Record number of Nottinghamshire pupils on free school meals

The Labour party claims working families nationwide are suffering while the Government is distracted by the Conservative leadership election.

Department for Education figures show 25,021 children in Nottinghamshire were eligible for free school meals in January – 19.8 per cent of all state school pupils in the area.

This was up from 18.2 per cent the year before, and the highest proportion since comparable records began in 2015-16.

In state-funded special schools, the rate was 43.1 per cent in 2021-22 – the highest of all types of state education which had at least 100 pupils.

This was compared with 18.6 per cent in secondary schools.

Across England, 22.5 per cent of pupils, about 1.9 million children, are currently eligible for free school meals – up from 20.8 per cent, and also a record high.

In a debate in Parliament, Labour called for the scheme to be extended to all children in families receiving Universal Credit or equivalent benefits.

Stephen Morgan, Labour's shadow schools minister, said the cost-of-living crisis was being worsened by ‘chaotic Conservative government’.

He said: “While the Conservatives are distracted by fighting among themselves, the perfect storm of soaring food costs, Tory tax hikes and inadequate funding continue to take their toll on families and deepen existing inequalities.

“Labour would be providing breakfast clubs for every child, making sure every child has the best start to the day and the best start to life.”

The Association of School and College Leaders said it is ‘shocking’ that one of the world's wealthiest economies saw such a steep rise in the number of youngsters on free school meals this year.

Julie McCulloch, ASCL director of policysaid: “Even more shocking is the fact current eligibility does not even capture all the children who need help.

“Free school meal eligibility now applies to 22.5 per cent of pupils, but we know the level of child poverty is about 30 per cent.”

New research conducted by Loughborough University on behalf of the End Child Poverty Coalition reveals 29 per cent of English children were living in relative poverty in 2020-21, though this was down from 30 per cent the year before and first fall in a decade.

The ECPC said it is likely due to Government measures during the pandemic, such as temporarily increasing universal credit by £20 a week.

The DfE figures also show white pupils with Traveller of Irish heritage ethnicity were the most likely to get free school meals across England – 63 per cent of all of those in state schools.

In Nottinghamshire, the highest rates were among children of white Gypsy-Roma ethnicity – 36.8 per cent.

Ethnicities with fewer than 100 pupils have been removed.

A Government spokeswoman said it is providing more than £37 billion to help families with rising costs, and will continue to keep the eligibility under review.