Leicestershire schools risk school dinners on the cheap

Two of Leicestershire’s largest school Trusts are to outsource the provision of school meals

Plans from the RISE and Discovery Academy Trusts, which collectively run almost forty county schools, would see school dinners outsourced to a private contractor.

GMB union has raised the alarm after it was revealed companies in the running to deliver pupil meals could refuse to honour the pay, terms and conditions of catering staff at the schools long term.

Staff at the schools have also aired concerns that changes will strip them of their ability to be represented by their recognised trade union.

David Warwick, GMB Organiser, said:

“You can’t deliver schools dinners on the cheap and we're calling on school leaders to put pupils before profits.

“Everyone agrees that school catering workers do vital work for our young people, yet these plans from the RISE and Discovery Schools Academy Trust would see them stripped of vital terms and conditions.

“Companies contracted to deliver the schools’ catering should be trusted by the entire school community, including parents and catering staff themselves.

“We are calling on school leaders to ensure that any plans safeguard the standards and protections of school catering staff at these schools.”

RISE Academy Trust Schools’ impacted in Leicestershire are:

Albert Village Primary School

Barlestone C of E Primary School

Belgrave St. Peter's C of E Primary School

Blackfordby St Margaret's C of E Primary School

Christ Church and Saint Peter's C of E Primary School

Croxton Kerrial CE Primary School

Frisby C of E Primary School

Higham-On-The-Hill C of E Primary School

Loughborough C of E Primary

Measham C of E Primary School

Oakthorpe Primary School

Redmile C of E Primary School

St Luke's C of E Primary School

Snarestone C of E Primary

St Mary's C of E Primary School

St Michael and All Angels CE Primary

St Paul’s Church of England Primary School

St Peter and St Paul CE Academy

St Simon and St Jude C of E Primary School

Swannington C of E Primary School

Three Trees Academies - Infants and Junior Schools

Tugby C of E Primary School

Viscount Beaumont's C of E Primary School

Waltham-on-the-Wolds CE Primary School

Wymondham C of E Primary School

Discovery Schools Academy Trust schools’ impacted in Leicestershire are:

Mowmacre Hill Primary School

Sileby Redlands Community Primary School

Asfordby Captains Close Primary School

Farndon Fields Academy

Kibworth Church of England Primary School

Parkland Primary School

Woolden Hill Primary School

Enderby Danemill Primary School

Greystoke Primary School

Whetstone Badgerbrook Primary School

Braunstone Community Primary

Fossebrook Primary School

Merrydale Junior School