Food Hygiene Ratings for School/college/university in the UK

32,133 businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.9/5.

32,133
Businesses
4.9/5
Average Rating
91.7%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good91.7%25,634
Good6.7%1,881
Satisfactory1.1%307
Improvement Needed0.3%92
Major Improvement0.2%42
Urgent Improvement0.0%3

There are 32,133 businesses classified as "School/college/university" across the UK, inspected under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. This category includes a wide range of establishments that share similar food handling characteristics and regulatory requirements.

The average food hygiene rating for school/college/university businesses is 4.9 out of 5. This is above the national average of 4.6/5, suggesting that school/college/university businesses tend to maintain higher hygiene standards. Currently 91.7% of rated businesses in this category have the highest rating of 5 (Very Good).

Food hygiene standards can vary significantly between local authorities. The tables below show which councils have the best and worst average ratings for school/college/university businesses, helping you understand regional differences in food safety performance.

Data last updated: March 14, 2026

Best-performing authorities

Local AuthorityBusinessesAvg Rating
Barnsley845.0/5
Bassetlaw705.0/5
Boston385.0/5
Broxbourne445.0/5
Darlington465.0/5
Denbighshire645.0/5
Forest of Dean605.0/5
Harlow435.0/5
Havant555.0/5
Ipswich695.0/5

Lowest-performing authorities

Local AuthorityBusinessesAvg Rating
Wyre554.4/5
Enfield1384.5/5
Reigate and Banstead744.5/5
Hackney494.6/5
Blaenau Gwent344.6/5
Maldon354.6/5
Tower Hamlets974.6/5
Hyndburn564.6/5
Dudley1304.7/5
Torridge414.7/5

Frequently asked questions

What is the average food hygiene rating for school/college/university businesses?+

The average food hygiene rating for school/college/university businesses in the UK is 4.9 out of 5. 91.7% have the highest rating of 5 (Very Good).

How many school/college/university businesses are there in the UK?+

There are 32,133 businesses classified as "School/college/university" in the UK food hygiene database, of which 27,959 have been rated under the FHRS.

Which area has the best school/college/university food hygiene ratings?+

The local authority with the highest average rating for school/college/university businesses is Barnsley with an average of 5.0/5.

Data from official government food safety agencies