Call to keep school children out of the chippy

Mar 28 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal

TEACHERS should ban children from leaving school grounds at lunchtime to go to the chip shop, the Government’s food chiefs will say today.

New research from the School Food Trust reveals that pupils in Newcastle have a choice of 36 fast-food outlets to visit when they walk through the school gates, while students in Gateshead can select from more than 35.

The North East as a whole has around 24 outlets per secondary school, just above the national average.

And the trust, which ministers set up in a drive to improve school dinners, is warning that popular takeaways mean many teenagers are not benefiting from the healthier meals now being served in canteens.

It is recommending schools have a stay-on-site policy of stopping pupils leaving at lunchtime, and says 84% of the region’s parents would support the moves.

Local authorities are also being called upon to limit the number of licenses granted to junk food outlets close to schools and create healthy food zones around schools.

Trust chief executive Judy Hargadon said: “At the moment school canteens have to compete with a myriad of takeaways, chippies and sweet shops for pupils’ dinner money.

“We all know that some children will go for chips five times a week if they are allowed to. This is damaging their long-term health, and it is threatening the viability of school lunch services.”

Two-thirds of the 1,000 British mothers questioned for the poll agreed that children would eat more healthily if they were not allowed to leave school at lunchtime.

But headteachers warned that such a policy would be difficult to enforce.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “It is very difficult for some schools because of the sheer number of entrances and exits many have to watch to make sure children stay in at lunchtime.

“It is even more difficult for schools in the middle of towns. In principle, it is a good idea, but it could be very difficult to put into practice.”

Blaydon MP Dave Anderson last night backed the Trust’s calls, saying: “I agree pupils shouldn’t be allowed off site. It always used to be the case so I don’t see why it wouldn’t work now, but I would go further than that.

“I would like free school meals to be made available to all school pupils regardless of their family income.”

And dietician Amelia Lake, of Newcastle University, said: “In relation to schools, stay-on-site policies would be quite a sensible measure but I don’t think it would be adequate and would prefer to see a longer-term strategy at Government policy level.”

But Colin Stratton, regional chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses, said the trust was unfair to those running shops selling fast food. He said: “Kids don’t all opt for junk food. I think this research is based on broad generalisation and unfairly criticises small businessmen and women who don’t aim solely to attract young people but custom in general.

“We are the driving force of the British economy and individuals just want to make a living.”

And National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations spokeswoman Laura Warren said: “It would be more useful to encourage children to understand about balancing their diet rather than trying to police it in this way.”