Apply Scotland
Final places available for 2026/27
Applications are closing soon for Scottish secondary schools to join Bite Back in Schools for the 2026/27 academic year.
We already have schools across Scotland getting ready to take part and we're looking for a final few schools to join them.
Register your interest by 1 September 2026.
Put young people at the heart of change
Bite Back in Schools is our fully funded programme for learners in S1–S4, giving young people the knowledge, confidence and tools to create positive change in their school food environment.
Through assemblies, interactive sessions and a pupil-led School Food Champions group, young people investigate the food around them, identify what needs to change and work with their school to turn their ideas into action.
Participation is completely free, and as well as getting access to lesson plans, presentations and resources, our team will support you throughout the programme.
Join schools across Scotland
Schools across Scotland are already joining our 2026/27 cohort.
Participating schools include:
2026/27: Glasgow, Moray, Perth & Kinross, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Dundee.
2025/26: Glasgow, Fife, North Ayrshire
And we've already seen what can happen when Scottish schools give young people the opportunity to lead.
Hear from a teacher
What will your students get from the programme?
Learners taking part will have the opportunity to:
- Explore the food system and the factors shaping the food available to young people
- Investigate their own school food environment
- Develop leadership, communication and advocacy skills
- Work together to identify practical solutions
- Present their ideas to school leaders and catering teams
- Become part of a growing movement of young people using their voices to protect children’s right to healthy food
Most importantly, pupils are given the opportunity to lead the change they want to see in their own school.
Interested, but want to talk first?
You don't need to have everything figured out before getting in touch.
If you'd like to find out whether Bite Back in Schools is right for your school, book a free 15-minute conversation with Katie from our Programmes team.
There's no commitment, it's simply an opportunity to hear more about the programme and ask any questions you have.
Ready to join us?
We're filling the final places in our 2026/27 cohort now.
Register your school's interest by 1 September 2026 and our team will be in touch to help you through the next steps.
APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW
Have you ever thought that a learner’s wellbeing might be connected to their food environment at school? Want to make a difference for your pupils?
If the answer’s yes, we have a free opportunity for your school!
The fully funded Bite Back in Schools Programme empowers learners to work towards a dining hall experience that gives them the fuel they need to succeed. Whether it's making water stations more accessible, taking the spotlight off unhealthy products, or reshaping dining halls, pupils deserve healthy environments in schools. Plus, they will have the opportunity to learn key skills for work and life, such as project planning, public speaking, stakeholder engagement and leadership. It's a win-win!
By taking part, learners will be doing something that supports the Curriculum for Excellence’s Health and Wellbeing focus. They'll also be standing up for their rights under the UNCRC, including the right to nutritious food, good health, and having their voices heard.
Every single child deserves a good dining experience at school. By joining Bite Back in Schools, you can help make this happen.
If you're a school in Scotland, apply now to start your Bite Back in Schools journey in 2026.
Hit the button below.
What is Bite Back in Schools?
- For S1-S4: Learners explore the food environment in their school and community.
- Skill-Building for your pupils: Research, communication, advocacy, and teamwork.
- Real Impact: youth-driven social action to improve their dining hall food and space.
- Flexible: Deliver 15 hours of content across the school terms in a way that works for your school.
- Tried and tested: Already delivered in 200 secondary schools in the UK.
Want to find out more?
What you get
- Kick-off assembly delivered by an inspiring Bite Back ambassador.
- Ready-to-go high-quality resources and session plans.
- £500.00 grant to help you run the programme.
- Start-to-end support from the Bite Back team.
- Engaging physical resources for learners, including workbooks and badges.
Made for Scottish schools
We know every school is different, so we've designed Bite Back in Schools to be flexible and work around your pupils, timetable and existing commitments.
Drawing on what we've learned from schools taking part in our Scottish pilot, we've put together a practical Tips for Delivery in Scottish Schools guide to help you get started.
Inside, you'll find simple advice on choosing the right year groups, planning around the school calendar, recruiting your School Food Champions and giving pupils real ownership of their project.
There's also a handy fast-track checklist to help you prepare for the programme.
FAQs
Is there a cost to the programme?
No, we are pleased to be able to offer Bite Back in Schools Programme fully-funded, thanks to support from the National Lottery.
Your school will also receive a £500.00 grant to help you run the programme.
Is this programme delivered during the school day?
The first half of this programme is delivered during the school day, the second half is usually delivered in an after-school club.
The kick-off assembly (20 mins) and the 5 whole year group sessions (45 mins each) are delivered during the school day in whatever way suits your school. Some schools split these across registration/tutor time, others deliver them as part of Health and Wellbeing curricular areas (e.g. during PSE or PE) or on an off-timetable day.
For example, in early October, all of S2 have an assembly in the main hall and then over the next 5 weeks, registration teachers in classrooms deliver the 5 sessions.
The remaining 15 hours of content is delivered to a small group of learners (School Food Champions) usually in an after-school or lunchtime club. This requires one teacher.
Total time during school day: 4 hours
Total time delivered after school: approximately 10 hours
What commitment to you need from schools?
- Time in the school day for a year group assembly delivered by Bite Back.
- Time in the school day (usually registration/tutor time, Health and Wellbeing or an off-timetable day) for 5 whole year group sessions delivered in classrooms by teachers.
- One teacher to run a lunchtime or after-school club for a smaller group of learners (School Food Champions).
- Willingness to listen to your pupils' ideas and make changes that put young people's health first.
How do you select schools?
We have a limited number of funded places for 2025/26, and can only offer the Bite Back in Schools Programme to 5 Scottish schools this year. To ensure we’re providing opportunities for change in the communities most impacted by health inequalities, we will prioritise applications from schools which meet the following demographic criteria:
- Above national average % of pupils receiving free school meals.
- Areas with high obesity rates.
- Local Authorities with the highest proportion of neighbourhoods in the most deprived 10% of neighbourhoods on the IMD 2019.
We use an external catering company, is that ok?
Yes, we have delivered this programme in over 200 schools with a range of catering set-ups, including in-house, trust-wide, LA catering and more.
We're a school in England, can I apply?
Applications for schools in England to join Bite Back in Schools have now closed. But you can register your interest to join for 2026/27 through this page.
Is this programme for secondary schools only?
Yes, this programme is only for secondary schools.
We are developing a primary offer, so stay tuned.
Do you have an information pack?
Yes! Find our Bite Back in Schools Scotland information pack.
Can the programme be delivered in a range of contexts e.g. special schools or units for children with additional support needs (ASN)?
Yes! We have delivered this programme successfully in a range of contexts, including special schools and alternative provisions.
We welcome applications from schools who support a wide variety of learners and will work with schools to adapt the programme as needed so that their pupils can thrive on Bite Back in Schools.
Do you offer free resources?
Yes! As part of the programme, we will send you high-quality, engaging resources such as workbooks, stickers and badges. All are free of charge.
For more questions about the Bite Back in Schools Programme contact our friendly team at schoolfoodchampions@biteback2030.com.
Thanks to National Lottery players, Bite Back has received £3.5 million from The National Lottery Community Fund, to empower young people to improve their school food environment.