The school canteen is a legend in its own lunchtime, but usually for lumpy gravy and soggy chips.

But all of that is about to change as Bradford takes a lesson from bright and breezy fast food restaurants to transform the school canteen.

Leading the way is Carlton Bolling College, whose canteen has just undergone a £20,000 makeover to introduce a flavour of the high street fast food joint. But preparing to steal the march is Rhodesway Upper which is considering mimicking a highly successful and total transformation.

Last week Thornhill High School in Dewsbury revealed that it's new American-ised school canteen was a hit with students. Out went the servery and in came bright green menus and pictures of the food on offer featured on illuminated signs above the counter.

Nylon overalls and silly mop hats are a thing of the past for dinner ladies who dish up in trendy, primary-coloured uniforms topped by a baseball cap.

The whole thing puts you in McMind, so to speak, of a certain well-known global brand.

And the proof of the pudding is in the eating with the £50,000 investment paying dividends in the form of almost double the number tucking into school meals.

John Fowler, headteacher of Rhodesway, is the former head of Thornhill and is actively considering following the example set by his former school.

"Nowadays kids want something interesting and different. They are more sophisticated so old-fashioned school meals don't attract them as much," said Mr Fowler.

"It doesn't have to be burgers and chips, but it does have to grab their enthusiasm because otherwise they won't enjoy it and won't want to stay. What they have done at Thornhill is create an excellent and popular facility that students want to use."

It is certainly food for thought. Mr Fowler has met up with council school dinner chiefs and an outside provider of meals. Another meeting is set up for after half-term.

Currently about 60 per cent of the 1,300 pupils stay for lunch, but Mr Fowler says boosting that to 90 per cent would be ideal.

A £50,000 investment may seem like pie in the sky, especially in the light of current financing worries.

But from April, new government regulations, called Fair Funding, mean that schools will be in even greater control of their budgets.

One of the most important changes is that instead of each school being forced to take the council-run school meal service, they will be able to choose their own supplier, which in some parts of the country where the system has been piloted, has included companies like McDonalds.

It is a fundamental shift, says Simon Willis, the headteacher of Carlton Bolling College in Undercliffe Lane where a £20,000 scheme to improve the canteen was completed this term.

The World Circuit is the new brand name for the canteen and it is home to a Pit Stop, Fuel Point, Grand Prix and Final Lap, each featuring a different type of food.

"It is sort of a half-way house which is closer to McDonalds than the traditional schools meals," said Mr Willis.

Roger Sheard, the business manager for Bradford's Education Contract Services, said it is the shape of things to come in Bradford.

The re-branding of Carlton Bolling's cafeteria has resulted in an extra 250 students eating on campus each lunchtime.

The ECS have even launched their own brand, Connect, which they hope will be taking over many of the school meals services they currently run.

after Fair Funding comes into force.

"School meals have to be marketed more efficiently now because there are so many alternatives available.

"Today it is about branding, packaging, presentation, variety and good quality food."

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