Jason Ashley, the head teacher of Redbridge Community School in Southampton, has publicly criticized the quality of meals provided by Chartwells, the catering company serving the school’s canteen. Ashley described the meals as “completely unacceptable,” expressing concerns over reduced portion sizes and increased prices. He pointed out specific issues, including poorly prepared food items during themed events such as ‘British pie week.’ This dissatisfaction led to Ashley writing a letter to parents, where he included images of the subpar meals, questioning the competence of the catering staff.

Chartwells, a subsidiary of Compass Group, acknowledged the shortcomings in their service and issued an apology. The company cited operational challenges and staff shortages as reasons behind the issues but assured an immediate action plan to address the concerns raised by Ashley. Despite Chartwells’ claim that meal prices have not changed for two years, Ashley noted recent price hikes alongside the diminishing portion sizes.

This incident is not the first controversy involving Chartwells; the company faced criticism in 2021 for inadequate free school meal parcels during the Covid-19 pandemic, drawing condemnation from political figures and the public.

In response to these recurring issues, The Guardian has launched an initiative inviting parents, teachers, and school staff across the UK to share their experiences and views on school meals. This effort aims to collect a wide range of perspectives to better understand the challenges of providing satisfactory school dinners and possibly inform future improvements in this area. Contributions can be made through The Guardian’s secure platform, emphasizing the need for authentic and detailed accounts to foster a constructive dialogue about school meal quality nationwide.