Bristol Uni-led study finds free meals to all secondary school pupils 'feasible and acceptable'
A new study led by the University of Bristol says the results of a pilot scheme in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham showed positive results
A study, led by the University of Bristol, has found free school meals handed to secondary school pupils is a 'feasible and acceptable' approach.
Back in January 2020, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham became the first local authority to trial such a scheme, with two 11-16 secondary schools taking part in the project.
Of the 500 pupils involved in the trial, more than 25% of the students were found to be experiencing food inequality - an issue experienced by one in five households around the UK in 2022, and something which has been exacerbated by the cost of living crisis.
Dr Judi Kidger, Senior Lecturer in Public Health from Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences (PHS) at the University of Bristol is one of the lead authors of the study. She said: “Currently in England, free school meals are provided to all children in the first three years of school, and to pupils of all ages whose households are in receipt of Universal Credit, provided they do not earn a net income of more than £7,400.
"However, this current means tested system does not reach all families in need, either because they do not quite meet the required threshold or they do not claim the free meals they are entitled to, possibly due to stigma.”
Using data linked to food insecurity, and the observations and interviews made during the study, researchers from Bristol Medical School looked at whether offering free school meals to all secondary school students is feasible, acceptable and perceived to be a good thing.
They found - compared to the current means-tested system - offering free meals to all pupils was easier to deliver - and something staff, students and parents unanimously supported.
It not only reduced food insecurity, but the study found by offering free school meals to everyone, it improved, social skills, behaviour and concentration at school and the mental health of both students and parents and carers.
In both schools, the proportion of students eligible for free school meals who accessed a free school meal also increased, and the stigma experienced by those on free school meals went down.
Sally Brooks, Executive Principal at Fulham Cross Academy Trust, one of the participating schools, said: “Our canteen is now full of students enjoying a warm, healthy meal together which enables great social interaction.
"We are seeing greater focus in afternoon lessons and more students staying on for after school activities than ever before. The UFSM offer is making a genuine difference to our school community.”
Dr Kidger added: “Experiencing food insecurity in childhood has health and social consequences. In adolescence, nutritional intake influences the onset and timing of puberty, which in turn affects height, muscle and fat mass, and the risk of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
“Our research provides the first UK-based evidence showing that universal free school meals are possible to deliver in secondary schools, and that they are welcomed by school communities because of their perceived health, social and educational benefits by improving nutrition, levels of obesity, behaviour at school and educational outcomes. However, more evidence is required from larger studies on the impact on long-term health, psychosocial and educational outcomes.”
The study was funded through the NIHR’s innovative Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Teams (PHIRST) programme, in which academic teams are matched to local authorities to evaluate their local initiatives.
You can find out more about the study here and read the study here.