In May 2022, Tower Hamlets became the first borough in the UK to extend Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) to both primary and secondary school students. Evidence indicates UFSM can address food insecurity, reduce stigma associated with means-tested Free School Meals, and tackle child hunger. In Tower Hamlets, a borough where 48% of children live in poverty, compared to the London average of 33%, and 31% nationally, UFSM present a significant opportunity to improve children’s nutrition. By covering every child up to age 16, this commitment from the mayor of Tower Hamlets had the potential to benefit around 8,500 students each day and save families up to £550 per year.
Continuing our long-standing partnership with Tower Hamlets and their school food system, the Council commissioned us to understand the impact of this policy across two phases of research. In the first phase of research, we explored how the policy was being implemented, gathering insights from staff involved in the delivery and students directly affected. The second phase was part of a broader impact evaluation with Cohesion Consulting, in which the scope of our work was extended to 4 additional secondary schools, with a deeper focus on the student experience and outcomes, in addition to a headteacher survey.
Our Approach
For our initial lived experience report, we carried out thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with key voices across the school food system, including a Headteacher, School Business Manager, Head of Kitchen, and a focus group of five students. Using tailored interview guides, we created a relaxed space for open conversation, allowing genuine insights and experiences to emerge naturally.
In the second phase, we distributed a survey to headteachers across the Borough, collaborating closely with the Chair of the Headteachers Association and Cohesion Consulting to maximise reach and engagement. Together, we then identified a representative sample of four secondary schools, selecting from three wards with varying levels of FSM uptake. In coordination with these schools, we organised four further focus groups. We aspired to make these as fun and comfortable for participating students, using creative activities like drawing “before and after” canteen scenes to spark discussion about changes since the policy rollout. These conversations, rich with their reflections, formed the basis of our reports.
Key Outcomes
Our work provided Tower Hamlets with valuable insights into how this significant policy shift was impacting schools across the Borough, and how it was being received in practice. Whilst findings highlighted some specific, actionable barriers to increasing the take up of free school meals, ultimately, there was unanimous support for this policy, and the report validated its importance. Tower Hamlets was able to use the insights generated from our lived experience report as supporting material for their application to the Public Sector Catering Awards 2024, for which they were shortlisted.
Testimonials
School meals play a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our borough’s young people. Extending free school meals to all secondary students in Tower Hamlets was a bold and ambitious move. We needed to understand not just the operational challenges but the lived experience of those impacted. Bremner & Co approached this with genuine curiosity and care. They created safe and engaging spaces for open and honest conversations, listened attentively and brought to life the perspectives of headteachers, kitchen staff and, most importantly, students. Being shortlisted for the Public Sector Catering Awards was a fantastic achievement for the borough, supported by the strong evidence Bremner & Co’s work delivered.
Jenny Pittam, Head of Contract Catering Services, Tower Hamlets Council
This was a rare chance to support a big, borough-wide change as it was happening. Tower Hamlets had just introduced free school meals for all secondary students, and our role was to help the council understand how that was landing in schools. What stood out most was the strength of feeling across the system. Headteachers, kitchen staff, students, everyone we spoke to believed in the value of making school food free for all. You could feel that this wasn’t just a policy decision, it was something people genuinely cared about. We focused on listening properly. Not just asking questions, but making space for honest conversations. Students talked about what lunch used to feel like, how it had changed, what it meant for them. Staff shared the challenges, but also what they saw improving. It was a privilege to be part of something so ambitious. And it meant a lot to see our work used not just to shape next steps locally, but to help the council get national recognition for what they’d achieved.
Myles Bremner, Lead Consultant, Bremner & Co
Our Services
Measuring impact means understanding what works and why, just as much as gathering the impact data. In synthesising real-world insights into structured, insightful reports, our approach can help local authorities and organisations demonstrate their effectiveness, make informed decisions when refining their strategies, and drive long-term, systemic change. If you seek to measure and maximise your organisation’s impact, we can help.
Want to understand and enhance your organisation’s impact? Contact us to see how our insights can elevate your operations and drive systemic change.
