Survey highlights rise in pupils unable to afford school lunches

A Sutton Trust survey of school teachers in England, carried out by Teacher Tapp, highlights the stark impact of the cost-of-living crisis on children in schools, with growing numbers of pupils facing serious issues linked to living costs this autumn term.

More than half (52 per cent) of senior leaders in state schools in England report that the number of children not eating lunch because they can't afford it has increased this term.

The survey found that more than half (52 per cent) of senior leaders in state schools reported that during the autumn term, the number of children in their school unable to afford lunch who weren’t eligible for free school meals increased.

Leaders working in the most deprived schools, with the highest proportions of existing pupils eligible for Free School Meals, were more likely to say there were more pupils unable to afford lunch, at 59 per cent, compared to 44 per cent of those in the least deprived schools.

The Sutton Trust said this indicates that pupils falling just outside of eligibility for Free School Meals are increasingly going hungry.

Currently just over one in five (22.5 per cent) of pupils qualify for Free School Meals, according to the Sutton Trust.

The Government has faced repeated calls from charities, such as the Food Foundation, as well as teaching unions, among others, to widen access to Free School Meals.

State school teachers surveyed are reporting growing numbers of children facing serious issues linked to the cost-of-living, including coming to school hungry (38 per cent), and without warm clothing (54 per cent).

The findings show marked differences between children in schools in the most deprived areas and their better-off peers.

Differences are particularly noticeable for the most worrying problems, with teachers seeing increasing numbers of children coming to school hungry (56 per cent in the most deprived schools vs 22 per cent in the least), families asking to be referred to a foodbank (27 per cent vs 8 per cent) and an increase in those without adequate winter clothing (65 per cent vs 40 per cent).

According to the survey, 38 per cent of state school teachers say that at least a third of their pupils are facing financial pressures that are affecting their ability to succeed in school, rising to 72 per cent of teachers in the most deprived schools.

Three quarters (74 per cent) of state school teachers say they have seen an increase in pupils unable to concentrate or tired in class. Almost seven in ten (67 per cent) have students with behaviour issues.  

There were significant differences by region. Around 43 per cent of all teachers in the North West, Yorkshire and the North East said more than a third of their pupils are struggling, compared to 27 per cent of teachers from the South East.

Over two-thirds of teachers believe the cost-of-living crisis will increase the attainment gap between the less well-off and the most well-off pupils in their school, with 18 per cent of teachers believing this increase will be substantial. Just 9 per cent of teachers believe that the crisis won’t have any impact on the attainment gap.

Teacher Tapp surveyed more than 6,200 teachers in schools across England. 

Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust and chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation, said, ‘It’s a scandal that in one of the world’s richest countries growing numbers of children are going without basics such as food and warm clothing.

‘More and more pupils in England’s most deprived schools are coming to school hungry and without warm clothing such as a coat. It’s a fact that children who arrive at school hungry have difficulty learning.

‘Teachers in the most deprived schools report that increasing numbers of children who are not eligible for Free School Meals are unable to afford lunch. Over two-thirds of teachers believe the cost-of-living crisis will increase the attainment gap between the less well-off and the most well-off pupils in their school. 

‘The facts are stark and shaming. Without radical intervention and increased provision for those who need it most, the cost-of-living crisis will produce a decline in social mobility, gravely endangering the long-cherished project of levelling up.’

Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said, 'This new research confirms what NEU members have been seeing for months.

'More and more people are being pulled into poverty by Government policies and it is children who are paying the price.

'Restrictive eligibility for free school meals has long meant that children have been going hungry and the cost-of-living crisis means that more and more families are struggling to make ends meet.

'Offering free school meals to all children in primary school would be a welcome first step in tackling the epidemic of child hunger, giving families some breathing room and supporting the education and wellbeing of our children. The cost of not doing so is too great. The Government must rectify its decision not to widen access to free school meals and ensure that every child in primary school gets a hot, healthy meal every day.' 

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said, 'School leaders are seeing first-hand the impact that the cost-of-living crisis is having on pupils and families. Our members are reporting that they are seeing more and more families struggle to afford the basics, including food. There is a real worry we will see more children going cold and hungry at home this winter.  It is those poorest and most vulnerable families that are hardest hit, and who often turn to schools for support. 

'Children who are hungry cannot learn as well as they might be able to. Schools are trying to help where they can, with support for things like food and uniform, but the issues that underpin inequality reach far beyond the school gates and exist throughout the communities that schools serve.'

A Department for Education spokesperson said, 'Over a third of pupils in England currently receive free school meals in education settings and we are investing up to £24m in our national school breakfast programme, which provides free breakfasts to children in schools in disadvantaged areas.'