'˜Monstrous decisions' cost children

‘Education authority’ is an oxymoron when applied to certain decisions made by West Sussex County Council (WSCC). WSCC, as the local education authority (LEA), made an oxymoronic decision 14 years ago, in 1999, when its ruling elite axed hot school meals to 64,000 primary-aged children in 242 primary schools, dismantled almost all the school kitchens, and made 550 school dinner-ladies redundant – in defiance of national nutritional standards.

That monstrous decision had nothing to do with either ‘intelligence’ or ‘education’ – and blighted the health and performance of many, many children.

Later, it became a legal requirement to provide hot meals to primary-aged children, but have WSCC met that legal requirement? If they had, I wouldn’t be writing this letter.

And now, Michael Gove, education minister, has exempted academies and free schools in West Sussex from their legal obligations – and the LEA. ‘Education minister’... Another oxymoron?

Richard W Symonds

SCRAM Campaign for Hot School Meals & Playing Fields