‘Bring back yummy food’, that’s what students at Ysgol Y Bannau on the outskirts of the Brecon Beacons have called for, after they signed a petition to be presented to its board of governors, calling for better quality school meals.

Concerns were raised by the chair of the school's governors that students were still feeling hungry after their school meals and that the range of food offered was limited. Tim Morgan, who has been a governor for eight years and the chair for three, has noticed a steady decline in the quality of food served.

“The Welsh government made school meals free for all primary school children, which I think is admirable and I fully support this change. However the quality of those meals is poor, the quantities are inadequate, the nutrition they offer is something many of us would be surprised to see and the variety is non-existent,” Mr Morgan said.

The board of governors had to fight to get salad and bread onto the menu. “The portions are the same for a child of 4 and a child of 11. When my daughter gets home at 4 o’clock she is very hungry, and I now go armed to pick up time with a series of snacks to give her.”

Ysgol Y Bannau is a source of pride for the students, parents and governors, and offers education in the Welsh language, as well as involvement in the Eisteddfod. It also has an outdoor classroom to encourage students to get outdoors. Mr Morgan said: “It is without doubt the best experience, education, and upbringing I could have wished to give to my two children, who have been privileged to be immersed in this environment over the last 12 years.”

In October, the BBC reported that only 6% of vegetables served in Welsh schools are grown in Wales. At Ysgol Y Bannau, the students have gardens, growing their food. Mr Morgan said: “We have our own Clwb Garrdio gardening club that grows salad for the children to eat after school, and yet we still import food from across the world, of poor quality in small portions and feed this to our children. Please ask yourselves, is this the best we can do?”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “All local authorities and governing bodies of maintained schools must comply with statutory regulations and guidance, which sets out the type of food and drink which may be provided during the school day, as well as how to promote healthy eating. Work is currently underway to revise the healthy eating in school’s regulations and guidance, reflecting on the latest available scientific recommendations and advice on nutrition and portion sizes.”

A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “We provide healthy, nutritionally balanced meals in schools across Powys, which includes a choice of traditional meals and salads. We encourage healthier eating through our menu choices and we avoid harmful additives.

“The council follows the statutory regulations and guidance from Welsh Government on healthy eating in maintained schools.

“Our new primary school menu, which will be used from November, has also received the Welsh Local Government Association’s Certificate of Compliance which confirms that the menu is compliant with The Healthy Eating in Schools (Nutritional Standards and Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2013.”