A 16-year-old student was dismayed to find just one piece of popcorn chicken in his £2 school dinner wrap, prompting canteen staff to suggest he “add salad” when he voiced his dissatisfaction. The incident occurred at University Academy Holbeach in Lincolnshire.
His grandmother, Liz Cooper, expressed her dismay upon seeing a photo of the meager meal, stating that her grandson will now opt for packed lunches. “That’s not sufficient protein to sustain a 16-year-old for the afternoon,” she remarked to the BBC. “The chicken was no bigger than a piece of popcorn chicken, smaller even than a goujon or chicken nugget.”
The wrap, advertised as the sweet chilli crispy wrap on the school’s canteen menu, costs £2. Ms. Cooper lodged a written complaint with the secondary school, prompting the school to request the caterers to reassess the quality and quantity of chicken provided.
A spokesperson for University Academy Holbeach stated, “The issue occurred several weeks ago and was promptly reported to our external catering company. Unfortunately, the food served to one of our students did not meet our usual standards. The catering company acknowledged this lapse and assured us that it would not recur. We are monitoring the situation closely and working closely with them to ensure that the food provided meets the required standards.”
Other options available in the canteen include a BBQ crispy chicken wrap for £2, a ham & cheese panini for £1.95, and pepperoni pizza & chips for £2.
University Academy Holbeach is a non-selective 11-19 school established by the University of Lincoln in 2011. It received a ‘Good’ rating from education watchdog Ofsted in 2019. The Lincolnshire Educational Trust, formed by the University of Lincoln in 2014, now oversees the operation of five academies.
This dispute over the chicken wrap follows a recent apology issued by a headteacher to parents for the “completely unacceptable” school dinners. Jason Ashley, head of Redbridge Community School in Southampton, criticized the catering company responsible for the school’s meals.
In a letter to parents, he shared photos of the food served to students and staff, which included dishes such as chips and beans and a tuna jacket potato. He expressed dissatisfaction with the quality and portion sizes, noting that prices had increased while portion sizes had decreased.
