Case Studies

Welsh Assembly Government School Meals research

11/07/2006

During 2005, BIC Innovation in partnership with UWB’s Ifanc (Institute of Food, Active Living and Nutrition Cymru) won a contract to undertake an all Wales research into school meals and nutrition.

This project was jointly commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government and the Food Standards Agency (Wales) and aimed at improving healthy eating among young people, as outlined in the “Food and Well-Being Nutrition Strategy” and “Wales a better country”.

The purpose of the study was to undertake research into school meals in maintained primary and secondary schools across Wales looking into pupil’s food choice and the factors influencing their choice. The increasing levels of overweight and obesity among children in the UK (60% to 70% increases respectively, 1989, 1998) makes school meals an important issue.

The project, issued by the Assembly’s Health Promotion’s Division and the Food Standards Agency involved hours of desk research to secure a representative sample of 1800 pupils aged between 4 and 18. The team rounded off the study by carrying out a series of in depth executive interviews and workshops before delivering detailed recommendations and action plans for policy makers.

The research comprised four main elements:

- Observations of the dining area (food choice,   presentation, environment).

- Interviews with pupils as to the choices they made.

- Pupil questionnaires convering lunchtime arrangements and opinions of school meals.

- Interviews with meal providers on nutrition policy and practice.

The interviews and questionnaires gave way to a comprehensive analysis. Qualitative and quantitative data resulting from students’ answers, professional members of catering organisations, schoolteachers and headmasters were summarized and presented to both WAG and the FSA in order to evaluate the current condition of school meals in Wales. The project led to a radical review of school meals in Wales.