Working with school governors

The National Governors' Association (NGA), formerly the National Governors' Council (NGC) and the Food Standards Agency worked jointly to consult governing bodies about their decisions in relation to food and children's health. A range of issues was identified to stimulate discussion between governors on their role in school food.

Feedback from this work showed that governors wanted clarification about their strategic role. As a result, the NGC and the Agency jointly developed a Strategic Policy Framework for Governing Bodies regarding food issues in schools - see below.

Working in partnership the Food Standards Agency and the National Governors Association have published the second edition of Food Policy in Schools – A strategic policy framework for governing bodies. The Department for Children, Schools and Families, the School Food Trust and National Healthy Schools were involved in its development. Copies are now being distributed to governing bodies via the National Governors' Association, Local authority governor services and healthy
schools co-ordinators. It is also available to download at the link below.

The key focus of the publication is to help equip school governors with the necessary information to develop food policies for their schools. It takes governors step by step through actions they can take and provides practical advice for governing bodies on how to tackle all aspects of food in school, from school lunches to vending machines.