UK schools forced to choose between hot meals and heated classrooms, facing 'turbulent times ahead'

As reported byCNBC, with the autumn school term beginning in the UK, the road ahead looks daunting as schools are left facing some serious consequences of the cost-of-living crisis. Food charities have spoken up about how schools could soon be forced to choose between keeping classrooms heated though the winter or ensuring that young students are provided nutritious hot meals.

Free meals for pupils in UK schools

Energy prices in the UK soared in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. And with the energy prices to rise further by 80%, as reported by The Financial Times, UK schools are under a lot of pressure.

While the UK government provides free meals for all state school students from ages 4-7 in England, as well as for children from low-income families, it is upon schools to find ways to cover food quality and costs of cooking meals. With the current cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy prices, it is getting difficult for UK schools to budget.

CNBC quoted Rob Percival, head of policy at UK food charity Soil Association, who said,

We’re now reaching a tipping point. Headteachers are going to be faced with some difficult choices.

Schools have not only got to run a kitchen, but also keep classrooms warm.

Rising energy costs are forcing schools to choose between hot meals and heated classrooms

Schools might soon have to reduce meal options or switch to cheaper and lower quality imports to stretch their budget. Hot meals might also need to go out the door. Because of high energy bills, some UK schools have already switched from ovens to microwaves.

Percival further said,

It is likely that we’ll see a shift away from hot meals this winter, just when children need them most.

Many schools are switching to cheaper option with some increasing vegetarian options to cut costs.

Adam Curtis, co-owner of Dolce, a catering company for many schools across England and Wales, said

There’s no doubt that there’s going to turbulent times ahead.

Caterers now have to be a bit more lean and cut down from four choices to three, or three to two.

A Soil Association survey in June found that about 47% of school meal providers worried about the inability to meet legal food standard requirements if prices continue to soar.

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