Free schools or academies, as they are often referred to, are not run by local authorities and as a result are free to provide services such as catering for pupils however they want to.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Oliver said that although so much has been achieved with school meals and the nutritional standards, these free schools could undo all the good work and allow bad habits to creep back in.
When asked if he still worried about school meals he said: “Massively. Let’s be clear though, five years ago there was more regulation for dog food than there was our children’s food and we’ve achieved so much.”
Co-presenter, Charlie Stape, asked Oliver if he thought caterers were fighting a losing battle and the chef replied by highlighting how school meal uptake has increased over the last five years. He talked passionately about the link between good food and how it positively impacts the ability of students.
Oliver said that instead of abolishing the nutritional standards altogether the government has simply invested in a fresh wave of new schools which are able to side step current rules and regulations.
He said that a third of secondary schools are now classed as free academies and that the “erosion of the nutritional standards is effectively the erosion of public health”.
Co-presenter Susannah Reid argued that if good food improves a student’s ability as much as Oliver claims, then why would free schools not realise that and provide good school dinners anyway.
Oliver responded by saying that some free schools may well serve very good food of a nutritious standard but that not all of them would take that viewpoint. He added: “I’m not saying that all services are perfect but I’m not saying all services are bad. Head teachers have an awful lot to deal with and they are essentially running the biggest restaurant in town. I don’t know of any other restaurant that has to serve 1,800 covers in less than 45 minutes.”
He took a swipe at education secretary Michael Gove calling him a “nice man” but one that “will let down the next generation of kids”.
Source: LACA
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024