Bite Back's School Food Story
2026 is the year for English school food. Following the Government's commitment to expanding free school meals coming into place from September 2026, we've been taking a closer look at the School Food Standards — the rules that make school food healthy.
Here's why: school food is more than a meal. It is the ONLY place where we can make absolutely certain that all children are getting a decent meal. School food can provide access to nutritious meals for children that may be experiencing food insecurity, and can significantly improve educational outcomes. The school canteen is a space for connection, friendship, and a space to prioritise children’s health.
Yet the voices of young people are often cut out of the school food conversation. That’s why we’ve been campaigning for better school food in England, increasing access to free school meals, and bringing young people to the centre of the conversation. We’ve done this through our Bite Back in Schools programme and by amplifying the lived experiences of our Youth Board.
Find out more about our school food journey, and the successes we’ve marked along the way:
2020
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Free School Meals Campaign
│ Petition launched Christina launches a petition demanding free school meals in England during COVID lockdown.
│ 430k signatures
│ 1.4M children supported “No child should go hungry.”
2021
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School Food in England is a Postcode Lottery
│ Youth research reveals Young people across the country tell us their experience. High prices, Unhealthy options, Long queues.
“During exams I relied on energy drinks because it was cheaper than a meal.”
│ Bite Back in Schools launch a fully funded programme that empowers students in 50 schools across England to take social action and make a real difference to their school food experience.
2022
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We kept up the momentum
│ Teachers open letter 600 teachers signed an open letter calling on the then-Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi to act. In response to our open letter, the Government piloted new measures for schools to report on the School Food Standards – but this is yet to make a difference.
│ Spill the beans Youth panellists across the country expose the truth about school food in England in conversations with our Youth Board
"Everyone goes outside, barely anyone sits in the canteen because we don’t have that much hot food, most of it is pick-up-and-go. They have loads of canned and bottled fizzy drinks, subs and cookies and all of those things."
2023
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Petition Delivered to Downing Street
│ 250k signatures Our activists hand-deliver 250,000 signatures to the Government.
│ Taking over Westminster Our ads cover Westminster tube station, making sure MPs see our mission.
2025
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Big Food In Schools
│ Investigation Our investigation exposes how junk food companies target schools through: branded curriculum, sponsored trips and reward schemes.
"The (Starbucks) food and drink options range from different types of coffee and frappes to fizzy drinks, and the food options are mainly doughnuts, brownies and other sweet treats."
│ Bite Back in Schools 2.0 Our programme has now expanded to over 100 schools, and stepped into Scotland for the first time.
│ Award-winning activism Students at Howden School receive a Sustain Children's Food Young Change-maker Award for campaigning work they've done through Bite Back in Schools.
│ The Government Commits In June 2025, the Government lays out a commitment to expand free school meals, and undertake a review into the English School Food Standards.
2026
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GETTING BIGGER AND BOLDER
│ Free School Meals Expansion From 1st September 2026, free school meals are expanded to all families in receipt of Universal Credit, meaning 500,000 more children will now receive free school meals.
│ School Food Standards The Government's consultation in Spring 2026 invited young people, parents, and the public to have their say on school food in England. Get the full scoop from our survey here.
| Lifting The Lid On School Menus Our latest research exposes that 76% of secondary school menus analysed had at least one confirmed violation of the current School Food Standards. This is why change matters.
We’ve Only Scratched the Surface
Young people are proving that change is possible.
But the fight for better school food in England continues.
Read Shalom's story to find out more:
Bite Back in Schools
"As Head of Programmes and former teacher, I see firsthand the difference it makes when young people are trusted to lead change. When fruit pots are twice the price of cakes, and long lunch queues force students to choose between eating and using the bathroom, we cannot pretend the playing field is level.
Through the Bite Back in Schools programme, students see their ideas taken seriously by catering teams and school leaders. They grow in confidence, develop leadership and advocacy skills, and realise their voices have power. We’re not just improving school food environments — we’re equipping young people with the tools to challenge injustice and create lasting change."
— Daniel Gallacher, Head of Programmes at Bite Back