…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
New figures reveal that nearly one in four pupils in state schools in England now qualify for free school meals, while a record one in five students has a first language other than English.
In January of this year, 23.8% of all pupils were eligible for free school meals, equivalent to two million children, compared to 22.5% in January 2022.
These statistics indicate a concerning increase in childhood poverty and language diversity within the education system.
Alarming Levels of Childhood Poverty
A union representing school leaders emphasizes that these numbers should serve as a wake-up call to the alarmingly high levels of childhood poverty in England.
The data published by the Department for Education (DfE) shows a consistent increase in free school meal eligibility since January 2018 when it stood at 13.6%.
The eligibility is based on various benefits received by parents or carers, such as Universal Credit, child tax credits, or income support.
Extended Eligibility and Remaining Challenges
Certain criteria also allow households that are unable to claim benefits to qualify for free school meals.
These criteria include children of work visa holders and families from Hong Kong holding British National Overseas passports who have relocated to the UK.
The data suggests that the ongoing increase in eligibility may be influenced by the protection measures introduced during the implementation of Universal Credit.
However, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) highlights that the current figures do not fully reflect the extent of the problem due to limited eligibility.
Urgent Call for Action
The ASCL urges the government to extend free school meals provision to all families receiving Universal Credit and to prioritize the eradication of child poverty instead of relying on empty promises of “levelling up.”
The Sutton Trust, a social mobility organization, shares this concern and emphasizes the need for radical interventions and increased support to prevent the widening of the attainment gap between disadvantaged and more privileged children.
Regional and Ethnic Disparities
The proportion of pupils eligible for free meals is typically higher in state-funded primary schools than in secondary schools, with rates of 24.0% and 22.7% respectively.
Significant regional disparities exist as well, with the highest eligibility rate in north-east England at 30.4% and the lowest in south-east England at 18.8%.
When examining eligibility by ethnicity, the rates are highest among pupils from white Traveller of Irish heritage (64.7%), white Gypsy/Roma (54.8%), mixed white and black Caribbean (43.4%), and black Caribbean (42.8%) backgrounds.
The lowest rates are among pupils of Indian (7.4%) and Chinese (7.8%) ethnicity.
Growing Linguistic Diversity
In January 2023, one in five (20.2%) pupils in state-funded schools in England had a first language that was known or believed to be other than English.
This proportion has risen from 19.5% in January 2022, marking the highest level since the data collection began in January 2016, when it stood at 18.0%.
The disparity in language diversity is noticeable between primary (22.0%) and secondary schools (18.1%), as well as across different regions of England, ranging from 44.0% in London to 8.3% in the north-east.
Defining English as an Additional Language
The Department for Education clarifies that recording a pupil as having English as an additional language does not solely measure English language proficiency or serve as an accurate proxy for recent immigration.
Instead, it indicates exposure to a language at home that is known or believed to be different from English.
Delayed Educational Support for Children with Special Needs
Separate statistics released indicate that almost half of children and young people requiring special educational support waited beyond the 20-week time limit for a new education, health, and care (EHC) plan.
The Department for Education reports that in 2022, only 50.7% of plans were issued within the time limit, down from 59.9% in 2021, marking the lowest level since 2015.
Concerns from Disability Advocacy
National disability charity Sense raises concerns about disabled schoolchildren missing out on essential support.
The head of policy emphasizes the importance of EHC plans for disabled children to access the necessary support that enables them to thrive.
Failing to issue these plans within the legal time limit puts thousands of disabled children at risk of being overlooked, potentially impacting their education, health, and long-term outcomes.