Islington is London borough with the most children claiming free school meals

It’s no secret that the rise in the cost of living is affecting more and more households up and down the country. Londoners have been feeling the effects of this difficult rise, and many have had to re-evaluate their spending habits to adjust.

New government data accessed by MyLondon has revealed exactly how many children claim free school meals for each London borough. The reality is, tens of thousands more children in London are becoming eligible for free school meals – a teaching union says it’s “shocking” numbers needing state-funded lunches continue to rise, but warns they’re still not reaching all those who need them.

The capital had 322,393 state school pupils eligible for free school meals (FSMs) this January, Department for Education (DfE) data shows. That was up from the 295,326 counted the previous year and well above the 222,997 recorded in 2016, the earliest year with available figures.

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In Brent, the number rose by 14.8 per ecnt to 9,440 (19.5 per cent of all pupils), which was the steepest increase in London outside the City, where the figures are skewed by the small resident population. The area with the highest proportion of children able to get FSMs was Islington, where it was more than two in five (41.1 per cent) – also the highest rate in England.

Camden had the joint fourth-highest nationally (39.2 per cent), Hackney was joint-sixth (38.8 per cent), and Tower Hamlets eighth (38.4 per cent). Nationally, the figure rose by 160,000 over the year, to around 1.9 million (22.5 per cent). Some of the rise is due to rules meaning children can continue to claim FSMs even if a change in their family circumstances would otherwise stop them being eligible.

But the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) said the pandemic is also driving the increase, as more families are affected by illness and job losses. Julie McCulloch, director of policy at ASCL, said: “It is shocking that in one of the world’s wealthiest economies we are seeing a very significant increase in the number of children eligible for FSMs, and therefore living in extremely difficult financial circumstances.

“Even more shocking is the fact that current eligibility does not even capture all the children who need help. FSM eligibility now applies to 22.5 per cent of pupils, but we know that the level of child poverty is about 30 per cent.”

Department for Work and Pensions figures show there were at least 593,840 children in families on UC in February. However, that will include some very young children and some over-16s who would not be able to claim free school meals.

It will also include children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 who are already eligible for free meals, as the offer is universal for those age groups, regardless of family income. The Child Poverty Action Group estimates that 800,000 children living in poverty across England are missing out on FSMs due to restrictive eligibility criteria.

A DfE spokesperson said: “Over 1.9 million children are now eligible for FSMs, and we communicate regularly with schools and councils so they know what is available for these children.

“We know millions of families are struggling with the rising cost of living, which is why we are providing over £37 billion to target those with the greatest need. Our National School Breakfast Programme and the Holiday Activities and Food programme are also benefiting children across the country.”

The percentage of children eligible for free school meals borough by borough as of January 2022 is as follows:

• Islington – 41.1 per cent
• Camden – 39.2 per cent
• Hackney – 38.8 per cent
• Tower Hamlets – 38.4 per cent
• Lambeth – 35.3 per cent
• Westminster – 35.1 per cent
• Southwark – 34.8 per cent
• Kensington and Chelsea – 31.9 per cent
• Newham – 29.8 per cent
• Croydon – 28.9 per cent
• Hammersmith and Fulham – 28.4 per cent
• Enfield – 26.9 per cent
• Wandsworth – 26.3 per cent
• Greenwich – 26.1 per cent
• Barking and Dagenham – 25.4 per ent
• Lewisham – 25.4 per cent
• Haringey – 24.4 per cent
• Merton – 24.2 per cent
• Ealing – 23.6 per cent
• Waltham Forest – 23.5 per cent
• City of London – 22.4 per cent
• Hounslow – 22 per cent
• Hillingdon – 20 per cent
• Brent – 19.5 per cent
• Barnet – 18.8 per cent
• Havering – 18.7 per cent
• Bexley – 17.8 per cent
• Harrow – 16.8 per cent
• Redbridge – 16 per cent
• Sutton – 15.3 per cent
• Bromley – 14.8 per cent
• Kingston upon Thames – 12.9 per cent
• Richmond upon Thames – 12.4 per cent

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