The Big School Meal Debate 2025

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The future of school meals: What needs to change?

At The Big School Meal Debate, we focused on how we can make school meals healthier and more cost-effective.

This debate brought together a number of industry experts including:

  • Stewart Mcluskey, Civica

  • Paul Brown & Pat Fellows MBE, Bidfood

  • Andy Kemp & Gavin Squires, Bidfood

  • Geoff Campion, Chartwells

  • Ciaran Vaughan, Dolce Schools Catering

  • Nick Clegg, Edwards & Ward

  • Jo Anne Robertson, Elior

  • Neil Porter, LACA/BAM

  • Judith Gregory, LACA/LEA Cardiff

  • Frances Thivet, Sodexo

  • Luke Consiglio, The Pantry

Here’s what we discussed:

  • Cost vs. quality: Food is getting pricier, which makes it hard to keep lunches healthier and affordable

  • Technological solutions: Using and updating technology can make things cheaper, help organise stuff, and make sure everything meets the rules

  • Better food, better learning: The link between eating a nutritious meal and better student performance

  • Challenges for rural schools: Smaller schools, especially in the countryside, face bigger problems with costs and getting everything they need

  • Funding and policy needs: The need for new funding ideas and policy changes to support the school meal program

  • Everyone needs to contribute: Learn about the vital role of community involvement and media strategies ingathering support and driving policy improvements.

While the debate was just a beginning, there's so much more we can do to improve school lunches. Download our Big School Meal Debate digital resource, to learn more about ideas from the debate, including detailed discussions and tips for making school meals better.

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