Schools to fork out £310m to subsidise free meals

According to new findings, schools may need to divert £310 million from their existing budgets to cover the growing costs associated with free school meals if the government does not increase its funding. This alarming conclusion comes from a study conducted by Northumbria University, which indicates that costs could increase by an additional £25 million when the provision of free meals expands to all pupils from families claiming universal credit in the coming year.

This financial burden translates to an average expenditure of £11,000 for primary schools and £25,000 for secondary schools, which they must cover by reallocating funds from other budgetary areas.

The study points out that most schools are forced to tap into their teaching and learning budgets, including the pupil premium, to make up the difference. Government funding currently stands at £2.61 per meal, which is notably lower than the average cost schools incur for catering services, estimated at between £2.75 and £3.20 per meal.

The government has announced plans to extend eligibility for free school meals to all families on universal credit by 2026, with a budget allocation of over £1 billion allocated across three years. Currently, only families with a pre-benefits income of less than £7,400 qualify for this program.

Financial Impact Comparable to Teacher Salaries

Researchers from both Northumbria and Lincoln universities, in collaboration with Alliance4Children, explored the implications of providing free meals to current eligible students as well as those expected to qualify under the extended policy.

The results suggest that the total cost for schools is likely to increase from approximately £285 million to over £310 million next year—a figure that equates to the salaries of over 7,700 teachers.

Professor Greta Defeyter from Northumbria University expressed concern over these findings, describing them as “startling.” She stated that factors such as inflation, rising food prices, and increased national insurance contributions have all contributed to the inflated costs of providing meals.

“Many educational institutions are being compelled to utilize their teaching and learning budgets to bridge the gap between the insufficient government funding and the higher costs charged by caterers,” she said.

A spokesperson from the Department for Education has been contacted for further comment regarding this pressing issue.