Suffolk headteacher welcomes free school meals expansion but calls for ‘braver’ reform
It's as the Chancellor announces free school meals will be extended to "over half a million more children.
Last updated 12th Jun 2025
A Suffolk schools leader says she’s “delighted” more children will get free school meals — but is urging the government to go further to ensure every child in need is supported.
It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced over half a million more children in England will now be eligible for free school meals.
Rebecca Leek, Executive Director of the Suffolk Primary Headteachers Association, says the move addresses a long-standing problem.
“There is an issue that this is addressing, the threshold for families to qualify for free school meals is currently very low,” she said.
“You really have to have a very, very low income, around £7,000 a year, for your child to qualify. That has been a problem, and I’m glad to see this change. It’s a good thing.”
More improvements needed
But she warns the system still leaves too many children behind.
“It’s (getting free school meals) not an automatic process. Even when families meet the new threshold, they still have to apply for it themselves. And some families just don’t,” she explained.
“That might be due to pride, not knowing how, or language barriers. But the result is the same, their child misses out on something as basic and important as a meal. That’s the real shame.”
She also highlighted the burden it places on already stretched schools.
“We’d love to be released from the admin of chasing forms and building systems just to work out who might be entitled,” she said.
“Schools want to focus on learning , not eligibility checks.”
Wanting "braver" action
Leek said what’s really needed is a bigger, bolder change.
“What would be ideal is that it was automated, but really, the ambition should be universal free school meals. Just as every child gets a seat in the classroom, every child should get a meal,” she said.
“It would remove the stigma, remove the bureaucracy, and ensure every child is nourished and ready to learn.”
She added:
“So yes, I welcome the news, absolutely. But I think this was an opportunity to go even further, and that’s what I’d like to see in the future.”