School lunches

Theme day menus give pupils the chance to enjoy a healthy school meal in a fun and social way. We run theme days in both primary and secondary schools to encourage more children to try school lunches and enjoy eating together.

Theme days introduce balanced meals and food items that some pupils may not have tried before. They are designed to make school lunches more appealing, especially for pupils who usually go home for lunch or bring a packed lunch.

Why we run theme days

Theme days help pupils:

• try new foods in a relaxed setting
• enjoy a healthy, balanced meal
• eat together with friends
• build social skills at lunchtime

Lunchtime is about more than food. Sharing a meal gives pupils time to talk, connect and feel part of the school community.

What happens on a theme day

On a theme day, the lunch menu changes to match a particular theme.

Theme days may include:

• curriculum linked themes chosen by individual schools
• a traditional Christmas lunch in December
• special promotions during the year to test new menu items

When theme days take place

Theme days run at different times throughout the school year. Some are planned by schools to support learning, while others are organised across schools at key times, such as Christmas.

Schools will share information with pupils and families before a theme day takes place.