The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not collect this information. However, in its second annual survey of take-up of school meals in England, published in September 2007, the School Food Trust collected data by region and the data are available in the following table.
Providing a hot meal does not require every school to have a kitchen. There are several ways of reheating food on school premises, such as microwave ovens; or schools may use a centralised preparation and delivery service.
Over the next three years, we are providing a record £21.9 billion of capital support for investment in school buildings. Much of this funding is devolved to local authorities and schools for their local priorities, which can include installing or improving school kitchens and dining areas. As part of this funding, we are making available from April 2008 £150 million of targeted capital grant to those authorities with high need.
Percentage No facilities: Region Full production kitchen Regen or mini kitchen Hot food transported from another school Hot food transported from another source Sandwich/cold food only Primary North East 75.9 15.4 8.1 0.6 0.0 North West 84.9 6.9 7.9 0.0 0.4 Yorkshire/Humber 70.5 15.8 13.7 0.0 0.0 East Midlands 63.1 3.7 20.4 12.5 0.4 West Midlands 64.0 21.0 4.9 0.0 0.1 East of England 77.0 4.8 16.1 0.0 2.1 Inner London 71.8 10.4 13.1 4.3 0.4 Outer London 72.0 10.4 13.4 0.4 3.8 South East 59.6 5.2 22.2 0 13.0 South West 54.0 2.1 32.3 0.0 11.6 All primary 69.4 8.3 16.7 1.9 3.7 Secondary North East 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 North West 99.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 Yorkshire/Humber 96.6 3.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 East Midlands 99.5 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 West Midlands 96.7 2.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 East of England 99.6 0.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 Inner London 96.2 1.9 1.9 0.0 0.0 Outer London 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 South East 98.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.9 South West 98.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.6 All secondary 98.6 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.5 Notes: 1. Base (unweighted) primary: 93; secondary: 79 2. Analysis: weighted by number of schools catered for