In a snap poll of 6,200 teachers, undertaken by Teacher Tapp for the Sutton Trust, at the end of November, researchers found that more than half of teachers in state-funded schools reported a rise in the number of pupils ineligible for free school meals who were unable to afford lunch during the autumn term. This rose to 59 per cent in the most deprived schools.
The report, which looks at how the wider financial pressures of the cost-of-living crisis is impacting children in the classroom, finds “shocking” numbers of hungry, cold and tired pupils, with those in the most deprived schools being hit the hardest.
-
Special report: Social, emotional and mental health needs
-
UK Youth Parliament tender bids to expand reach of programme
In state schools, almost three quarters of teachers have seen an increase in pupils unable to concentrate or who are tired in class, and almost seven in 10 – 67 per cent - reported an increase in students with behavioural issues.
Growing numbers of pupils face “serious issues”, such as being cold and more than half of teachers have seen an increase in those coming to school without adequate winter clothing like a coat.
Meanwhile, 17 per cent said there was an increase in families asking to be referred to foodbanks.
When asked about the proportion of pupils facing financial pressures that were affecting their ability to succeed in school, 38 per cent of state school teachers said this is the case for “at least a third of their class”. This rose to 72 per cent in the most deprived schools.
Significant differences by region were also reported, with around 43 per cent of all teachers in the North West, Yorkshire and the North East saying that more than a third of their pupils are “struggling”, compared with 27 per cent of teachers from the South East.
The poll also found that more than two-thirds of teachers believe the cost-of-living crisis will increase the attainment gap between the less well-off and the most well-off pupils in their school.
Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust and chairman of the Education Endowment Foundation, said that the facts are “stark and shaming” and that without radical intervention and increased provision for those who need it most, the cost-of-living crisis will produce a “decline in social mobility, gravely endangering the long-cherished project of levelling up”.
He added: “It’s a scandal that in one of the world’s richest countries growing numbers of children are going without basics such as food and warm clothing.
"It’s a fact that children who arrive at school hungry have difficulty learning. Three quarters of state school teachers say they have seen an increase in pupils unable to concentrate or tired in class. Almost seven in ten have students with behaviour issues.”
Rebecca Montacute, senior research and policy manager at The Sutton Trust described the findings as “shocking”.
She said: “It is clear that the current cut off for free school meals is not set at the right level, with many teachers seeing children unable to afford lunch who are not currently eligible. Access to free school meals should be expanded to fully capture those in need, by making them available to all families on Universal Credit.”
Meanwhile, the Department for Education has announced that schools and colleges in England will be allocated a share of £500m to spend on energy efficiency upgrades, helping to save on bills during the winter months and manage energy consumption.
