The Department does not collect this information.
However, the School Food Trust's (SFT) annual survey on school meals take-up in England provides information on take-up by region.
Usual method of calculation Change of provision 2007-08 2006-07 Percentage of 2006-07 Difference (percentage points) Primary North East 53.6 55.3 -3.1 -1.7 North West 46.4 44.9 3.3 1.5 Yorkshire/Humber 43.9 43.2 1.6 0.7 East Midlands 39.9 34.3 16.3 15.6 West Midlands 45.1 45.5 -0.9 -0.4 East of England 39.6 39.3 0.8 0.3 Inner London 57.4 56.9 0.9 0.5 Outer London 40.9 42.9 -4.7 -2 South East 33.8 28.0 20.7 25.8 South West 34.8 35.8 -2.8 -1 All primary 43.0 41.3 4.1 1.7 Secondary North East 40.1 38.8 3.4 1.3 North West 45.0 41.9 7.4 3.1 Yorkshire/Humber 36.8 37.1 -0.8 -0.3 East Midlands 34.3 34.9 -1.7 -0.6 West Midlands 36.9 36.0 2.5 0.9 East of England 33.8 35.1 -3.7 -1.3 Inner London 41.0 38.5 6.5 2.5 Outer London 39.9 39.3 1.5 0.6 South East 32.0 39.7 -19.4 37.7 South West 31.2 26.8 16.4 44.4 All secondary 37.6 37.7 -0.3 -0.1 1 The apparent 6 per cent. increase in take up in East Midlands is attributable to a difference in the reported value for take up in one LA from 17 per cent. in 2006-07 to 29 per cent. in 2007-08. In April 2008, the reported value for the same LA for 2006-07 was 44 per cent. suggesting that the original value of 17 per cent. may have been in error. Also, two LAs with take up lower than the national average reported in 2006-07 but not for 2007-08. 2 The apparent 6 per cent. increase in take up in South East is attributable to increases in take up of 5 per cent. and 6 per cent. in two of the largest LAs in South East. Once weighting is applied, these increases make a significant contribution to the regional average. 3 The apparent 8 per cent. decrease in take up in South East is attributable to different LAs reporting in 2008 and 2007, with one LA with higher than average take up reporting in 2007 but not 2008, and one LA with lower than average take up reporting in 2008 but not 2007. Also, an 8 per cent. drop in take up in the second largest LA in South East will have significantly affected the weighted average. 4 The apparent 4 per cent. increase in take up in South West is attributable to more survey responses in 2007-2008 (5 LAs) compared with 2006-2007 (3 LAs). Note: Base (unweighted): Primary: 97 (2007-2008); 86 (2006-2007), Secondary: 78 (2007-2008); 64 (2006-2007). Analysis: weighted by number of pupils attending schools catered for.
The full survey can be viewed at
http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/doc_item.asp? DocCatld=1&Docld=86
The SFT has also published partial take-up data at local authority (LA) level, in a technical paper "NI 52 - take up of school lunches" (December 2008) that discusses the impact of the introduction of the new national indicator for take-up of school meals (NI52). The first official NI52 data collection will be in April 2009. Following this, take-up data at LA level will be available in the summer of 2009.