Councillor visits campus to talk about school lunches

Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member for school meals, Councillor Dianne Alexander, visited Dalkeith Campus recently to encourage even more young people to enjoy the healthy, homemade lunches served daily across our schools. 

Well above average uptake

Last year, Midlothian’s catering teams served well over 1.16 million meals, with more than 36,000 meals prepared each week. Uptake continues to be strong — the latest figures show, 59.84% of primary pupils were choosing a school meal, well above the Scottish average of 50.8%. Last year’s figures (2024/25) also show secondary school uptake at 38.22%, compared with the Scottish average of 36.7%.  

Homemade, health and nutritionally balanced

Cllr Alexander, who enjoyed delicious and nutritionally-balanced Quorn dippers from our grab and go range, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the quality of our school meals and of the commitment of our catering teams. Every meal is homemade, healthy and nutritionally balanced, and it’s fantastic to see so many of our young people choosing them every day. School meals support learning, wellbeing and healthy habits for life — and our pupils deserve the very best.”

Portions are a good size

When visiting the Dalkeith Campus dining hall where staff serve just under 4,500 school meals a week, Cllr Alexander spoke to staff while pupils enjoyed their lunches from the menu that included homemade steak pie with vegetables and boiled potatoes and pasta in a tomato sauce with vegetables and garlic bread. S2 pupil Josh Sheridan was tucking into a baked potato with cheese, while 16‑year‑old Joshua Ibikunle said his favourite meal is the chicken curry — though he was choosing pasta. “The portions are good,” he added.

Award-winning

Midlothian’s school meals follow the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020 and hold the ProVeg Bronze Award and the Bronze Food for Life Served Here certification. The council’s ambition is to reach Silver next year.

Plenty of choice

Every day, secondary school pupils can choose from two hot meals, soups, sandwiches, fresh fruit, vegetables and desserts, all sourced wherever possible from UK and Scottish suppliers. Local meat, vegetables and milk are used throughout the menu, and all fish served is from sustainable sources.

Free school meals

All P1–P5 pupils are entitled to free school meals, with affordable options for older pupils, including secondary school meal deals for £2.65 and £2.30 meals such as chicken fajitas with mixed salad for P6 and P7 pupils.

Fuel your learning

Cllr Alexander added: “Our message is simple — come along, try the meals, and enjoy great food that helps fuel great learning.”

Note

Note: Performance statistics from Midlothian Council Quarter 3 (September to end of December 2025)

More information

For more on the school lunch menus