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14 January 2025
by Ferdinand Steinbeis

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Food at English Boarding Schools: Myth and Reality

Hello from Richmond!

At the very latest since René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo served the famous Gauls Asterix and Obelix "lukewarm cervisia" with "boiled wild boar in mint sauce" in the comic Asterix in Britain, or the British comedy group Monty Python introduced the world to "Spam," the stereotype of questionable and eccentric British cuisine has persisted.

Some shudder at the mention of English food, while others adore it. Opinions are, quite literally, vastly divided. But is this reputation deserved?

We’ve dug deeper into this question and thoroughly examined the food culture in English boarding schools. After all, it’s part of our job at von Bülow Education to visit our partner schools on a weekly — and sample the schools' food when we stay for lunch!

But what exactly do school cafeterias serve to their students? Is the food healthy and varied? Are special dietary needs addressed? We’ve taken a closer look at five renowned English boarding schools and interviewed some of our pupils.

Recently eaten at Bradfield College - delicious salads!

English food culture and table manners

British cuisine is steeped in tradition and customs, which are reflected in the meals at boarding schools. A traditional English breakfast, for example, typically includes fried eggs, baked beans, tomatoes, sausages, and bacon, though lighter options like cereal, toast, or porridge are also available. Eating habits vary by time of day and individual preferences. In some boarding schools, students gather for traditional tea time to enjoy homemade treats and snacks, often in the company of their tutors.

Part of this culinary experience also includes the so-called "table manners." However, this is less about how to hold cutlery in the most elegant way and more about the rules of polite small talk. This is particularly important as adults—such as the housemother, the math teacher, or a tutor—often join at the dining table. Whether it's about English football, Brexit, Taylor Swift's new album, or the climate crisis, this is where you learn to discuss the truly important topics of life in English while dining. And in the process, you often get to know the otherwise perhaps somewhat distant adults in a completely different way.

Variety and inclusion, also when it comes to food

One thing we’ve heard from almost all students we’ve spoken to is this: English food can take some getting used to. But once students overcome that initial hurdle, they generally enjoy it—most of it, anyway. English boarding schools offer a wide variety of dishes and diverse menus. From traditional British classics like baked beans or fish and chips to international delicacies, there is something for every palate. Menus increasingly accommodate vegetarian, vegan, dietary, and intercultural nutritional needs.

Meals in the school cafeteria prioritize not just physical health but emotional well-being. Some students suffer not only from food intolerances but also from homesickness. To counter this, boarding schools prepare authentic international dishes from students' home countries and encourage communal cooking and baking activities.

Additionally, many schools allow students to influence the menu through food committees that regularly meet with the catering team to provide feedback and ensure their needs are met.

Delicious desert at Bryanston School

A Closer Look at the Plate: Five Boarding Schools in Focus

The diversity of nationalities at UK boarding schools is reflected not only in the classrooms but also on the menus.

Charlotte from Stonyhurst College notes, “Students of different nationalities can contribute to the menu by suggesting dishes from their home countries to make the menu even more diverse.” While she found most of the dishes delicious, Yorkshire pudding wasn’t to her taste.

Sergiu, who attended Eastbourne College, was full of praise: “The buffet is great, and there’s a lot of variety. The food is very good.”

Max, a former student at Framlingham College, offers a more nuanced view: “Sometimes only the side dishes are edible, but there’s always something tasty,” he explains.

Elianne, a student at Wycombe Abbey, found everything delicious except for the bacon and sausages: “I could never get used to them, but I ended up loving baked beans.” She also shared that Wycombe Abbey offers a subject called Cookery, where high-quality cooking courses teach students culinary skills and nutrition knowledge, from basics to professional certifications for those interested in a culinary career.

These varied experiences show that the quality of food can differ from school to school. While some students are very satisfied, others find certain aspects of the menu less appealing. That’s why we aim to identify schools that not only meet academic expectations but also cater to their students’ dietary needs. Here are five schools we’ve examined more closely.

The food at Frensham Heights School - we recommend!

1. Lancing College: Local Produce and Sustainability

Lancing College reports that school catering is a daily challenge, with around 8,750 meals to prepare while maintaining the highest quality. The catering team focuses on local produce, supported by the Lancing College Farm Project, which raises free-range lambs, sheep, and rare pig breeds like Gloucester Old Spot and Oxford Sandy Black, whose meat is regularly served up at school meals. Moreover the school runs a large vegetable garden with potatoes, carrots, radishes, even tomatoes and cucumbers.

