'You really can turn a bad culture around'

Children used to scrape most of their lunch into the bin at Brookfield Primary School.

But since contractor Scolarest got the boot in January, mealtimes have been transformed. Once most children brought in a packed lunch. Now 70 per cent tuck into hot dinners.

Brookfield is one of four schools in Camden which dumped Scolarest after pressure from parents. Now they are doing the catering themselves and are not obliged to make a profit.

Scolarest warned that fresh vegetables would be cripplingly expensive, but Brookfield is only charging an extra 5p a meal, bringing the cost to ?1.50 a day. Headteacher Dilys Hillman said: "Last year the quality of the food was so poor that pupils would throw away what was on their plates. Now the entire atmosphere has changed. It's become a social experience."

Daphne Tagg, vice-chair of governors, said: "One teacher said her most difficult child has been transformed and can concentrate all day. What's heartening is you can turn a negative food culture around."