Free School Meals Dispute – Nathaniel Carson, Hampton School

Last week, Sadiq Khan – the Mayor of London – visited his old school in Tooting, to announce his new £130 million plan to give free school meals to every primary school child in London for the academic year 2023-24. It will benefit around 270,000 children who do not currently have free meals, and it will save the families roughly £440 for the year. The plan targets Year 3-6, as Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 already receive free meals. The cost is intended to be funded from business rates.

However, there has been some criticism of the plan. While everyone involved welcomes the plan to help the poorest children, opponents of Sadiq Khan say that the plan does not specifically target those most in need. Alongside those in poverty getting free school meals, will be the wealthier families in London, who arguably do not need the support.

Sadiq Khan responded to this by saying: ‘I don’t want any child in London in 2023 to be feeling that embarrassment, that stigma.’ He spoke, from ‘personal experience’, about the shame of being a ‘free school meal child.’ He also went on to say that this plan wasn’t for the ‘optics’, and his motivation is purely to ‘support families’ and ‘If their criticism is it should secondary schools as well, then I agree with them, and they should be joining me in lobbying the government for there to be provision of free school meals in primary schools and secondary schools.’

However, while all primary school children will get a free meal, the plan does not include any secondary school children. The Conservative Party’s health spokesperson, Emma Best, said that the ‘package has completely missed secondary school pupils, meaning that lower income parents of older children are paying for wealthier families’ younger children.’ She also said that Sadiq Khan’s 57% increase in council tax, and a daily £12.50 ULEZ will outweigh the money saved from a free school meal.

Having said that, there has been a lot of support for the new plan. It is estimated that 210,000 children living in poverty are not eligible for school meals, as the criteria for receiving a free school meal are strict. Putney’s MP, Fleur Anderson said: ‘I have heard truly shocking reports of parents clubbing together to pay for the school meals of children whose families are struggling. Whilst it is always heart-warming to see the generosity and kindness of our community, this simply shouldn’t be necessary.’

To conclude, Sadiq Khan’s plan will help all families with young children but is open to criticism that the help is not directed to those who need it most – secondary schoolchildren. It remains to be seen how those families manage amidst the ongoing cost of living crisis.