1.1 In 2003, the Scottish Executive’s Expert Panel on School Meals produced its report Hungry for Success: A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland1, initiating significant developments in the provision of school meals in Scotland.
1.2 HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) was invited to monitor the progress of Hungry for Success as part of its programme of school inspections. In October 2005, HMIE published a first progress report on the implementation of Hungry for Success, focusing on primary and special schools2.
1.3 HMIE has continued to monitor the implementation of Hungry for Success: A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland. Specialist Nutrition Associate Assessors (NAAs) work with HMIE to inspect a sample of schools in the general inspection programme. Since the publication of the previous HMIE progress report in October 2005, the December 2006 target date for implementation of the Hungry for Success recommendations within secondary schools was reached. From September 2005 to June 2007, 165 primary schools and 23 special schools from all 32 local authorities (LAs) were inspected. From September 2006 to June 2007, 35 secondary schools across 23 local authorities were inspected. Thirteen of these secondary schools were inspected prior to the December 2006 target date. The schools inspected varied in size, geographical location and percentage of pupils entitled to free school meals.
1.4 In addition to collecting evidence from school inspections, NAAs met with representatives of all LAs.
1.5 Hungry for Success set out seven principles, supported by recommendations to improve the quality of school meals in Scotland. This report evaluates progress up to July 2007 in implementing these key recommendations in primary and special schools, as well as reporting for the first time on progress made in the secondary sector.