Students at The Gilberd School are leading real change in their school canteen, thanks to their involvement in the national Bite Back in Schools programme.
Despite facing a challenging year, with parts of the school closed due to RAAC concrete and a temporary canteen in place, students have stepped up to improve the lunchtime experience. Earlier this month, their School Food Champion gave a presentation to staff and peers, proudly presenting the improvements they’ve made, from new, healthier food options to a more welcoming canteen space.
Bite Back in Schools is a youth-led programme that empowers students to take action in making school food healthier and fairer. The Gilberd School is part of the fourth Essex group to join the programme and is one of six Essex schools currently involved. With additional funding from Essex County Council, students embraced the challenge - auditing food choices, speaking with fellow pupils, and using their creativity and funding to drive meaningful change.
Andy Rayment, Programmes Manager of Bite Back said: “Working with The Gilberd School through the Bite Back in Schools programme has been a brilliant example of what’s possible when young people are given the tools to lead change. From the initial assembly to the School Food Champion’s social action project, the school embraced every stage of the process, and the impact has been clear. We’ve seen a more engaged student body, meaningful shifts in the school food culture, and a real appetite for lasting change. We’d love to see more schools across Essex take this step and join the Bite Back in Schools Programme next year.”
Councillor John Spence, Essex County Councillor's Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Adult Social Care, Public Health and Integration said: “Working closely with schools is key in helping children access healthy foods and learn about healthy lifestyles too. We are proud to see six of our schools take leadership in this space through their involvement in the national, student-led Bite Back school programme. Due to its success so far, we have committed additional funds for them to continue to develop their projects. We look forward to seeing what they get up to over the course of the year.”
Councillor Jocelyn Law, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Public Protection at Colchester City Council said: "It's fantastic to see how students at The Gilberd School have taken the lead in making real, healthy changes to their school food. Projects like Bite Back show just how powerful young people can be when given the chance to make a difference. I’d encourage more schools to get involved – it’s a great opportunity to empower students, improve health, and create a better school experience."
In partnership with Essex County Council, Colchester City Council is encouraging more schools to take part in the exciting Bite Back in Schools project launching this autumn. If your school is interested in joining, the application deadline is Friday 18 July. However, the team is happy to discuss deadline extensions if you need a little more time. For more information and to sign up, visit https://www.biteback2030.com/join-bite-back-in-schools/.
Essex County Council’s Public Health team has backed the programme as part of its work to support young people to eat well and stay healthy. In addition to Bite Back, all schools across Essex can also get involved with the Healthy Schools Programme, run by the Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service, to help promote healthier choices for students of all ages. Visit https://essexfamilywellbeing.co.uk/services/school-age/healthy-schools/ for more information.
Pictured above: The Gilberd school's Food Champion Team (image credit: The Gilberd School)
Page last reviewed: 16 July 2025