England to tighten school meal rules by 2027
Deep-fried food banned under new school dinner rules in England
Monday, 14 September 2026
Warm-up
- What did you usually eat for lunch at school?
- How healthy are school meals in your country?
- Should schools limit sugar and fried food? Why?
Vocabulary
- ban
- an official rule that stops people from doing or offering something
- standards
- agreed rules that show the level of quality required
- nutrition
- the process of getting the food your body needs to be healthy
- monitor
- to watch and check something regularly to see if it follows the rules
- processed
- changed in a factory and often with added salt, sugar or other ingredients
- portion
- a measured amount of food served to one person
- eligibility
- the fact of being allowed to get or use something by the rules
- wellbeing
- a state of being healthy and feeling good
Reading
England is bringing in new school food standards, which the government calls once-in-a-generation changes. Deep-fried food will be banned, while fibre and wholegrains will increase. Sweet desserts will be limited to twice a week in secondary schools and once a week in primary, and each dessert must come with a portion of fruit. Processed meats such as ham, sausages and chicken nuggets will be served only once a week with vegetables or fruit.
From next September, breakfast clubs will follow nutrition rules for the first time: pastries and fried eggs will be off the menu, some cereals will face a sugar cap, and chocolate spread and Coco Pops will not be permitted. Schools must publish menus and food policies online, and monitoring will be developed with the Food Standards Agency. The reforms aim to tackle childhood obesity and support concentration, learning and wellbeing. Most changes take full effect in 2027 and will use existing school funding.
Free school meal eligibility is expanding to families on Universal Credit, so more pupils will benefit. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules and timelines.
Comprehension
- When will most of the new rules take full effect in England?
- What happens to deep-fried food under the new standards?
- How often may schools serve sweet desserts in primary and secondary?
- What must schools publish online under the reforms?
- What change is coming to breakfast clubs from next September?
Grammar focus
Connecting words
Connecting words (linkers) join ideas. Use words like because/so to give a reason and but/although to show contrast. (Examples constructed.)
- Schools publish menus online **because** parents asked for them.
- Fried food is banned, **although** some treats remain available.
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- Schools publish menus online, (because / although) parents asked.
- Breakfast clubs limit pastries, (but / so) children eat less sugar.
- Fried food is banned, (but / so) pupils still get treats.
- Schools will monitor meals, (or / and) publish policies online.
- Processed meats are served weekly, (because / despite) health rules.
Discussion
- Should desserts be limited at school? Why or why not?
- Is banning deep-fried food a good idea for pupils?
- How could online menus help parents and students?
- What makes a good breakfast for learning?
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