Year seven pupil Zoe Saunders attends Gilbert Inglefield Middle School in Vandyke Road, Leighton. Since September she has eaten her sandwiches outside in the playground in all weathers because not enough space is allocated for students eating lunch from home.

Zoe's mother Sue raised the issue with her daughter's form tutor back in September, then again in November, to no avail.

The final straw came last Friday when Zoe returned home from school faint with hunger after not eating her lunch or drinking her juice because she didn't want to stand in the rain.

Mrs Saunders from Reach Lane, Heath and Reach, said: "I was gob-smacked. I couldn't believe she hadn't eaten. Zoe has been standing in the playground in all weathers. She sits on the cold concrete day after day and she and I have had enough; it was raining that day and she'd given up. Zoe has been off school three times since September with a cold and tonsillitis. It's 2008 and to make children eat outside is disgraceful but it's being swept under the carpet."

Mrs Saunders says the problem has arisen because the school fails to allow enough indoor space for students bringing packed lunches to eat.

Only one classroom is allocated for each year group, which amounts to approximately 30 seats for 100 students to use in 20 minutes before lunchtime staff clear the school.

Zoe said: "I go to the classroom every day but it's always full and either teachers or pupils tell you to go away. Last Friday I didn't want to eat in the rain so I went without – I was upset."

Up until now Mrs Saunders has been very pleased with Gilbert's, and Zoe follows the strict healthy eating strategy the school adheres to when making her packed lunch choice. But Mrs Saunders said: "I am getting very worried about the health implications this could have on Zoe now and in the future. Sitting on cold concrete isn't good, nor is going without food – her brain cannot possibly function properly without food and drink."

"It's not just Zoe this is happening to. I want other children to go home and tell their parents they are eating in the playground too – I'm sure they're not aware. Hopefully something will be done if we all complain."

Mrs Saunders explained how she sometimes pays for Zoe to have a school dinner so she can eat in the warm. She said: "Zoe has been so unhappy I have been paying the £1.70 a day for the school meal, but this isn't the answer – children taking packed lunches are being prejudiced against."

"More classrooms should be allocated so the children have a choice whether to eat outside or in. I've no complaints about Zoe eating outside in the summer months.