School lunch shake-up on menu

David O'Leary • Published 27 Aug 2010 09:30 4 Comments

PEEBLES High School pupils may be stopped from leaving school grounds at lunch time.

It is hoped by councillors that the move could result in a whole host of beneficial results such as an uptake in school meals, a reduction in littering as well as improving the diets of pupils.

However, high street traders, who rely on heavily on the lunch time rush of pupils, may suffer greatly from such a move.

SBC councillors are at present, planning a visit to St Margaret’s Academy, Livingston, who after introducing this policy in 2008, witnessed a significant uptake of school meals.

In the same year SBC’s catering section recorded an annual deficit of £240,000, as pupils chose high street burgers and baguettes over canteen fare.

A task force was duly set up and last year in their report they cited the Scottish Government’s healthy eating initiative and it’s requirement of school meals to be comprised of healthy food, as a major contributing factor to the financial loss.

Recommendations were then made for the blueprint laid down by St Margaret’s to be adopted and it seems these are now to be taken forward.

SBC Executive Member for Education, George Turnbull, told assembled councillors at last week’s monthly council meeting that measures such as those adopted by St Margaret’s would be looked into, even though school meal uptake had increased somewhat within Borders schools in the last year.

Councillor Gavin Logan, who attended last week’s meeting said: “The intention is to visit St Margaret’s School to investigate their successful model of retaining pupils in school through the lunch period with the possible intention of implementing similar changes within Scottish Borders schools.

“We would look at all aspects to ensure that the model fitted the region’s requirements. “If councillors were supportive then a pilot scheme for three months at a trial school would seem a reasonable way forward.

“A final decision could then be made after a consultation period with all stakeholders involved.”

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 27 Aug 10

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• 

  j. p. ward
  Unregistered User
  Aug 27, 18:38
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  Talking of High School lunches. In the 1940's, after having school lunch, my friends and I used to go the bakery shop of the brothers Fraser at the corner of Old Town and Young Streets to buy current cakes for a penny (I think). They went in our schoolboy circles under the name of 'Flies Cemeteries'. But no disrespect is intended to the memory of the friendly brothers. Their current cakes were delicious, and they were filling and nourishing. A miracle really, when you consider wartime rationing.
  
  J. P. Ward
  
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• 

  Zoee
  Unregistered User
  Aug 28, 16:45
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  As a high school pupil I can tell you that this will not work. The school canteen food for a start is vastly overpriced, they do not offer a good range of foods for vegans/vegetarians, you can't pay with money and the food isn't that great. Even if they did keep us in most pupil would bring a packed lunch instead of shelling out £3 for a school meal everyday. Some pupils just can't afford to do that. Keeping us cooped up like animals in a cage just won't work. It's unfair to keep us in at lunchtime. I for one would not stay inside and I will not buy the canteen food.
  
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• 

  joyce
  Unregistered User
  Aug 29, 16:32
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  zoee
  
  you say its unfair to keep you caged up like animals take a look at the streets around peebles high school before and after lunch break the littering is a disgrace lm also a pupil at P.H.S and agree that lunches are not everyones choice l choose to have packed lunch lm also a vegitarian if fellow pupils want to act like littering animals l say keep the cage locked..
  
  Joyce
  
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• 

  Marjorie
  Unregistered User
  Sep 6, 14:32
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  I live in London and it is very rare for schools to let all their year groups out at lunchtime. Usually it is only the older kids 15-18 who are allowed out. This is precisely to stop antisocial behaviour, littering and lateness of pupils returning to school after lunch.
  
  If the school lunches arent that nice, well , they can always be improved, all it takes is a bit of effort on the part of the head teacher.
  
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