Abstract
Average levels of attainment in primary and secondary schools in England in 2010 and 2011 are positively associated with changes in average school lunch take up between 2008-2009 and 2010-2011. Average school lunch take up and attainment data were available for 2009-2011 for primary and secondary sectors in a minimum of 106 local authorities (LAs) in England and 853 individual primary schools in six LAs. Associations between attainment at 11-12 years (primary) and 15-16 years (secondary) and changes in school lunch take up were tested using multilevel analysis, multiple regression, and cross-tabulation (chi-squared analysis). At school level, attainment at 11-12 years in 2010 and 2011 showed 9 positive and 12 negative associations with changes in school lunch take up between 2009 and 2011. At LA level, average attainment at 15-16 years in 2011 was associated with changes in total school lunch take up in 2010-2011 (p = 0.034). Cross-tabulation of changes in attainment 2010-2011 (above or below median) were positively associated with changes in total school lunch take up between 2009 and 2011, by quartiles (Chi-squared = 11.041, df = 3, p = 0.012). Attainment at secondary level in England is statistically significantly associated with increases in healthier school lunch take up. Results in the primary sector are not consistent.
Highlights
Between 2006 and 2009, compulsory standards for school food were introduced in primary and secondary schools in England [1, 2]
The present paper explores relationships between levels of attainment in the academic years 2008–2009, 2009–2010, and 2010–20111 and changes in school lunch take up over the same time periods, using data available at either local authorities (LAs) level or school level
Changes in take up were not predictive of attainment for any of the models based on the LA level data
Summary
Between 2006 and 2009, compulsory standards for school food were introduced in primary and secondary schools in England [1, 2]. From 2005 to 2012, the Children’s Food Trust monitored changes in average school lunch take up [3] in up to 152 local authorities (LAs) in England. It assessed lunchtime food provision and consumption and nutrient intake of children in primary [4] and secondary schools [5]. The Trust obtained annual data on take up for 2008–2009, 2009–2010, and 2010–2011 from 1190 individual primary schools in 5 LAs, to which Public Health Nutrition Research added data from 55 schools in a sixth LA over the same time period. Average school lunch take up increased nationally, but decreased in some schools and LAs
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