Keep pupils
at school ‘to
stop snacking’

It also found the vast majority of parents believe tough healthy food standards should apply to all schools, including academies.

The study, by LACA, which represents catering managers, is based on a survey of more than 12,000 parents and its findings show that three in four parents (73.4 per cent) are in favour of secondary school students, up to the age of 16, being kept on school premises during lunchtimes for their own safety, and to stop visits to local takeaways and shops.

A further third (35.5 per cent) would like to see sixth-formers (aged 16-18) banned from leaving school at lunchtime.

Anne Bull, national chair of LACA, which conducted the study with ParentPay, said: “Whilst we cannot prevent students buying from takeaways and shops on the way to or after school, we should all be working together to help encourage young people to use the school food services more during the time they are at school.”