'All schools must ban fizzy drinks'

Children should be banned from bringing fizzy drinks and fatty snacks to school, the Government said today.

Headteachers should also stop pupils leaving at lunchtime to visit the local chip shop, according to government-backed guidance drawn up by school governors.

Schools must draw up a list of products to be banned from children's lunchboxes, it said.

The guidance was unveiled today by School Standards Minister Jacqui Smith at the National Governors Council (NGC) conference in London.

"It's vital that we take a whole school approach, so that nothing gets in the way of our children and improved education and life chances. Healthy eating choices can boost pupils' engagement and achievement," she said.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's campaign to improve the appaling quality of much school food brought public concern to a head. Education Secretary Ruth Kelly was stung into announcing a ?280million drive to improve the quality of school food and promised tougher limits on salt, fat and sugar in canteen lunches. Ms Kelly is also waiting for advice on whether to ban unhealthy products from vending machines.

However, critics claim the Government has been too fearful of taking on the big food manufacturers to force them to stop targeting children with unhealthy processed products.

The Government has now put the onus on governors, parents and teachers to block access to unhealthy food.