The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals has risen by 27 per cent in just two years, according to new data released by the Department for Education today.

In total, 17.3 per cent of pupils across all schools were eligible for free school meals in 2020. That compares with 13.6 per cent of pupils in 2018.

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Last year, 15.4 per cent of pupils were eligible for free school meals. Today’s figures show that this proportion has gone up by 12 per cent in a single year.

More children eligible for free school meals

The Department for Education says the “main driver” of this rise has been the fact that since 1 April 2018, “transitional protections have been in place which will continue to be in place during the roll-out of Universal Credit”.

“This has meant that pupils eligible for free school meals on or after 1 April 2018 retain their free school meals eligibility even if their circumstances change,” it says.

“This has been the main driver in the increase in the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, as pupils continue to become eligible but fewer pupils stop being eligible.” 

The percentage of pupils in state-funded primary schools known to be eligible for free school meals has increased from 15.8 per cent to 17.7 per cent in 2020.

In state-funded secondary schools, the proportion also increased from 14.1 per cent to 15.9 per cent in 2020.

For pupils in state-funded special schools, the figure rose from 38.3 to 40.1 per cent in 2020.