Lancing College also recognizes food waste as a serious issue with ecological and ethical implications. The school has launched a campaign to reduce food waste and works with students on innovative approaches to nutrition and food supply, such as hydroponic vegetable cultivation. A student committee meets regularly to provide feedback and suggest improvements to the meal plan.

When we visited Lancing College last September, there was an especially delicious vegetable casserole made with vegetables from their own farm. Fantastic!

2. Repton School: Dining in the House

Repton School takes a more "old school" approach to school meals: just as in all traditional British boarding schools of the past, all meals here are still taken in the boarding houses. No central school canteen; dining is house-based.

The purpose behind this initiative is social in nature: meals in a smaller setting foster closer relationships between students, as well as between students and adults. It’s an opportunity to get to know and appreciate each other beyond the classroom. You might chat with your math teacher over fish and chips about topics unrelated to mathematics. Moreover, it’s easier to notice and respond when someone is having a bad day. You’re seen.

When we visited Repton last July, we were treated to excellent fish and chips—served classically with tartar sauce and curry sauce. Delicious!

Tasted much better than it looks here – food at St Swithun's School

3. Worth School: Food Festivals and Tea Parties

Worth School places great emphasis on meal quality and ensuring students are happy and healthy. A food council meets regularly to discuss menus, gather feedback, and ensure that student preferences are considered. With 30 different nationalities represented at the school, the menu is naturally diverse, featuring dishes like New Orleans jambalaya, traditional Chinese New Year meals, and slow-cooked pulled pork. Regional sourcing is prioritized for sustainability.

Meals are not limited to the cafeteria but often take center stage at school events and charity initiatives. Highlights include a food truck festival with popcorn, cotton candy, and build-your-own dessert stations. Students also enjoy pizza workshops and themed evenings, such as a Spanish night or a whimsical "Mad Hatter’s Tea Party."

During our last visit to Worth at the end of the year, the von Bülow Education team was served a sandwich buffet of the highest caliber: tuna & sweetcorn, ham & cheese, cucumber, and Christmas turkey. Naturally, there was tea to go with it. Heavenly!

4. Westonbirt School: Leiths-certificate for future cooks

Westonbirt School collaborates with the Leiths School of Food and Wine, England’s most renowned culinary school. Sixth Form students can take an introductory course in food and wine, learning to prepare healthy meals by combining classic techniques with modern recipes. The course also covers wine tasting and pairing, kitchen efficiency, and food presentation.

The course spans five terms, culminating in the spring of the final school year. A standout feature is baking a traditional Christmas fruitcake during the autumn term. Students not only enjoy the cooking process but also take pride in their culinary achievements.

During our last visit to Westonbirt at the beginning of 2024, we opted against a mediocre-looking curry and chose the very generous salad bar instead. A leafy salad with tuna, feta cheese, and olives was more than enough for us!

We enjoyed excellent Asian food at the TASIS School

5. Public Café and Culinary Student Talents

Clayesmore School goes beyond the typical boarding school dining hall by opening its own café, "Writer’s Block," in spring 2022. Open to both students and the local community, the café offers delights like pigs-in-blankets paninis, gingerbread muffins, pastries, sandwiches, and soups. Seasonal specialties like cinnamon lattes and honeycomb hot chocolate are also available. The café, which is dog-friendly, even claims to serve the best coffee in Dorset—a claim we’ll have to test ourselves.

The school’s culinary reputation is further bolstered by Andrew Callaghan, a talented alumnus who pursued a passion for cooking during his school years. He won the “South West Chef of the Year” competition in 2015 and has continued to impress food lovers at events like the Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink.

Clayesmore is also active on social media, showcasing a variety of international dishes, celebrating Pancake Day, and baking elaborate cakes to honor long-serving staff members.

During our last visit to Clayesmore in May 2024, we enjoyed an excellent lasagna and the aforementioned gingerbread muffins. Sensational!

Our Conclusion

The food at English boarding schools is now very good at most schools. We know this not only from our students but also from our own experience. Does everything always taste great? Certainly not. But there’s always a choice. And if the main course seems questionable, there’s always the salad bar.

Hungry for more interesting topics? Visit our blog for engaging posts and insights from pupils who have attended English boarding schools.

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