Jess Brown-Fuller Visits Compton and Up-Marden Primary School

On 09 July, Jess Brown-Fuller visited Compton and Up-Marden Primary School to speak to the Downland Village Schools Federation, seeing first-hand the impact of a parent-led project that has transformed school meals for hundreds of pupils across rural West Sussex.

The federation's three primary schools (Rake, Rogate and Compton), with a combined 227 pupils, had been served pre-packaged microwave meals by a contract caterer, with some schools relying on rooms of four microwaves to heat food. Uptake was just 25%, and parents, pupils and staff were unhappy with the quality on offer.

Jess Brown-Fuller visited Compton and Up-Marden Primary School, seeing first-hand the impact of Chefs in Schools.

The turnaround began when Executive Headteacher David Bertwistle raised concerns with governors. Parents and governors researched alternatives, identified Chefs in Schools as a potential partner, and returned with a fully-formed plan – which was backed by a parent engagement and fundraising campaign designed to demonstrate demand across all three schools.

The results have been striking: uptake has more than doubled to 63% overall, reaching 77% at Rogate. The federation now serves 140 meals a day, up from just 55-60 previously, and other small rural schools in the area are now considering joining the hub model.

The Federation was receiving Chartwells’ meals before the move, a West Sussex County Council contract. West Sussex County Council has gone out to tender and Chartwells will no longer be providing school meals from the start of the academic year. Instead, West Sussex County Council have offered the contract to ISS, who as part of their ‘FEED’ programme will be offering school meals in all local authority contracted schools. 

Jess' visit is part of her ongoing engagement with schools and families across the constituency on the quality and accessibility of school food, and follows her wider support for measures to improve nutrition and reduce holiday hunger for children in Chichester.

Speaking after the visit, Jess Brown-Fuller said:

"What's been achieved at Downland Village Schools Federation is a brilliant example of what parents, governors and headteachers can do when they work together with real determination. Helen and Arabella didn't just raise concerns, they went out, found a solution, and built a plan that has genuinely transformed mealtimes for over 200 children.

"Every child deserves a hot, nutritious meal at school, and I know from my own experiences with my children that the local authority contract was failing. But it's a fantastic blueprint for how small rural schools can pool resources and deliver something brilliant, and I congratulate them for finding a solution locally to ensuring their young people experienced a school meal they can enjoy!"