Ref: PR2669
Date: 08/07/2010

The number of children tucking into a healthy school meal in the district is again above the national average.

A healthy uptake is once more on the menu for Wakefield district following the release of this year’s national figures for school lunch take up by the School Food Trust and the Local Authority Catering Association.

In Wakefield, uptake in primary schools is 49.9%. Kingswood Catering, the Council’s internal service provider, supplies meals to all primary schools.

General uptake in Wakefield’s secondary schools is 49.3%. However, where a secondary school meals service is supplied by Kingswood Catering, this increases to 53.1%.

Nationally, uptake in primary schools now averages at 41.4%, where as uptake in secondary schools averages at 35.8%.

Cllr Pat Garbutt, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Our young people clearly have got good taste and it’s wonderful to see so many eating and, more importantly, enjoying a healthy school meal. Our work centres around providing a healthy, balanced meal as well as making sure everyone has access to them through our free school meals programme.”

For more in school meals and education visit www.wakefield.gov.uk or call the Council on 0845 8 506 506.

Ends