06 June 2011

A Whole-School Approach to Healthy Eating Improves Results
New evidence from the Food for Life Partnership finds schools that involve parents and children in healthy eating are better rated by Ofsted

New evidence commissioned by a leading partnership of food charities shows that a whole-school approach to food leads to a better family diet and can improve academy performance.

An independent evaluation of work by the Food for Life Partnership (FFLP) project, set up to encourage pupils and their parents to eat healthy food and learn how to cook and grow it themselves, shows that schools were rated more highly by Ofsted inspectors after taking part in the programme.

The research, by teams from the University of the West of England (UWE) and Cardiff University, also showed that pupils' interest in healthy and sustainable foods was having a "nudge effect" on their eating and parents' shopping habits.

More than 3,600 schools are now members of the programme which encourages them to work towards Bronze, Silver and Gold levels of the FFLP award scheme.

Over 2,800 schools now serve FFLP menus, which are seasonal and freshly prepared with no hydrogenated fats or battery eggs

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