A GOVERNMENT report urging schools to ban packed lunches has received a mixed response from East Lancashire head teachers.

The School Food Plan, written by restaurant owners Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent on behalf of the Department for Education, said packed lunches were nearly always less nutritious than a cooked meal.

It called for a £16.1 million injection of cash over the next two years to help turn around schools that are struggling with their lunch service.

The report also recommends lowering the price of school meals and offering discounts for parents of multiple children or those whose children eat a school lunch every day.

Simon Corns, head teacher at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Blackburn, said it had already banned packed lunches.

He said: “We insist that all children eat together in the canteen and enjoy proper food. It’s a policy that’s been in place since before I joined the school six years ago and I think the commonality of it is very civilised.

“That’s not to say we stand over the children and make sure they get their five-a-day, but our situation ensures that they have the option of a good meal every day.”

Tracy Heys, headteacher at St James’ Lanehead CE Primary School in Burnley, said a ban would not work and that re-educating parents alongside children would be more beneficial.

She said: “A ban will just move the problem elsewhere. In our school, more pupils have packed lunches than school dinners and we do have to keep an eye on what they’re eating.

“We send regular reminders to parents if we find too many treats and we are working towards the Healthy Schools benchmark next term.”

Education Secretary Michael Gove said: “What I’d like to see is more children eating school lunches and fewer having packed lunches, and more children feeling healthier and more energetic throughout the day.”