STOURPORT schools are to be quizzed on the eating habits of their pupils in a Worcestershire County Council initiative to promote healthy eating.

Following the recent Jamie Oliver programme on the poor standard of school dinners, schools in the county are being asked to take part in a scrutiny exercise into the effect of diet on education.

A range of primary, middle and high schools will answer questions about the hot meals they offer and the packed meals that children bring in themselves to see whether the food children eat at school affects their behaviour in lessons.

The council wants to know whether Worcestershire schools encourage healthy eating and what it can do to help promote this message further.

Wyre Forest District councillor for Lickhill Jill Fairbrother-Millis, a member of the county council's task group, will visit Stourport schools with a questionnaire in the next few weeks.

She said: "We want to find out whether there is a problem and, if so, how the council could help to support schools more by making recommendations on what food and drinks to offer."

The councillor stressed, however, that many schools were already tackling the issue of healthy eating.

"This isn't a witch hunt, it's a learning experience. There are many schools who do well. I'm a governor at Stourport High School and I've been very impressed with what I've seen there," she said.

Mrs Fairbrother-Millis will ask schools that do have good healthy eating programmes to offer advice for others.

"It's very important that we learn from the schools who have already got it right," she said.

The task group will also consult with doctors, dieticians, teachers, catering suppliers and parents before presenting its findings to the county council's cabinet.

The scrutiny team would like to hear from any parents worried about what their children eat at school and can be contacted on 01905 766619.