How long is reasonable for lunch break at secondary school

[Ipackedmysandwichesforlunch]

DS school is going to cut it's lunch break further so the kids get just 35 mins. It seems very short and not much time to eat, socialise, have a break etc. Is this common in other schools?

As pp have said it's about behaviour. That's when many problems occur.
Also, not enough staff to supervise.

I only had half an hour for lunch at school but we finished at 2.45 so swings and roundabouts really!

Ours get 55 minutes and there are some 30 minute clubs at lunchtime especially music groups. Still feels like a rush to get the whole school through the canteen. If they're doing a club they tend to take packed lunch.

They aren't allowed off school grounds at lunchtime except sixth form who all flock into the next door Tesco to buy their lunch!

Normal, but depressing.

Back in the dark ages my lunch break in school was always 30min

35 minute staggered lunches and a 25 minute recess.

Our secondary school get 25 minutes! Time they even get out the classroom and walk across to the canteen and get something to eat usually 20 minutes have already gone.
They only get a 15 minute break in the morning as well.

When I was at school we had a 15 minute morning break and a 50 minute lunch. My ds now has two 35 minute breaks so it's basically the same, and he likes it as he prefers to get his lunch in the first break.

Common and idiotic. Means they can either do a club or sports training or have lunch, not both. My DS and his friends hardly ever have lunch as they have clubs and training at lunchtime.

It's not idiotic if you can't supervise adequately.
It's not idiotic if you're trying to cut down on bad behaviour and bullying.

Ours (comprehensive) have an hour - it takes that long to get all those that want school food through the canteens. There are plenty of lunchtime clubs and Y11 and above can leave the grounds at lunch time. Plus Y12/13 have their own block complete w canteen to hang around in. Works well but it is predicated on the good wi of the staff and does make the day longer than most schools around here.

30 minutes for lunch. My child just takes a couple of snacks and eats lunch at 3.30 at home.

@MyMachineAndMe does your son have an Individual Health Care Plan? This should deal w things like that

1hr at my sons school but they are pushed to do a leas a couple of lunchtime clubs a week though and they have longer school days. But works well for his school.

There are better ways to deal with bad behaviour than keeping kids in school for as little time as possible.

The school I work in has cut it to 30 mins. I hate it and it has not improved behaviour because the naughty kids that spoilt lunchtime just don't turn up to afternoon lessons and run around the site disrupting lessons after lunch. I find it's barely enough time to eat my packed lunch and go to the loo. Plus we now have 30 min duties which is very dull. The poor kids have to queue up for their lunches too and often log queues for the toilets too. It's ridiculous.

Fight it if you have the energy.

My older childs old school had it, and it was a nightmare. Not enough time to get everyone through the queues, not enough food,not enough seats, no time to go to the toilet afterwards and then you're late for class, resulting in comments, negative marks and miserable children.
No time to make new friends either which is difficult for the year 7s.

They're not robots. They should have time to sit with their pals for a bit.
Tackle the behaviour, don't just move the problem about

40 mins here and another 15 min break. I'm surprised at some of the early finishes on here, as they dont finish till 3.30. I remember having an hour lunch back in the 90s.

15 mins morning break, 30 mins for lunch but they do finish at 3pm

20 minutes for first break and 30 minutes for second break for DD3. 1300 kids to get through the eateries and toilets.

This is what DD school does - they stagger the lunch break depending on what year you’re in so there’s not a big hold up in the dining room.

The posher the school, the longer the lunch break. The expensive private schools have like 1.5 hours to fit in 70 clubs.
Grammars can be slightly longer at like 50-60 minutes. In some areas, there are also traffic management issues and certain schools have to finish early so curtails the lunch break.

An hour and a half at dds private school. Enough time for a decent sit down lunch, a good chat, often with a teacher at the table discussing life and news etc and a club or sports training.

Judging by the time DD leaves for school (up to half an hour before for a 5 minute walk!) The main socialising time is before school at her school! She has never complained lunch is too short.