A New Look for 2026

As we look ahead to our academic planning, we want to introduce an important regulatory update tailored specifically to our secondary settings. The government has announced updated School Food Standards, with the final legal deadline for full statutory compliance across all secondary schools set for September 2028.

This is an exciting and transformative milestone for the Greenshaw Learning Trust. To ensure our secondary kitchens, staff, and students adapt smoothly to these changes, the Regional Management Team and our Head of Catering have developed a collaborative, phased implementation plan.

Our Phased Secondary Implementation Timeline

Rather than introducing all dietary and menu changes simultaneously, we feel the best way to adopt these new standards is to introduce compliance gradually at a rate of 25% per menu cycle. This structured approach gives our secondary school and catering teams plenty of time to adjust menus, manage stock, and train staff without disrupting daily service.

Our gradual rollout will follow this schedule:

• This September: Introduction of the first 25% compliance stage.

• After Christmas: Implementation of the next 25% compliance stage (reaching 50%).

• After Easter: Introduction of the third 25% compliance stage (reaching 75%).

• September 2028: Final 25% implementation, achieving 100% full compliance across all secondary menus.

By pacing this transition over the upcoming menu cycles, we can seamlessly integrate the government criteria—such as updating secondary drinks lists, managing cheese-based mains, and refining grab-and-go options—ensuring we are fully prepared ahead of the 2028 legal requirement.

Best regards,

Chris Young

Regional Catering and Development Catering Projects Manager

Greenshaw Learning Trust