Join Bite Back in Schools
A fully funded programme for your school empowering students to improve their school food experience.
Have you ever thought that a student’s wellbeing might be connected to the food they have access to at school? Want to make a difference for your students?
If the answer’s yes, we have a free opportunity for your school!
The fully funded Bite Back in Schools Programme empowers students to work towards a school food experience that gives them the fuel they need to succeed. They will have the opportunity to learn vital skills, such as leadership, teamwork, and planning projects that have a positive impact.
It's a no-brainer that young people need the right fuel to thrive in school. But this isn’t the case.
We’ve heard this directly from young people, Bite Back campaigner Timi says, ”English is normally after lunch for me but since sometimes I don’t eat properly, I feel tired during lessons, and can’t get much work done. I get distracted easier and that has led to the relationship with my teacher worsening.”
Every single child deserves access to healthy, nutritious food at school. By joining Bite Back in Schools, you can help make this happen.
What is Bite Back in Schools?
- For Years 7, 8, 9 or 10 (or S1-S4 in Scotland): Students explore the food environment in their school and community.
- Skill-Building for your students: Research, communication, advocacy, and teamwork.
- Real Impact: student-driven social action to improve their canteen 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 England.
Want to find out more? Click here to view our full Information Pack.
What you get
- Kick-off assembly delivered by an inspiring Bite Back ambassador.
- Ready-to-go high-quality resources and session plans.
- £500 grant to help you run the programme.
- Start-to-end support from the Bite Back team.
- Engaging physical resources for students, including workbooks and badges.
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 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 tutor time, others deliver them in PSHE or on a drop-down day/collapsed timetable day.
For example, in early October, all of Year 8 have an assembly in the main hall and then over the next 5 weeks, form teachers in classrooms deliver the 5 sessions.
The remaining 15 hours of content is delivered to a small group of students (School Food Champions) usually in an after-school 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 tutor time, PSHE or a drop-down 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 students (School Food Champions).
- Willingness to listen to your students' 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 100 schools. 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 are a school in Scotland, can I apply?
Yes! This programme is available for schools in Scotland and England.
Is this programme for secondary schools only?
Yes, we are developing a primary offer, so stay tuned.
Can the programme be delivered in a range of contexts e.g. Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools or alternative provisions?
Yes! We have delivered this programme successfully in a range of contexts, including Special Educational Needs (SEN) Schools and alternative provisions.
We welcome applications from schools outside the mainstream context and will work with schools to adapt the programme as needed so that their students can thrive on Bite Back in Schools.
Do you have an information pack?
Yes! Click here to find our Bite Back in Schools Information Pack.
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, check out our info pack or contact our friendly team at schoolfoodchampions@biteback2030.com.