The GMB union has called on North Tyneside Council to bring school meals back in-house, following a national report that found most English secondary school meals fail to meet health standards.
Union response to national report
According to the food charity Bite Back, three out of four menus from 391 secondary schools in England contain at least one standards breach, often offering children unhealthy foods too frequently. The GMB claims the council's withdrawal of catering services has led to a drop in quality and rising prices.
In 2023, North Tyneside Council announced it would suspend its school catering service amid declining uptake and a £3m annual shortfall. The suspension took effect in March the following year.
GMB statement on health and costs
A GMB spokesperson said: “Nothing in the article surprises the GMB, since the announcement a few years ago that North Tyneside Council were closing their School Meals Service, we warned of the impact on the children of North Tyneside’s health. We’ve seen the rising cost of school meals year-on-year and a drop in the quality of ingredients.
“Instead of advising schools, North Tyneside Council should be leading the way and taking back the School Meals Service from the private companies, who only seek to make a profit. GMB firmly believes that children’s health and meals should not be left in the hands of the cheapest option.
“North Tyneside Council seem to have a record of making savings at the expense of services to children, first the school meals given to private businesses to make a profit out of dinner money from hard-working parents and then the recent announcement that they plan to close High Borrans.”
The statement concluded: “The GMB are calling on North Tyneside Council to stop this continuous attack on the health and well-being of the children of North Tyneside by keeping High Borrans open and restarting the Schools Meals Service.”
Council defends decisions
The local authority has previously defended the closure of High Borrans by November, stating the facility requires about £3m to keep running, despite £900,000 being spent there in recent years. It says it has also subsidised the venture by about £165 per child, including the £62,000 per year allocated for out-of-borough pupils.
Recent attendance figures indicated the centre had been used by 1,255 pupils from Years 5 to 8, out of a potential cohort of 9,300.
Stephen Ballantyne, interim director of resources at North Tyneside Council, said: “The decision to end the council’s school meals service was not taken lightly, but it was a necessary one. Like councils across the country, we continue to face significant financial pressures and must regularly review services to ensure resources are being used in the most effective and sustainable way.
“Since the transition in 2024, we have continued to work positively with school leaders to support healthy eating and ensure pupils have access to nutritious meals throughout the school day.
“Giving children and young people the best possible start in life remains a key priority for the council. By reviewing services and focusing our resources where they can have the greatest impact, we can continue to support the residents and communities who need us most.”
