Money allocated to children on free school meals is being taken away from them if they do not use up their allowance, a new study suggests.

Research by charity Citizens UK indicates that secondary school pupils are missing out on up to £65 million a year because they cannot “roll over” unused change.

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Credit is deducted, even if pupils are absent from school or attend a lunchtime club, the report says.

Free school meals cash ‘lost’

The unspent money is retained by school-meals providers such as private companies or local authorities, according to the charity.

Citizens UK said that it had spoken to thousands of pupils at hundreds of schools across England, revealing that money allocated for free school meals is being taken off them at the end of the day.

Pupils would buy extra food for the mornings if they could keep the change, the report says.

Chris Goulden, of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “This campaign reminds us of the firm grip poverty can have on our children’s lives.

“Students are going hungry in school because they are losing out on money allocated to them in the free school meals programme.

“They face a double injustice: not only are they being treated differently to other students, but their ability to learn is restricted because they are going hungry.

“Free school meals provide an essential lifeline to students who might not otherwise be able to afford a decent hot meal.”