Background Information
With around 850 pupils on roll, Yewlands Technology College in Sheffield boasts a new building and, with it, new aspirations for pupils. But even this was not enough to encourage pupils to stay-on-site during the lunch break and enjoy their school meals. In fact, take up was at a low ebb of only 16 per cent, and pupils going off-site during the break presented various problems.
Actions
So, rather than try and eradicate problems by reducing the lunch break, the school decided to enhance it by improving the resources and restructuring it. Actions included:
- introducing a stay-on-site policy for pupils in years 7, 8 and 9. And with the policy came the encouragement – the school developed a programme of activities to encourage pupils to want to stay-on-site during their lunch break
- staggering the 50-minute break, rather than reducing it, to give pupils time to dine and participate in activities
- adding more clubs and sporting activities to those which already existed, in drama, the choir and ICT. The new activities would then enable lunch time use of the outdoor basketball courts, indoor sports-hall and a multi-use sports arena
- identifying a budget to pay for experienced sports-coaches to manage these activities
- allowing pupils to pre-order school meals at break times and collect their food during the lunch break, to ensure a speedy, smooth flow-through and enable those taking part in activities to move efficiently through the school
- training all those staff, who supervise during the lunchtime period, to enable them to manage any behavioural issues and thereby reduce pupil exclusions
- enlisting pupil prefects to help manage behaviour issues onsite
- employing and paying four pupils to act as student advisors and to support the lunchtime supervisors, during the lunch break.
Impact
Since introduction of the stay-on-site policy, overall take up of school meals has more than doubled, going from 16 per cent to 37 per cent.
Menus have been improved, as a result of the input from the school council, and feedback from pupils, relating to the school food, is now much more positive. All school council members take a school meal every day. More staff are also having school meals.
Headteacher Chris Weston said: “The relationship between the school and the catering provider is now very good. By working together, we have given the young people the opportunity to enjoy a healthy school lunch and the opportunity to participate in the whole range of activities that school offers.”
Future priorities
As part of the on-going improvements the school is currently developing an active-play area for key stage 3 pupils, at lunchtimes.
After implementing active lunchtimes and ensuring the project runs smoothly the school plans to focus on introducing a packed lunch policy.
Tips
Working together and developing a whole school approach breaks down many of the misunderstandings and helps individuals move from working in isolation to working together.
Contact details
If you would like further information about this case study then please contact us on 0114 2996901or alternatively email the School Food Trust at info@childrensfoodtrust.org.uk
