There are too many high fat foods in our school meals

THREE-quarters of primary schools are failing to provide school meals that meet the healthy food standards set by the Government, according to research.

More than half of the schools in the study failed to limit the amount of starchy food cooked in oil or fat to three times a week.

And children were far more likely to eat chips and choose sugary drinks than healthier options, the Department for Education-funded report found.

The study, by academics at King's College London, said: "Many pupils were not making healthy food and drink choices at lunchtime, even though healthier options were available in most schools.

"On balance, schools offered too many foods containing fat and foods and drinks containing sugar.

"When faced with such choices, pupils selected more of the less healthy options."

Just 23 per cent of schools met all the Government's existing compulsory standards for healthy meals, which were introduced in 2001, the research found.

Too little help too late for troubled kids

CHILDREN with emotional and behavioural problems receive too little help too late, education watchdog Ofsted said.

The system for assessing how to help children with special needs can be too bureaucratic, inspectors concluded in a new report.

But there is "little difference" between mainstream schools and special schools in the quality of education they give children with special needs, the watchdog said.

The report follows criticism from MPs that children in England with special needs were being failed by a system which is "not fit for purpose".

Children with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties were the most likely to receive inadequate support too late, Ofsted inspectors said.

A shortage of physics experts

THE Government is training too many teachers in history, geography and art, research has found.

But there are shortages in physics, chemistry and sometimes English, the study by Education Data Surveys discovered.

There was also an apparent over-supply of teachers in citizenship, with fewer than 90 vacancies and around 230 training places.