Less than half of children in poverty have free school meals

New figures released by the Department for Education and skills show that the majority of children in poverty do not have free school meals.

• 15.1% children are entitled to free school meals
• Only 11.8% children take free school meals
• Of those eligible 1 in 5 miss out on their free school meal

Separate data shows that 27% children currently live below the poverty line.

Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green, said:

“Social stigma and the poor quality of school dinners stops many of those children who qualify from taking up their entitlement to free school meals. But little more than half of those in poverty qualify anyway.

“Providing free meals for every child in poverty is one of the best investments in the health, well-being and future potential of our poorest children the Government could make. School meals are particularly effective because they deliver support directly to children.

“The Department for Education and Skills should be learning the lessons from Hull where a pilot to provide universal free school meals for primary schools children has led to high take up of meals.”

Notes for editors

The figures below are obtained from: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/VOL/v000696/index.shtml

Nursery and Primary pupils
5,022,000 x 16.4% = 823,608 qualifying pupils
5,022,000 x 13.5% = 677,970 take-up

Secondary pupils
3,979,800 x 13.9% = 553,192 qualifying pupils
3,979,800 x 10.0% = 677,970 take-up

Special Schools
101,800 x 34.7% = 35,325 qualifying pupils
101,800 x 30.0% = 30,540 take-up

Total pupils on school roll (all ages) is 9,339,100

Total entitled of 1,412,125 = 15.1%
Total take-up of 1,106,490 = 11.8%

Total take-up as % of entitlement = 78%

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
press@cpag.org.uk