Exploring models of school food procurement to optimise the quality of school meals for primary school children

Research highlights that a well-managed school meal system can improve public health
and reduce inequalities. School food is England’s largest public sector food expenditure,
with nine million children consuming a third of their daily intake at school. However,
little is known about how procurement contract types affect food quality. This thesis
explored the influence of procurement contract types on school food quality through
three consecutive, interlinked studies: (1) systematic scoping review of existing
evidence; (2) mixed method typology generation and documentary analysis of data on
provision and quality from schools, caterers, public health teams, websites and
contracts in a Yorkshire case study; and (3) qualitative interviews with school food
caterers, public health representatives and advocates. Overall, findings suggested that
the main drivers of improved quality were perceived as: supportive power dynamics;
monitored, robust standards; transparent, effective funding; and dedicated, skilled
people; rather than procurement contract type. Without these, school food is unlikely
to be optimised for child wellbeing. A lack of peer-reviewed academic evidence linking
procurement contract type with school food provision existed, with literature revealing
inconsistent and sometimes conflicting outcomes. Provision was complex and
fragmented, following migration from local authority catering to commercial providers.
A systemic lack of transparency and conflicting priorities were revealed, along with an
ineffective funding system, leaving a fifth of schools without financially viable provision.
Quality was inconsistently defined and interpreted, often related to standards perceived
as outdated, ineffective and unsupported. With reform, including child input, a more
equal and consistent school food system may address the existing “lottery” for children
in terms of quality. Extending free school meals may remove the need for caterers to
compete with unhealthy external food environments, supporting a more aligned system
prioritising child health, and improving access to a high quality, nutritious, enjoyable
school meal for all children.