Hampshire County Council announces moves to scrap its schools catering service in the wake of rising food costs

SCHOOLS across the New Forest look set to lose the catering service provided by the county council.

The authority is consulting on its plan to scrap its service by March 2026, and has put forward two potential options. One is for schools and nurseries to arrange their own provision from the private sector, and the other says HCC will provide a “managed outsource of the service” which settings could “buy into”.

Citing “significant financial pressure” in recent years due to the combined impacts of rising food and staff costs, HCC said it had been forced to increase the price of its school meals “above the funding rate provided by government to schools”.

This has meant a loss of business that has prompted moves to withdraw the non-statutory service to schools.

A spokesperson said: “While we are exceptionally proud of all that our education catering service has achieved, including national recognition as a leader in its field, with several awards and an ongoing commitment to UK sourced produce, the financial challenges we are facing mean that our priority must now be the provision of statutory services.

“With the considerable cost increases we are facing, which remain unmatched by an equivalent increase in the funding received directly by schools, we must regrettably consider closing this discretionary service. However, we will continue to lobby government for additional funding for schools to provide good quality meals.”

All schools and nurseries affected by the move have been informed of the consultation, said HCC, and any feedback will be “fully reviewed” ahead of any decisions being made.

“We are grateful for the support that staff and customers have shown for the education catering service throughout what continues to be a very challenging period in the school food industry, both locally and nationally,” the spokesperson added.

The five-week consultation will run until Friday 11th October, and also seeks feedback on a proposal to cease all services relating to the maintenance of catering equipment owned by its customers.

Feedback and a “recommended way forward” will be presented to Cllr Steve Forster, cabinet member for education, at a decision day meeting in November.