A mum says she is shocked at her child's new school dinner times, which end just one hour before home-time. Helen Thompson's son, a Year Eight pupil, doesn't get lunch until between 1.30pm and 2pm. The school day ends at 3pm.
Some parents have called the timings "disgusting", saying their children will be "starving by then" - while others say their kids prefer it, as it "makes the day fly by".
Helen told TeessideLive: "Any other parents quite shocked at All Saints new lunch times? Year 8&10 1.30-2pm!!! That means potentially for most pupils 5.5 hours from breakfast to lunch and then finishing lunch an hour before home-time."
She says their hunger will be even worse "when they've had PE" then have to wait. "Children need plenty of fuel for them to be able to concentrate at school and an early breakfast isn’t going to last that long," she added.
"Sorry Y8 and Y10 kids," another parent posted, "you’ll be left with the scraps no one else wants but you’ll probably eat it because you’ll be starving. But we’ll charge everyone at the new increased price!"
"I thought that was a bit late," one mum added. "Some kids leave the house at 08.15. A bit long to wait till lunch time. Some kids have tea at 4 too."
"Yeah I don’t like this arrangement," another parent agreed, "seems a long time to wait. I’d do a packed lunch but she prefers hot meals. Plus, packed lunch is just another thing to have to think about isn’t it."
"It's not a new thing," one mum said, "it's been like this for a few years. At least it rotates, so last year’s pupils who had it later will now get chance to eat earlier. They do get a break around 11am to eat as well."
"Legally in employment, breaks should not be at beginning of shift and not near the end," one person pointed out. "It’s disgusting to think kids have to go through this frustration when they should be concentrating on their education," said another.
One mum said her daughter was "going to be starving" by the time she ate lunch. "She doesn’t really eat much breakfast and then, by the time she has dinner, she'll be having an hour in class then home," she posted.
Another mum added: "Yes it's not ideal but we just got on with it and she took a snack everyday for morning break (costs me less than £1 per week). It hasn't changed her in any way, shape or form."
A parent from another school said their son likes the late lunches. "[Our school] does the same, you get use to it in two weeks and it makes the day fly by," said another. "Just pack snacks if your child gets hungry in between."
"This has been [my daughter's] lunchtime for last few years," another mum responded, "I've always been concerned but she actually loves it because she has one lesson after lunch and she’s finished!"
All Saints headteacher Ashleigh Lees said: "The school originally introduced a split lunchtime in May 2021 to help us accommodate the growing number of families who wanted to send their child to our school.
"This is a system that has worked well and, through the school’s catering providers, we have always ensured that that there is sufficient food and choice at all points of the lunch service. This will not change - as we will still be feeding the same number of students over three sittings as there were over two sittings.
"All the additional sitting does is ensure that students are more evenly split across the lunchtime so they have a more comfortable experience and more seating choice."
