Please talk to me about academies and food.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

DS has a place at our local high which is an academy. I've heard in the past that academies have different rules, or lack of, where food is concerned but now I'm hearing from current year 7 parents that their cd are spending all of their dinner money on fizzy drinks, Mars bars and slices of pizza. DS usually eats fairly well but can be a bit of a greedy sod where pizza, crisps and chocolate are concerned.

Why are they allowed to sell such crap?

Dds school is an academy and take great pride in calling themselves a healthy school and have cut out the crap to the extent that all the kids refuse to eat there anymore so come home starving every day

Ok, so maybe there is a balance

Check with the school what they sell. We have healthy options and not so healthy options but don't sell any sweets or chocolate or fizzy drinks like coke etc. we have a cashless system and parents can see what their dc buy on it.

And they'd be allowed to sell such crap to make a profit as an academy!

No they don't have to be healthy. I would check with any older children that attend. Ours has lots of healthy posters up. but then go onto serve pizza and chips 3 times a week. Often don't have any fruit. Very little veg. Also have fizzy drinks. Vending machines with chocolate etc. morning breaks and stuff like croissants and other high fat pastries.

You also know they can hire unqualified teachers?

Ours is an Academy. The food is excellent and cooked on site. Chips are not served. There is no where in school that they can buy mars bars etc, but that doesn't stop them they just stock up in Tescos en route to school.

Yes I k ow they can employ unqualified teachers, which is outrageous, but unfortunately he either goes there or spends about 2 hours on a bus each day.

I would ask the school for their policy on food in the school firstly and then ask them about all the rumours that pupils spend all their dosh on fizzy drinks etc.
I think you may well find out that the fizzy drinks etc are not coming from the school and that the school does have to meet the nutritional standards set for schools

Actually, yes, we have some students who run a black market in sweets and drinks!