Listen to this story Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article. 1.0x Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice. 0:00 0:00 Become a member to listen to this article Subscribe New school food standards “will have to be monitored” by Ofsted, a health minister has suggested. But the Department for Education (DfE) did not confirm whether the watchdog would be involved, stating plans were “currently being worked through”. The government unveiled its new proposed school food standards in April, which would see high–sugar and deep-fried items removed from menus. The consultation ends today. The DfE said it would create a “robust national enforcement mechanism” to track whether schools were complying with the new standards. Ofsted does not currently look at school food, as councils carry out food safety checks. Health minister Sharon Hodgson was asked by the health and social care committee last week on how the new standards would be enforced. She said: “They will be the new food standards. They will have to be monitored by Ofsted, and they will have to be abided by.” The minister added that she would “certainly be keeping a very close eye on them”. Natasha Burgon, health improvement director at the Department for Health and Social Care, said the enforcement of standards “will be part of the consultation response”, out in September. ‘Robust enforcement’ Schools Week asked for clarification from DHSC, the DfE and Ofsted on whether this would happen. Ofsted said there was no planned updates to the inspection toolkit on school food. The DfE said it was “committed to developing a robust national enforcement mechanism which ensures that all schools are meeting the new standards. This is still currently being worked through.” The DfE did not confirm or deny whether Ofsted would play a part. The DHSC said it could not comment. Hodgson has campaigned on school food standards for several years since becoming an MP in 2005. In 2025 she led the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on school food, where she wrote to Ofsted chief inspector Martyn Oliver urging the watchdog to include school food in its inspection framework. The APPG reported that Ofsted’s response was “lacklustre”, as they “emphasised that inspection time is limited and the primary focus remains on the quality and safety of education for pupils, completely sidelining school food”. The report said: “Without systematic monitoring and enforcement, these standards risk being inconsistently applied, undermining their intended benefits. “Ensuring that school food standards are met is not about adding burdens to schools or inspectors; it is about fulfilling our commitment to children’s health and education.” Ofsted declined to comment on the report. Other proposals in the food standards include schools having to appoint a lead governor in charge of implementing the changes and publishing their menus online.