In addition to large scale surveys, the Trust carries out a number of smaller, school based research projects and reviews.
Please Note: Where a report exists the link is displayed here – Where no link is displayed the report is still in production.
- School lunch and behaviour
- Food purchases and consumption on the journey to and from school: a pilot study
- School meal standards and provision, international comparisons
- Breakfast clubs in primary schools
- Economic case for improving school food
- The link between child nutrition and health: an overview of research in the UK
- Evaluation of the Let’s Get Cooking (Big Lottery) Programme
- Please Sir? Can we have some more – lessons from Free School Meal initiatives
Research area: School lunch and learning behaviour: Primary Schools
What is it?: An intervention study in primary schools to see how improving school food and the meal experience affected children’s behaviour in the classroom after lunch.
Design: Over 12 weeks, the quality of the food on offer and the dining room environment were gradually improved in four intervention schools, compared with no changes in two control schools. Pupil behaviour in the classroom after lunch was observed at baseline and again after 12 weeks. Pupil food choices and nutrient intakes were measured at baseline.
Sample and setting: A total of 136 primary school children aged 9-11 attending four intervention schools and two control schools in Sheffield.
Outcome: After 12 weeks, learning-related behaviours (especially pupil-teacher interactions) were much better in the intervention schools compared with the control schools. Schol meals were more nutritious than packed lunches, but further modification of school meal provision was needed to reach all of the nutrient-based standards.
Contact Details: Jo Pearce
Published Reports:
- School lunch and learning behaviour in primary schools: an intervention study
- Children’s lunchtime choices following the introduction of food-based standards for school lunch: observations from Sheffield primary schools
Research area: School lunch and learning behaviour : Secondary schools
What is it?: An intervention study in secondary schools to see how improving school food and the meal experience affected children’s behaviour in the classroom after lunch.
Design: Secondary schools recruited to the study were assigned to an intervention or control group. Schools in the intervention group changed the food on offer (to meet the food-based standards and bring it closer to the new nutritional standards) and the dining room environment. Pupil behaviour in the classroom after lunch was observed at baseline and again at follow up. Pupil food choices and nutrient intakes were measured at baseline and again at follow up.
Sample and Setting: 164 secondary school pupils attending seven mixed secondary schools and four similar control schools in four LA areas in England.
Outcome: Learning-related behaviours improved in pupils in the intervention schools compared with the control schools i.e. pupils were more likely to be “on-task” and less “off-task” when working in the classroom after lunch. At baseline, school meals were more nutritious than packed lunches but further modification of school meal provision is needed to reach nutrient-based standards for energy and iron. At follow up, changes to school food provision and the dining environment were associated with significant increases in vitamin C, iron ad zinc intakes and improved compliance with nutrient-based standards.
Contact Details: Jo Pearce
Published Reports:
- School lunch and learning behaviour in secondary schools: an intervention study
- School lunch and learning behaviour in secondary schools: baseline dietary data
- School lunch and learning behaviour in secondary schools: follow-up dietary data
Food purchases and consumption on the journey to and from school: a pilot study
What is it?: a) A pilot study to test novel methodology for capturing information about students’ food purchasing and consumption on the journey to and from school.
Samples and settings: Schools in England.
Contact Details: Michael Nelson
Published Reports:
Research area: School meal standards and provision, international comparisons
What are they?: a) A review of school meal standards in European and other western countries, and
b) A review of the provision of school food around the world in countries which have established school meal systems.
Summaries: a) International comparisons of school lunch provision show that England is leading the world in the level of healthy food being promoted in schools.
b) Aspects of the school meals system vary between countries owing to cultural and economic differences. Countries with well established Government funding for school meals appear to have more developed meal systems with higher rates of take up than those where funding is of a lesser priority.
Samples and settings: a) Ten national and regional government, state and voluntary bodies who have set standards for school meals.
b) Eighteen different countries have been included in this review. These have been divided into six geographical categories: the U.K., other European countries, Asia, Australasia, North America and South America.
Contact Details: Clare Harper
Published Reports:
- School meal provision in England and other Western countries: a review
- The provision of school food in 18 countries
Research area: Breakfast clubs in primary schools
What is it?: An assessment of the benefits of introducing breakfast clubs in primary schools in deprived areas in London.
Summary: Pupil behaviour and attainment improved following the introduction of breakfast clubs in 13 primary schools compared with 9 schools without.
Sample and setting: Twenty-two primary schools in socially deprived areas of London.
Contact Details: Lesley Wells
Published Reports:
Research area: Economic case for improving school food
What is it?: Theoretical model to support the economic case for school food
Sample and setting: Schools in England.
Contact Details: Michael Nelson
Published Reports:
Research area: The link between child nutrition and health: an overview of research in the UK
What is it?: There is no comprehensive review of child health and nutrition in the UK relevant to the Trust’s remit. We have therefore developed an inventory (with summaries) of recent and on-going research on child health and nutrition being conducted in the UK.
Summary: The report summarises the main findings and planned research relating to British school children in the following areas: food consumption and nutrient intake, school meals and other school food, factors affecting food choice (e.g., spending on food to and from school), nutritional status (including aspects of obesity) and food related factors (including aspects of environment) affecting learning and cognitive function.
Sample and setting: Details of research on health and nutrition of school aged children were sourced through personal contact with key researchers in the field of child health and nutrition and through a journal search. A review of literature since 1997 to 2008 was carried out along with a review of the current or planned research at academic institutions.
Contact Details: Lesley Wood & Clare Harper
Published Reports:
Research area: Evaluation of the Let’s Get Cooking (Big Lottery) Programme
What is it?: An evaluation of the impact of Let’s Get Cooking clubs on cooking skills and eating behaviours.
Sample and setting: A 10% sample of 5000 cooking clubs based in schools across England.
Contact Details: Lesley Wood and Alex Scott
Published Reports:
- This report is due in 2012
Research area: Please Sir? Can we have some more – lessons from Free School Meal initiatives
What is it?: This report collates and summarises the evidence to date on Free School Meals (FSM), detailing completed, ongoing and future initiatives to address issues related to FSM registration, FSM take up or provision of universal FSM
Summary: The report summarizes the details and findings of FSM initiatives in the UK
Sample and setting: FSM initiatives in the UK.
Contact Details: Clare Harper
Published Reports:
