourish Secondaries research project was made possible through funding from Ocado Retail. 

Explore the research