The number of pupils eating cooked lunches at secondary schools has fallen by nearly 20 per cent in two years, according to figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats.

Almost 250,000 fewer school meals were served in secondary schools last year compared with two years previously, and demand has fallen by 10 per cent in primary schools. The figures, disclosed in response to a parliamentary question, show that fewer children are eating school meals since the Government started trying to improve them.

Separate research by the data analysis company CACI on the eating habits of families within each school catchment area found drastic variations - which did not mirror its degree of affluence. In some boroughs, all schools were deemed to be facing problems in trying to persuade children to eat a more balanced diet.

Topping the league table for healthy eating were coastal and rural areas such as the Isle of Wight and Cornwall. The worst 20 were mostly urban, including eight London boroughs, Manchester, Nottingham and Middlesbrough. Wealth did not appear to be a significant factor in whether pupils in an area ate healthily. Kensington and Chelsea, an affluent area, has a higher percentage of schools with dietary problems than Barking and Dagenham, in East London. Rochdale is doing better than Wokingham.

Patrick Tate, who led the research, said that the statistics could be used to guide council spending. He said: “The Government has announced £640 million in extra funding for healthy food in schools since Jamie Oliver’s ‘Feed Me Better’ campaign, for local authorities and schools to spend at their discretion. In areas with a higher percentage of problem schools, a greater proportion of these funds should be spent on education and guidance – targeted at families and pupils with ingrained unhealthy eating habits to show why a healthier diet at school is a good option.”

The Liberal Democrats said that almost two thirds of secondary school pupils and about 60 per cent of primary school children were shunning school meals and that the Government was falling far short of its target to get more children to eat healthy school meals.

David Laws, the Lib Dems’ spokesman for children, schools and families, said: “Instead of boosting the number of children taking up healthy school meals, government policy has contributed to an implosion of the service. There is no point serving healthy meals if pupils aren’t eating them.

“The new standards for healthier school meals have been introduced too quickly, too inflexibly, and with too little education of pupils and parents.”

'PROBLEM SCHOOLS' *

Local education authority and percentage of 'problem schools' Hackney 100; Islington 100; Southwark 100; Tower Hamlets 100; Corby 92.9; Manchester 90.2; Newham 88.0; Lambeth 87.5; Halton 87.1; South Tyneside 85.9.

'HEALTHY SCHOOLS' **

Local education authority and percentage of 'healthy schools' Isle of Wight 100; Restormel 100; South Holland 100; Berwick-upon-Tweed 100; Christchurch 100; North Norfolk 98.2; North Dorset 97.0; Worthing 96.6; Harlow 94.6; West Somerset 94.4.

* Local authorities with schools where pupils are 20% more likely than the average to have an unbalanced diet; ** Schools 20% less likely. Source: CACI

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