Do you have any responsibility or oversight of the provision of food to students within UK Independent Schools?
Dear Independent Schools Inspectorate,
I realise that you are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act but I wonder if in the interests of transparency and openness if you would kindly provide the following information.
1. Do you have any responsibility or oversight of the provision of food to students within UK Independent Schools?
1a. If yes, do you hold records of which UK Independent Schools serve religiously slaughtered meat to students and could you kindly provide a list of those that do?
1b. If no, can you provide information with regard to who does have responsibility or oversight of the provision of food to students within UK Independent Schools?
I would have thought that there is a body, department or organisation somewhere that would hold such a responsibility.
I thank you for reading this email and for considering my request.
Yours faithfully,
Kenny Green
Dear Independent Schools Inspectorate,
I am writing to you with reference to my FOI request.
As you have failed to respond within the specified time frame I must remind you that by law, you should normally have responded promptly and by 20 February 2015 at the latest.
I now look forward to your earliest reply.
Yours faithfully,
Kenny Green
Dear Kenny,
Thank you for your email which I received today. I am very sorry you have
not received a response before now: I was sure that I had responded, but
I’m afraid that on checking I found the email below in a draft folder so
it was not sent and I apologise for this omission—no discourtesy was
intended. I should add that ISI does not come under the Freedom of
Information Act as it is not a public body, but we do try to respond to
requests where we can.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Durell
‘Dear Kenny,
Thank you for your email of 23^rd January, which arrived when I was on
leave and I am sorry not to have responded before now. I do not have a
simple answer, I am afraid. ISI inspects against the Independent School
Standards Regulations, which do not encompass food. However, the
inspection Framework for integrated inspections includes this criterion:
‘pupils are encouraged to be healthy through developing healthy eating
habits and taking regular exercise,’ so this is referred to in reports. In
boarding schools, ISI inspects against the National Minimum Standards,
which include Standard 8-Provision and Preparation of Food and Drinks:
‘all boarders, including those with special dietary, medical or religious
needs, are provided with meals which are adequate in nutrition, quantity,
quality, choice and variety; suitable accommodation is provided for the
hygienic preparation, serving and consumption of boarders’ main needs—this
may be situated in the main school provided it is adjacent to or
reasonably accessible from the boarding accommodation; in addition to main
meals, boarders have access to drinking water and to food or the means of
hygienically preparing food at reasonable times.’ Reports therefore refer
to these points and any failings are noted—and a question about the
quality of food is included in the confidential pre-inspection
questionnaire for pupils. I hope this indicates the approach to the
provision of food on the part of the inspectorate.
We do not hold records of which UK Independent Schools serve religiously
slaughtered meat to students.
I am not aware of any body which holds responsibility or oversight in this
area apart from the Department for Education.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Durell’
Durell Barnes
Head of Communications
Independent Schools Inspectorate
1st Floor, CAP House, 9-12 Long Lane, London EC1A 9HA
Tel: 020 7600 0100 Fax: 020 7776 8849
Direct tel: 020 7776 8830
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Dear Durell,
I would like to thank you for your email and for kindly providing what information you were able.
Thank you again.
Yours sincerely,
Kenny Green
I am working away from the office on Tuesday 24th and Wedensday 25th
February and will only have intermittent access to email. If your message
is urgent, please call the switchboard on 020 7600 0100 or email
[email address]. With best wishes, Durell Barnes
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