Governing for the wellbeing of all children: the role of secondary state school governors in supporting children eligible for free school meals in Eng

Childhood food insecurity is increasing in the UK, with potentially detrimental short and long-term consequences for children's health and wellbeing and learning as well as for social justice. One of the most significant policy instruments for addressing childhood food insecurity is the provision of free school meals (FSM) to pupils who are eligible for the means tested benefit. Schools, and their governing bodies in England are increasingly being held accountable for pupil health and wellbeing, and school food quality. However, we know little about how school governors conceptualise food insecurity, or nutrition as part of their wider pupil health and wellbeing policies and actions. This study will use the Capability Approach as a framework to make the case that childhood food insecurity is a corrosive disadvantage that warrants greater understanding and focus, particularly within school governing bodies.

Reflecting the multidimensionality of children's capabilities to be nourished, as well as the complexity of school operating contexts the research will adopt a mixed-methods approach, of iterative cycles of data collection and reflection. This proposal recommends a participatory action research methodology, working in collaboration with school governing boards in 3-4 secondary schools. The study will investigate how secondary school governors in England conceptualise food insecurity and understand their duties to promote children's health and wellbeing with regard to free school meal provision. The research will also examine the relationships between governors' perspectives on childhood food security, their statutory duties and the capabilities of children eligible for FSM to access and eat nutritious school meals and to learn.