PARENTS have told of their children going hungry and having to drop food off at the school gates due to small school meals portions.  

Concerns have been raised over the daily food offering at Wyvern Academy, Darlington, where parents have slammed the food supply, which means their children are going without food. 

The Northern Echo spoke to several parents of children at the school who have voiced their concerns over the current state of the school meals system, and have called for urgent changes to the menu.

Some parents said they rely on free school meals due to low incomes but have since had to spendy money on packed lunches to ensure their child was guaranteed a meal. Others say they have regularly dropped off food at the school gates due to food supplies running out before all pupils on school meals could be fed.  

Each parent spoken to wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. 

“They regularly run out of food by the time it's my daughter’s turn in the dining hall,” one parent said. “She often texts and asks me to drop off food. She takes a packed lunch as standard now in case she can't get a meal at school so she isn't hungry for the rest of the day.”

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Another parent said they had recently started sending their child in with packed lunches due to the low food supplies. They said: “This has been going on for a while. My child, along with others, are eligible for free school meals [but] now I'm having to provide her with a packed lunch.”

The Northern Echo: A portion of potatoes, which one pupil said was served to them at lunchA portion of potatoes, which one pupil said was served to them at lunch

Several parents have told of attempting to speak to the school about the issue but say they did not receive a reply.

One parent explained: “I complained about the school meals as my daughter didn't get fed one day. They rang me and said there is always food left, perhaps she didn't want to eat what was there as it was a healthier menu. My son comes home and says regularly that there is no food or water left when he arrives.

“When looking on the parent pay it tells you what they have had and most days they have red crosses on or just water. My children have free school meals and I very much need the free school meals. I often find that I have to drop food off for them if they don't feel they can cope till home time.

“My son says there was just five pieces of pasta in his pasta pot that he ordered one day. When telling the school this they told me that it just wasn't possible that this is true.

“If it isn't enough for my children then I should give them packed lunch. I really need the free school meals as a single mum on Universal Credit.”

Several parents said the lack of food at lunchtimes is having a detrimental impact on their child’s energy levels and work rate, meaning they are unable to concentrate without a substantial meal.

One parent told of their child relying on medication to maintain his weight levels and skipping meals could affect his health.

Wyvern Academy was rated ‘requires improvement’ by OFSTED at its last inspection in 2019, with a further probe due.

Pictures of school meals sent to The Northern Echo show small portions of potatoes, pasta and an undercooked chicken dish.

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A parent who has seen the pictures says they are worried about the food quality. “The pictures I have seen of the dinners are disgusting and wouldn’t fill a baby never mind a teenager,” they said.

“I'm extremely angry over this as my child is doing exams. I think it's important she eats. What about the children who don't get much at home and rely on the dinners?”

Read more: Wyvern Academy defends new food menu despite parents' concerns

Wyvern Academy said it has recently introduced a menu of reforms in the dining hall to make its school meals more balanced and reduce the reliance on sugary carbohydrates – in line with the Healthy Schools Agenda.

A statement added: “Wyvern Academy introduced changes to ensure students were offered a diverse choice of quality food, from breakfast club before school to mid-morning snacks and healthy lunches, all made on site from fresh produce

Headteacher Owen Inglis said changes were introduced in line with research that saw a direct link between nutrition and brain function.

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