Bedfordshire school warns meal funding falls short of rising costs
Rising costs are forcing schools to subsidise the cost of free school meals
Last updated 12 hours ago
A school in Bedfordshire says it’s needing to cover the cost of free school meals, as government funding doesn’t stretch far enough.
Since 2020, school meal funding in England has risen by just 5p year per since 2020, while food, energy and labour costs have surged.
The current free school meal rate in England is set to rise to £2.66 per meal for the 2026/27 academic year, an increase of 2%.
Although, it is higher in other parts of the UK, including Wales (£3.40), Scotland (£3.30) and London (£3).
Karen Hayward, Executive Principal at Sandy Secondary School is warning that this is unsustainable as schools are now finding themselves allocating around £10,000 a year to maintain food standards.
Ms Hayward said: “At some point, the system is going to break and then schools are going to be in a state where they don't have anyone to provide a meal for children and young people.
“So, we do need to look at this and question why England is so poorly funded in relation to the rest of the United Kingdom.”
She also says that for some children, a free school meal “might be the only the hot meal they have of the day.
“And I just can't tell you how important it is that we ensure they're getting the right balance and nutrition to support them being able to achieve their best.”
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Through our Plan for Change, this government has taken a historic step to tackle the stain of child poverty – offering free school meals to every single child from a household that claims Universal Credit.
“The new entitlement will see over half a million more children able to benefit from a free meal from next school year and lift 100,000 children out of poverty.
“We will continue to work closely with the sector as we expand Free School Meal eligibility to understand their experiences during its implementation.”
Calls for Urgent Government Action
The School Food People, representing the school food sector, says the situation is becoming increasingly urgent ahead of September, when Free School Meals will expand to all children whose parents receive Universal Credit.
To date, no confirmation on funding or eligibility numbers has been provided, placing additional pressure on caterers who are unable to plan effectively.
They are urging the government to raise funding to a minimum of £3.45 per meal and ensure future rises.
Brad Pearce, National Chair of The School Food People says: “The school food sector is under acute financial pressure. Six school catering providers - including four local authority services - have already announced they will cease operating.
“That is deeply concerning for the workforce and the communities they serve, but it also has immediate consequences for schools. When a caterer withdraws, schools are forced to bring provision in-house or re-tender at short notice, often at higher cost and with significant operational disruption.”