Let’s call time on grab-and-go school lunches | Letters

John Sommer and Dr Ginevra Read on the declining standard of food in schools

Regarding your article on school dinners (School dinners in England dominated by grab-and-go foods such as pizza and sausage rolls, 27 March), the declining standard of school meals has a lot to do with the way that secondary schools organise lunchtimes. There has been a tendency to shorten lunchtimes, often to deal with behavioural issues, but also to reduce the cost of supervision. This can be shortsighted as the rush for lunch becomes more intense, adding to tensions rather than reducing them.

The system encourages the grab-and-go mentality. Perhaps in addition to minimum nutrition standards, government guidance on the organisation of lunchtimes would make delivery of good school lunches a reality.
John Sommer
Bristol