Samuel Lucas JMI School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · North Hertfordshire
Samuel Lucas JMI School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 7 May 2025, 14 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Samuel Lucas Jmi School Gaping Lane, Hitchin, SG5 2JQ
How it compares in North Hertfordshire
That puts Samuel Lucas JMI School among the 789 places in North Hertfordshire holding top marks, 78% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 789 | 78% | ← Samuel Lucas JMI School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 155 | 15% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 48 | 5% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 13 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 10 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 105 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Samuel Lucas JMI School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Samuel Lucas JMI School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch Open Church Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 302 yards away | 5 - Very good | 29 May 2015 |
| Hitchin Town Cricket Ground Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 382 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2025 |
| Caterplus @ McCarthy & Stone Park House Caring Premises | 385 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 January 2026 |
| Burgerians Takeaway/sandwich shop | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2024 |
| Hitchin Town Football Club Limited Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 30 June 2022 |
| Coopers Arms Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2025 |
| Hitchin Boys School School/college/university | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 2 October 2024 |
| Hatter's Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 June 2025 |
Questions about Samuel Lucas JMI School
What is Samuel Lucas JMI School's food hygiene rating?
Samuel Lucas JMI School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by North Hertfordshire Council on 7 May 2025.
Is Samuel Lucas JMI School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Samuel Lucas JMI School last inspected?
Samuel Lucas JMI School was last inspected on 7 May 2025, 14 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by North Hertfordshire Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Samuel Lucas JMI School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Samuel Lucas JMI School compare to other places in North Hertfordshire?
78% of the 1,015 rated food businesses in North Hertfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and Samuel Lucas JMI School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
North Hertfordshire Council inspects Samuel Lucas JMI School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Samuel Lucas JMI School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Samuel Lucas JMI School is one of 307 rated food businesses in Hitchin. See every hygiene rating in Hitchin →
North Hertfordshire inspects and rates 1,120 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in North Hertfordshire →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.north-herts.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →