A study by the Institute of Education found that while free schools are opening in disadvantaged areas they are taking fewer children who are eligible for free school meals than other schools.
Analysing the pupil intake of 88 primary and 63 secondary free schools that opened between 2010 and 2013, the study found only 17.5 per cent of pupils admitted into secondary free schools were eligible for free school meals – significantly lower than the 22 per cent free school meals recipient rate for the areas.
Among primary-level free schools the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals was just 13.5 per cent. This comes despite these free schools being based in areas where 18 per cent of primary school-age children are eligible for free school meals.
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