With over 40% of children leaving primary school overweight or obese, only 6% eating a healthy diet and one in six experiencing poor mental health, campaigners are warning that the national curriculum is failing to reflect the realities of children's lives.
Food, farming and nature are almost absent from classroom learning, yet advocates say they could hold the key to tackling today's most pressing health and environmental challenges. In response, a high-level roundtable will take place in Westminster this October, bringing together educators, farmers, health professionals, campaigners, sustainability experts and parliamentarians to explore how these themes can be better integrated into the curriculum.
This solutions-focused event is not about placing blame, but about offering leadership. Roz Savage MBE, who will facilitate the event, said: "When children are given the chance to learn where their food comes from, to get their hands in the soil and to understand how nature sustains us, something powerful happens. Curiosity grows, confidence builds and connection takes root."
Farming on the curriculum
The event comes as the Department for Education conducts a major curriculum review, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to embed health, sustainability and food education into every child's learning. Campaigners are urging greater cross-departmental collaboration (education, health and environment) and stronger accountability mechanisms, including proper application of Equality Impact Assessments, which have not been updated since 2013.
"This is not just a curriculum issue," said Olivia Shave, Lead Campaigner for the Food, Farming, Nature Education Campaign (Soil_ED).
"This is about whether we see our children as whole people, connected to place, health, food and future, or whether we keep teaching them as data points on a league table."
Despite repeated calls for joined-up action, gaps persist. Public Health England's food guidelines remain siloed from curriculum development, and cost-related exclusions in food education, geography and the arts continue to disadvantage pupils. Organisers stress these barriers are not inevitable, but solvable, and that this roundtable is about finding solutions, not assigning blame.
Farmers Guardian, media partner for the campaign, is focused on showcasing farming's role in fixing the problems we face as society, such as national health. Emily Ashworth, digital editor at Farmers Guardian, said: "By bringing food and farming education into schools, we allow children to understand the intrinsic connection between what they eat and how it impacts their bodies. Furthermore, the food choices they make impact the environment too.
"Farmers Guardian is passionate about bridging the gap between agriculture and the wider public, and the best way to do that is through education."
Participants will include campaign leaders, frontline educators, parliamentarians from across the political spectrum and civil society representatives from farming, education and social justice sectors. The event is intended to support, not disrupt, the independent review led by Professor Becky Francis, whose focus on equity and capacity challenges has been welcomed by campaigners.
"No one wants this vital review to be overshadowed by legal challenge," said Olivia. "But without proper processes, we risk losing public trust and this rare opportunity for change.
"Children deserve answers to questions that haven't yet been addressed."
NHS
From tackling obesity and supporting the NHS, to meeting net zero and farming reform goals, organisers argue that food, farming and nature education sit at the heart of almost every national priority. By embedding them into the curriculum, they believe the UK can help every child thrive, academically, physically and emotionally.
"From the Food Strategy to net zero targets, the NHS long-term plan to farming reform, food, farming and nature education sits at the intersection of almost every major national priority," added Olivia.
"This roundtable is a moment to bring that vision to life, to go from inspiring exceptions to national expectations."
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