In an “ideal world”, all primary school pupils would be entitled to free school meals, former education secretary Michael Gove has said today.
Speaking at an event at the Conservative Party conference, Mr Gove said that he did not want to be “unrealistic” as he appreciated that “times were tight”.
Instead, he proposed that “what we can do”, is extend free school meals to every child in a family in receipt of universal credit.
And he added that this seemed like a “more than worthwhile intervention”.
At the moment, universal infant free school meals (FSM) are available for all government-funded schools to offer FSM to pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, but not those in later years in primary school.
Beyond this, free meals are available to those on various benefits, but for those on universal credit, the pupil’s household must have an income of less than £7,400 a year.
Speaking at the event, run by Onward and multiple food groups, including The Food Foundation and Bite Back 2030, Mr Gove said: “In an ideal world, I think that we should have universal free school meals for all pupils in primary.”
He added: “Resources are tight, I don’t want to be unrealistic, I don’t think any of us do. But what we can do is extend free schools to every pupil in a family in receipt of universal credit for £500 million.
“It seems to me, in the wide debate that we’re having about where extra pounds secure value, that this is a more than worthwhile intervention.”
Mr Gove’s comments echo those of experts and school leaders in recent weeks.
Last week, Tes revealed that schools were losing thousands shielding pupils from rising meal prices.
In response to the story, Andy Jolley, a school meals expert and campaigner, agreed that widening the FSM criteria was needed as a “matter of urgency”.
And Wayne Norrie, the chief executive of Greenwood Academies Trust, said: “It’s really important that people know how low the FSM threshold is. We need to widen that threshold.
“There are lots of ‘just managing’ families that are just above this threshold now, that don’t get any support, that will struggle to pay for essentials if prices continue to rise.”
