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

35,911 businesses inspected. Average rating: 4.9/5.

35,911
Businesses
4.9/5
Average Rating
92.1%
Rated 5/5

Rating distribution

Very Good92.1%28,770
Good6.5%2,032
Satisfactory1.0%313
Improvement Needed0.3%95
Major Improvement0.1%40
Urgent Improvement0.0%1

There are 35,911 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 4.7/5, suggesting that school/college/university businesses tend to maintain higher hygiene standards. Currently 92.1% 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.

Source snapshot retrieved: July 26, 2026. Ratings may have changed since retrieval; verify with the linked authority.

Best-performing authorities

Local AuthorityBusinessesAvg Rating
Barnsley955.0/5
Bassetlaw705.0/5
Boston375.0/5
Broxbourne445.0/5
Colchester925.0/5
Darlington475.0/5
Forest of Dean595.0/5
Gedling625.0/5
Harborough585.0/5
Havant625.0/5

Lowest-performing authorities

Local AuthorityBusinessesAvg Rating
Hackney484.5/5
Wyre544.5/5
Enfield1334.6/5
Reigate and Banstead764.6/5
Wigan1894.6/5
Blaenau Gwent344.6/5
Torridge404.7/5
Waltham Forest594.7/5
Isle of Wight664.7/5
Camden1084.7/5

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. 92.1% have the highest rating of 5 (Very Good).

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

There are 35,911 businesses classified as "School/college/university" in the UK food hygiene database, of which 31,251 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