State-funded schools across Chichester and West Sussex are preparing for a significant overhaul of their dining halls following the publication of new national food standards. The Department for Education (DfE) released the finalised guidelines on 14 September 2026, marking the first major update to school meal legislation in more than a decade.
The reforms are designed to combat childhood obesity and tooth decay by removing high-fat and high-sugar items from daily menus. Under the new rules, deep-fried foods—including chips, hash browns, and doughnuts—will be completely banned from school kitchens. The standards also introduce a strict limit on processed meat products, such as sausage rolls and hot dogs, which may now only be served once per week.
The changes will become legally binding for state schools in September 2027.
Impact on West Sussex Schools
The transition is already underway in the local area through West Sussex County Council’s catering strategy. In May 2026, the council awarded a major seven-year contract to ISS and apetito to provide approximately 25,000 meals per day across the county. This contract, which began in the third quarter of 2026, was specifically designed to meet or exceed these upcoming nutritional benchmarks, placing Chichester schools ahead of the national deadline for many of the requirements.
In addition to the restrictions on fried food, the new standards include a ban on honey at school breakfast clubs.
New Governance and Accountability
The DfE has introduced new accountability measures to ensure the standards are maintained. Every school will be required to appoint a “lead governor for food” by the start of the 2027 academic year. This individual will be responsible for overseeing compliance with the nutritional guidelines and ensuring the quality of meals served to pupils.
Parents in Chichester can expect to see these changes reflected in school menus over the coming months as local caterers phase out prohibited items ahead of the statutory enforcement date. Schools are advised to begin updating their procurement processes and governor roles now to meet the 2027 deadline.
