PROVIDING pupils with nutritious, fresh food has paid off for Great Malvern Primary School, which believes its pupils are happier and healthier as a result.

The school has been cooking its own food on site for 13 years and offers both a breakfast and lunch menu.

This includes fish, ravioli and a choice of vegetables and fruit. An average meal costs £1.20 per child and deputy head Stuart Bill said the school 'pretty much breaks even'.

It is currently upgrading its kitchen to offer an even greater choice.

Mr Bill said: "We think it's very important to ensure the children have a good meal at lunchtime. We notice that when they're well fed, their behaviour and concentration is much better. We're definitely seeing a link between good diet and better attainment."

The school has banned junk food, a move Mr Bill said had not been easy.

"There was a big, big transition period and some children were very upset about being deprived of their crisps and chocolate, but it was worth it," he said.

Most primary schools in the Malvern Hills area do not have kitchens and so ask children to bring packed lunches. This means they have little control over what pupils eat.

Lynne Phoenix, head of Longdon St Mary's Primary, said the contents of some children's lunchboxes was far from ideal but there was not much the school could do.

She said they planned to open a new kitchen shortly where children would be taught to cook healthy dishes.

"I'd like to see them learning the cooking skills that everyone used to have - now it's all about opening a packet and putting it in the oven," she said.

Other schools choose to use catering companies, but some feel the food offered is not satisfactory. Madresfield Primary cancelled its contract as it felt there was too much processed food on the menu.

Leigh and Bransford Primary School is to stop using a catering company, due to a lack of uptake from pupils. Instead, it hopes to work with Leigh Sinton Stores, which has kitchens and a cafe, to provide locally-produced healthy meals.